Webmaster forum - Reliable UK Hosting Company Needed

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Reliable UK Hosting Company Needed

Edward Kay

2005-01-28, 7:44 pm

Hi,

I really value the opinions of those in this newsgroup and would like to
know your comments/recommendations etc. on the following hosting
requirements.

Minimum specs:
* 1GB+ web space
* 10GB/month+ bandwidth
* Linux w. Apache
* PHP 4/5 - with a decent set of extensions installed
* mysql (with at least 5 databases)
* SSL 128-bit (I have my own Thawte cert)
* SSH access
* 20+ mailboxes (POP3)
* FTP access
* Easy, web-based management - but with good feature set
* Lightening-fast response times
* UK-based
* Decent support

We have two main websites, currently each with their own shared hosting
accounts. The reliability of these servers has degraded and is not
acceptable any more. As performance is a major requirement, I am considering
the option of consolidating the two websites on their own dedicated server.
(In addition to optimising our code!).

Do you have any suggestions?

I am looking for reliable, managed hosting on our own dedicated server but
with the ease of shared hosting. i.e. I don't want to have the hassle of
being a sysadmin - I want to develop the websites.

Current options under consideration are:

Fasthosts Matrix Linux:
http://www.fasthosts.co.uk/Dedicate...rs/MatrixLinux/

Supanames:
http://www.supanames.co.uk/index.ph...dedicatedbudget

Dedipower:
http://www.dedipower.com/d/linuxpowerentry/

Hostway:
http://www.hostway.co.uk/dedicated/...linux_hw100.asp

I'd love to hear any thoughts and experiences (good and bad) you may have on
these companies (and others).

Many thanks,
Edward

Saint Firk

2005-01-28, 7:44 pm

Edward Kay wrote:
> Hi,

Hello!

> Do you have any suggestions?
>
> I am looking for reliable, managed hosting on our own dedicated server but
> with the ease of shared hosting. i.e. I don't want to have the hassle of
> being a sysadmin - I want to develop the websites.

Yes, I quite like www.34sp.com they're well priced, their customer service is
excellent. You do get a reply within a few hours, their forums are manned, their
IRC channel is also manned - their tech support actually know what a webserver is.

> Current options under consideration are:
>
> Fasthosts Matrix Linux:
> http://www.fasthosts.co.uk/Dedicate...rs/MatrixLinux/

To be blunt. Stay hte F*CK away from Fasthosts, trust me - they're gash. They
buggered me with inch of my life. I used to run one of the biggest fan sites for
a band on the internet. I used Fasthosts. I was the bands' 'news' link and was
getting some 10,000 visits a day for a few weeks.

Then they pulled the plug. Because I had the lyrics to the band's songs on my
webpage and a few images of their albums - so they buggered me with ten inches
of Copyright.

I got the last laught :) I emailed the band, and much to my surprise they
(Radiohead), contacted Fasthosts and stopped them from closing down my site. I
don't know what was said, I just know it was between Fasthosts, the record label
and a bit of pressure from the band :D

My site was back up the next day. I then moved to another host - for free until
I gave the site up a few years ago.

> I'd love to hear any thoughts and experiences (good and bad) you may have on
> these companies (and others).

www.webhostingtalk.com is your best bet.

> Many thanks,
> Edward

--
Dale
Winamp: Kasabian - Cutt Off

Saint Firk

2005-01-28, 7:44 pm

Saint Firk wrote:
> Edward Kay wrote:

----8<----

Forgot to say, I'd probably host in the US thesedays, but I'd rather give my
money to a British or European outfit. However the Americans do the best deals
so it maybe worth checking out their hosts, having said that, the French had
some excellent deals last year. But I think their conversion of € to £ was a bit
Heath Robinsom :)

--
Dale
Winamp: ojos de brujo - El Gitano Anton Con Macaco & Ojos De Brujo

Edward Kay

2005-01-28, 7:44 pm

"Saint Firk" <rupert.murdoch@sky.com> wrote in message
news:ChtKd.132$nQ1.116@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
> Saint Firk wrote:
>
> ----8<----
>
> Forgot to say, I'd probably host in the US thesedays, but I'd rather give
my
> money to a British or European outfit. However the Americans do the best
deals
> so it maybe worth checking out their hosts, having said that, the French
had
> some excellent deals last year. But I think their conversion of € to £ was
a bit
> Heath Robinsom :)
>
>
> --
> Dale
> Winamp: ojos de brujo - El Gitano Anton Con Macaco & Ojos De Brujo

Thanks for your replies - much appreciated. I had seen a fair number of
complaints about Fasthosts but didn't want to bias any replies.

I have considered US-based hosting. My concerns are technical support
response (due to time differences) and site speed for UK/European users, who
are our main customer base. Any recommendations/words of caution on US
hosting?

Thanks again,
Edward

Daniel Ruscoe

2005-01-28, 7:44 pm

In article <41fa6f19$0$7771$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk>, Edward Kay says...

> I have considered US-based hosting. My concerns are technical support
> response (due to time differences) and site speed for UK/European users, who
> are our main customer base. Any recommendations/words of caution on US
> hosting?

http://www.page-zone.com/

Great prices and they respond to emails quickly and professionally.

I'm in the UK and host with them.

Dan