1&1 Home Package MySQL problems

Ray111 · 29th July 2008

i,

After a lot of searching and wasting time trying to find the right webhost I decided to settle for the UK 1&1 home package because it seemed to offer good value for money for around £4 p/month.

However, when I finally went to go about installing Wordpress on the the MySQL database I found it had none!!! Needless to say I'm gutted because that was the key to my whole site being up and now I have to waste more time, bad planning I guess.

How can a web package not have a MySQL database in this day and age!??

So now I'm looking for a new UK based host that is cheap, reliable etc, has MySQL, reachable tech support and lets me host multiple sites on the same package.

OR

Does anyone know how I can get round the lack of MySQL database issue with 1&1.co.uk (the american home package has loads of MySQL, this really sucks).

ie: I've been told that there are free and paid for standalone MySQL databases that you can somehow use if your webhost doesn't offer that facility and merge together some how (or something!). I've done some searching on this high and low and only ended up very confused. Has anyone had any experience of using a standalone MySQL database combined with their webhost, and could maybe point me in the right direction in how to go about setting it up with Wordpress etc ... or at-least tell me as a minimum if this is possible!?

Thanks for reading.

M8INTERNET · 29th July 2008

How about using the distance selling regulations and cancelling the order
You have 7 days

Once completed search for another webhost that offers all the services you require, for the same price

aguk · 29th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by M8INTERNET

How about using the distance selling regulations and cancelling the order
You have 7 days

Once completed search for another webhost that offers all the services you require, for the same price

Hosting is classed as a service. As such the DSR does not apply from the moment you commence using the service.

markcastle · 29th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray111

I decided to settle for the UK 1&1 home package because it seemed to offer good value for money for around £4 p/month.

And therein lies the problem - sorry.
You're not the only one to be taken in by their immense marketing machine.

My advice, find another host that actually cares about it's customers. (Not us, we don't do shared hosting), there are plenty on these forums to choose from.

Dhosting · 29th July 2008

You could use a remote mysql db but 1&1 may block connections to remote sql boxes.

Better off getting a decent shared hosting package

M8INTERNET · 29th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by aguk

Hosting is classed as a service. As such the DSR does not apply from the moment you commence using the service.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_res...ion-exceptions
I do agree, that is rather grey about hosting as a service, but having contacted the OFT several months ago they confirmed that such services are not excluded and that the DSR does apply
However, I've always offered a 14 day full refund, excluding Domain Names

aguk · 29th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by M8INTERNET

http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_res...ion-exceptions
I do agree, that is rather grey about hosting as a service, but having contacted the OFT several months ago they confirmed that such services are not excluded and that the DSR does apply
However, I've always offered a 14 day full refund, excluding Domain Names

They are not excluded provided you do not start using them with the cooling off period. Once you have started to use a service then you are deemed to have accepted it.

NetworkTP · 29th July 2008

Consider going to a smaller company that offers you enough space for not that much money.

[inx]Olly · 29th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by aguk

They are not excluded provided you do not start using them with the cooling off period. Once you have started to use a service then you are deemed to have accepted it.

yep

Ray111 · 31st July 2008

Thanks for your answers

iHubNet-Matt · 5th August 2008

What are your requirements and what type of site are you hosting with them ?

Ray111 · 5th August 2008

I called 1and1 up to see if they blocked external MySQL databases, as suggested might be the case on this thread.

The tech support said that I am indeed able to use other external MySQL databases to install Wordpress whilst remaining with the Home package at 1and1, and say that I need to look for one that allows 'remote access'.

This is all a bit new to me but I like a challenge and it would do me good to learn some geeky stuff, they also said that I'd have to supply my own PHP or MySQL code so double bonus where I might actually learn something a bit more techy about computers even if it is just copy and pasting some code from somewhere.

I looked about for other MySQL databases that were free, couldn't find any but found a webhost that seemed to offer everything I was needing, eUKhost in the Silver Package or bronze package.

On searching for a new webhost I almost got taken in once again by a huge marketing machine, but this time for HostPapa, they seemed good value... actually I didn't just fall for their marketing but also their really good country localization campaign because I was later to find out they have their servers based in Canada and not the UK. I didn't mention this before, but one of the other reasons I want to ditch 1and1 (.co.uk ...ahem) is that they have their servers based in Germany. I'm planning to use every trick in the book for geo targeting for UK, US and other googles with a .com TLD so foreign based servers aren't the best option for me if I want to rank equally highly with a .com on Google.co.uk. So I'm happy that eUKhost actually has their servers in the UK and has stuff like Email, multiple sites on one account, MySQL etc...

I asked them if they allowed remote mysql with their online chat, they said they would allow it but I'd have to transfer a domain over from 1and1.

On talking with 1and1 again they say I can downgrade my home package to beginner which means that even though I'm stuck in a contract for a year I don't have to pay them which is nice.

So now my decision is between:

a) Staying with 1and1, and just transfering the .com domain over to eUKhosts so they will let me access their remote MySQLs.

b) Or just sign up for the full hosting packages at eUKhost and forgetting about1and1 completely. eUKhost has a good price for a .com (6 quid) but costs £15 for the .co.uk domain, don't know how they worked that one out.

I think the second is probably the best choice due to server location, unless anyone else has any better suggestions? Or warnings about eUKhosts maybe?

Thanks again.

othellotech · 5th August 2008

My advice:

ditch the 1&1 account completely, peformance of their hotsing is poor at best, and will only get worse is you include external/remote mysql into the equation

once that descision is made you have a world of choices for a decent host in front of you

there are various threads on forums about eUK, but it sounds like you enjoy falling for the marketing machines

freethought · 5th August 2008

Avoid eUKhosts like he plague! They have an awful reputation
Whack a posting in the requests section here and you'll find plenty of decent hosts step up to hawk their services (us included)

freethought · 5th August 2008

Damn, beaten to the punch by the one other company I was going to suggest :P

You realydo want to avoid remote MySQL connections if at all if possible. The extra latency can be a right royal pain in the arse