web developer requires new hosting (and understanding)

mickthetree · 1st August 2008

Hi All (first post)

I am a freelance web developer and have been using a Heartinternet reseller package for some time now. I host about 30 sites at the mo.

I dont really understand what all the differences are and wondered if someone could point me in the right direction of what I should be looking for. I dont have the time to manage a server, but if that is what I shoud be doing, then maybe I'll have to find the time.

HI offer unlimited space, bandwidth yada yada yada, support is great and the control panel is JUST what I am after. I can edit DNS, TXT, MX, A records, setup as many packages as I like, even setup automated sales of domain names and hosting.

This package is cheap and allows me to offer cheap packages to companies with small budgets for small websites.

HOWEVER - I just get the impression I should be offering some of my customers a "proper" service. Do you know what I mean?

eg - when ANY of my customers send an email, the header for the email will always have in it web44.extendcp.co.uk (or similar) which is heartinternets mail server. Some customers smtp servers refuse to send mail if setup as pop accounts so they have to use the generic heartinternet one of smtp.outitgoes.com, that doesnt look great.

Each customer has a different IP address and it can change whenever they upgrade their hardware.

I did have a reseller package with php4hosting.co.uk but thier accounts dept and service went pear shaped and their control panel was awful.

Everyone I hosted on there all had the same IP address, I got one instance of mysql that I could have multiple databases in and everyones mail came from their own mail server, not some generic one. I like those bits.

I spend £30ish a month at the mo and dont mind if that increases (as long as its under £70)

Any suggestions of what I should be going for would be greatly appreciated.

mickthetree

JamieBeeston · 1st August 2008

Hi Mick,

For that budget you can get your own Dedicated Server, and host as many sites as you like on there (control panel license depending)

If you drop a post in the 'Requests for Products and Services' section, we'll be able to tell you all about our offers

TSH-Nathan · 1st August 2008

I really would advise getting a dedi. You'll have more control and be able to set everything to what you want

FH - Tim · 1st August 2008

I'd advise against a dedicated server.

Reasons being taking the leap from a reseller account to a self managed dedicated will not be easy and you certainly don't want to risk customers by making this move.

Go to a better reseller company or if you really need a dedicated server look for a managed one, but I think that might be out of your price range.

Otherwise you can go halfway and get a VPS or VDS from someone like register1 or othellotech if you want Uk.

JamieBeeston · 1st August 2008

Hi Tim,

Thanks for that, but we wouldnt allow 30 commercial sites on a single VDS Account.

The VDS's allow unlimited personal / private domains, but we strictly prohibit commercial reselling from them, this is why we offer the Dedicated Servers, for those who need / want to become resellers.

J

JamesC · 2nd August 2008

You could look at a managed virtual dedicated server - none of the hassle of a dedicated (or price), You just create accounts and let the management company look after the rest (of course, as it's your own VDS you can control the host name that shows up in headers etc)

mickthetree · 2nd August 2008

So does anyone offer VDS for commercial use?

Or does anyone have any recommendations for a kick arse reseller account that will allow me to do everything HI does but setup a bit better?

thanks again

mickthetree

freethought · 2nd August 2008

We don't have any such "commercial" restrictions on our VDS offerings.
Drop me an e-mail/PM/call me on the mobile number I just PMed you.

othellotech · 2nd August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickthetree

So does anyone offer VDS for commercial use?

Yes, but it sounds like a decent reseller account tailored to your requirements would be a better solution - stick to developing the sites and leave the server maintenance and management to the supplier

MK Hosting · 2nd August 2008

I think your best bet is a reseller account as this needs no management on your part. However no decent host offers unlimited space and bandwidth.

Alternatively you could use a VPS, however unless you get a managed one, it will require you to manage it (security, upgrades, etc).

FH - Tim · 2nd August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickthetree

So does anyone offer VDS for commercial use?

Or does anyone have any recommendations for a kick arse reseller account that will allow me to do everything HI does but setup a bit better?

thanks again

mickthetree

Well for resellers in the uk you have more than a couple to choose from on this board. You can always put a thread in the request for products or services section and I'm sure you will get plenty of offers.

handyman · 5th August 2008

You say you think you should be offering more ? yet the problem with the email address is a simple fix just needs you to find that fix. Those advising a DS are not taking into account that you don't seem to want to look into that so a DS would be a waste of money. IMO you would end up offerinf less simply because you don't understand how to set it up. Where as now most is done for you.

I really don't understand your problem, if the customers are asking for and the reseller account doesn't provide it then farm that out or setup a seperate account where those things can be done.

Focus you aim on the customers need not your own ability to provide extras or you'll end up paying more and providing less. If you has expertise in those areas I would say run both side by side but it seems you are doing fine as is.

damien_ls · 5th August 2008

IMO I'd say that in most cases a well managed VPS is a better option than a reseller account. I agree with those stating that a dedi seems a bit over the top and inappropriate for this customer.

However, if a reseller account is basically working at the moment, there doesn't seem to be any obvious reason for not continuing to use a reseller account? The only point I would make about this is that (as above) I consider a VPS to be "better" and as it's within budget then maybe...?

Something to consider is that a VPS is likely to be more scalable over time than a reseller account - but I don't know what your growth rate is like and how much of a factor this is likely to be for you?

othellotech · 5th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by damien_ls

IMO I'd say that in most cases a well managed VPS is a better option than a reseller account

Then you've been using the wrong Reseller providers ...
I cant think of a single *practical* way that being on a small slice of a server (i.e. a VPS) is going to be *better* than being properly hosted on a real box
- in a very real sense, having apache have access to 4Gb or whatever of ram is going to be infinately better than being restricted to whatever your VPS gives you

Cranky · 5th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by othellotech

Then you've been using the wrong Reseller providers ...
I cant think of a single *practical* way that being on a small slice of a server (i.e. a VPS) is going to be *better* than being properly hosted on a real box
- in a very real sense, having apache have access to 4Gb or whatever of ram is going to be infinately better than being restricted to whatever your VPS gives you

VPS's are infinately more flexible and customisable than reseller accounts, this is the primary benefit of VPS/dedicated plans over reseller plans and in my opinion why they are "better".