ACF - Pricelesswarehome.org - Time to review hosting services

[REM]

Hello everyone,

It's getting near to ACF-PLH's first anniversary and time to renew
hosting services. (July 4)

I see several new folks (or nyms), so a brief recap:

Several people donated to ensure that pricelesswarehome.org was funded
well into the future. I'm the treasurer I guess, as I collected the
donations and I am preparing to pay for year two. We're currently
funded for 5.5 years at the current price of $60 per year (bravo!).
There is no need for more funding.

There was a long period of hurt feelings, insults, flames, etc. in the
process of establishing the site. Please, let's not go there again! I
beg with all of my heart.

Each of us who contributed did so as a gift to the group. That was the
common tie that binds us. We really wanted this site to remain of ACF,
by ACF, for any and everyone with an interest in freeware! The gifts
were given freely; ACF determines the specifics if we can get a
consensus on whatever the issue in question might be.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The current host service offers 200 megs of storage space and 15 gigs
of bandwidth per month for $60 per year. (hostitnow.com is the host
service; Budget package)

The company that hosts my personal site is offering quite a better
deal: 5000 megs of storage space and 75 gigs of bandwidth per month
AND they offer a rebate for the first year. In year 2 they give 2000
megs of storage space and 60 gigs of bandwidth per month. So, for
$59.40 for 2 years at the allocations listed above we can get far more
storage and bandwidth. (Globat.com is the host service; Gigabyte
package)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It seems silly not to opt for the cheaper package with greater
limitations on space and bandwidth.

The site can offer storage for last freeware versions for anyone who
wants to archive them or have a backup of an existing archive.

If anyone wants to do some sort of a special project that is of
interest to the group the space and bandwidth are there too. I did a
text editor review, for example, that I badly need to update.

We can use the extra resources to get the PL CD out quicker to more
people as well.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One problem of sorts is that I have a backup of PLH on my site that is
with Globat. This has proved useful on one occasion at least. If the
Globat route is taken it will be best to place the backup on another
site, so that if Globat has problems the backup will be available.

The PLH backup is approximately 25 megs. Are there any volunteers to
accept these files as a backup site if we go with Globat? The
bandwidth is less than 5 gigs per month.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another option is finding a good deal with another hosting service
than Globat. It is a competitive market, which is good and bad. It is
good because we can get the most for the least. It is bad because the
host selected might go belly up due to the competition.

I really feel best in looking at hosts that anyone here is using and
will vouch for. I've used Globat for 3 years now and I've never had a
problem with them, but there is the backup problem if we go that
route.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's it in a nutshell.

Does anyone know of any other host deals that rival Globat?

Does anyone have any other ideas of how the extra space and bandwidth
might be used for the benefit of the group? If anyone wants to do a
project and the group accepts the idea it can be done on this site.
Last Freeware Versions are always super!

Does anyone have any comments, questions, or general suggestions?

We have one month to decide on the issue of host service selection.

Thanks
Jimmy Scott

 

[Diablo]

|
|
<<Snipped>
1&1 has a variety of plans and some very good deals...I currently host 2
sites and a Sharepoint portal there.

 

[elaich]

Does anyone have any comments, questions, or general suggestions?

I don't have any, Jimmy, except to say thanks.

 

[burnr]

Hello everyone,

It's getting near to ACF-PLH's first anniversary and time to renew
hosting services. (July 4)

One problem of sorts is that I have a backup of PLH on my site that is
with Globat. This has proved useful on one occasion at least. If the
Globat route is taken it will be best to place the backup on another
site, so that if Globat has problems the backup will be available.

The PLH backup is approximately 25 megs. Are there any volunteers to
accept these files as a backup site if we go with Globat? The
bandwidth is less than 5 gigs per month.
Thanks
Jimmy Scott

Sorry, I don't have any hosting suggestions. I've used DotEasy for years.
It's more expensive but I'm happy with the service and reliability.

I'd be happy to host a mirror of PWH though regardless of what host is
used. I have plenty of space and bandwidth. It wouldn't hurt to have two
or three mirrors actually. The more the merrier

Thanks for taking care of this for the group Jimmy. This ng rockz!!

 

[Mark Carter]

One problem of sorts is that I have a backup of PLH on my site that is
with Globat. This has proved useful on one occasion at least. If the
Globat route is taken it will be best to place the backup on another
site, so that if Globat has problems the backup will be available.

What sort of problems are you referring to? Temporary server downtime,
Globat going out of business, accidental erasure of files by the
webmaster, or something else?

The PLH backup is approximately 25 megs. Are there any volunteers to
accept these files as a backup site if we go with Globat? The
bandwidth is less than 5 gigs per month.

Forgive my ignorance, but why not just keep a copy of your site on a
local hard drive, maybe back up your site to CD every month, and then,
if something bad happens, reinstate the site from the backups?

 

[Bill Yerkes]

Okay... I'm a little dense. What sort of projects are you thinking of?

Hello everyone,
S N I P

If anyone wants to do some sort of a special project that is of
interest to the group the space and bandwidth are there too. I did a
text editor review, for example, that I badly need to update.

We can use the extra resources to get the PL CD out quicker to more
people as well.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

S N I P

 

[Vic Dura]

Does anyone have any comments, questions, or general suggestions?

I would like to give you my proxy vote to vote however you think
best. I trust your judgement.

Regards,
Vic Dura

 

[David]

Hello everyone,

It's getting near to ACF-PLH's first anniversary and time to renew
hosting services. (July 4)

Go for the cheaper version. I'd offer to host the back-up but my ISP
is quite stingy with space and I'm only on dial-up so that doesn't fit
with your requirements.

 

[Mark Carter]

As burnr said, the more the merrier. It just doesn't make sense to
have the backup with the same company the main site is on I guess is
what I was referring to.

I don't mind mirroring whatever you have - if you think you still need
it. You're probably going to need to work out *how* it's going to be
mirrored. I've never actually mirrored anyone, so it'll be a bit of a
learning experience for me. Apparently rsync is a very popular way to do
it; and it's the sort of thing that I could be set up to run
automatically at night.

The thing is, though, that I've got a fairly fancy account (with Lycos),
which is basically a Debian server. For those without such fancy setups,
and who have plain hosting accounts, the whole process is likely to be
way more laborious, because they'd have to do things manually. Not to
put a damper on it, but it may require some thought as to whether the
people willing to offer space are actually in a position to do so.

 

[REM]

Mark Carter <me.privacy.net> wrote:

What sort of problems are you referring to? Temporary server downtime,
Globat going out of business, accidental erasure of files by the
webmaster, or something else?

There is the temp server downtime of course. And I think there was a
time when someone couldn't access the main site at work, but could
access the backup site.

As burnr said, the more the merrier. It just doesn't make sense to
have the backup with the same company the main site is on I guess is
what I was referring to.

Forgive my ignorance, but why not just keep a copy of your site on a
local hard drive, maybe back up your site to CD every month, and then,
if something bad happens, reinstate the site from the backups?

That's taken care of. It's the availability of the site should the
gremlins strike.

 

[REM]

Bill Yerkes <[email protected]> wrote:

Okay... I'm a little dense. What sort of projects are you thinking of?

Pretty much anything of interest to the group. As I said I did a
freeware text editor review awhile back and the results are available
from the site. I tried listing the features each editor offered and
the largest text file each would open and edit on my machine.

Some files are tettering on extinction. If you want to do something
like that you can track them down and archive them on the site.

The sky is the limit. But it should be of general interest to the
group.

 

[REM]

"Diablo" <[email protected]> wrote:

1&1 has a variety of plans and some very good deals...I currently host 2
sites and a Sharepoint portal there.

Thanks. I'll check it out!

 

[REM]

burnr <[email protected]> wrote:

Sorry, I don't have any hosting suggestions. I've used DotEasy for years.
It's more expensive but I'm happy with the service and reliability.

I'd be happy to host a mirror of PWH though regardless of what host is
used. I have plenty of space and bandwidth. It wouldn't hurt to have two
or three mirrors actually. The more the merrier

Thanks for taking care of this for the group Jimmy. This ng rockz!!

Thanks! That will help greatly and make certain that the site is
available in case of outtages or whatever problems that might occur.

I checked the 1&1 site. It looks like Globat still offers more for
less.

1&1:

<http://order.1and1.com/xml/order/Ho...88AEC40446CA02.TC60a?__frame=_top&__lf=Static>

Globat:

<http://www.globat.com/packages/index.php?packages=gigabyte>

 

[Susan Bugher]

Super! Let me know the details for uploading when you have a chance (no hurry).

Thanks! That will help greatly and make certain that the site is
available in case of outtages or whatever problems that might occur.

ACF does indeed rock. Many thanks to both of you.

I checked the 1&1 site. It looks like Globat still offers more for
less.

1&1:

<http://order.1and1.com/xml/order/Ho...88AEC40446CA02.TC60a?__frame=_top&__lf=Static>

Globat:

<http://www.globat.com/packages/index.php?packages=gigabyte>

I doubt anyone will beat Globat's pricing for the first year ($10/year after rebate). $60/year for
the second year is also a great price. They have PHP capability (the PL mirror is hosted there now).
- you've hosted your site with them for some time now - IOW Globat is a known quantity. IMO the host
we have now is good - but Globat looks like a better deal.

Let's do it.

re timing - some overlap would be good - SOS and I will both have to upload files - I'll need to set
up the email links etc. etc. - IOW the sooner the new hosting location is available the better.

We have two domain names (pricelesswarehome.org and pricelesswarehome.com). Perhaps the
pricelesswarehome.com domain could be used at the new location temporarily - then add/switch to
pricelessware.org when the move is complete? (Does Globat allow more than one domain)?

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
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Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[Susan Bugher]

There is the temp server downtime of course.

Which could be a real PITA if it occurred during the Pricelessware selection process.

And I think there was a

time when someone couldn't access the main site at work, but could
access the backup site.

Yup. The main site was blocked by the company. The mirror site was not.

As burnr said, the more the merrier. It just doesn't make sense to
have the backup with the same company the main site is on I guess is
what I was referring to.



That's taken care of. It's the availability of the site should the
gremlins strike.

Yup.

FWIW - I do keep a copy of the site on my hard drive. I also archive the files I use to create the
web pages (the databases, spreadsheet formulas etc.) on the web site - so Burnr can access them if
I'm incapacitated. I think we've got most of the bases covered. . .

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://groups.google.no/groups?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware&hl=en
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[Mark Warner]

Hello everyone,

It's getting near to ACF-PLH's first anniversary and time to renew
hosting services. (July 4)

I'd be in favor of anything that would make it quicker/easier to
download the PL2005CD.iso, at least to us "1st tier" burners if not the
a.c.f participants in general.

 

[REM]

Susan Bugher <[email protected]> wrote:

We have two domain names (pricelesswarehome.org and pricelesswarehome.com). Perhaps the
pricelesswarehome.com domain could be used at the new location temporarily - then add/switch to
pricelessware.org when the move is complete? (Does Globat allow more than one domain)?

I really don't know this. Domain names appear to be simple pointers
and I don't know any reason both could not point to the same host
account.

I bought the domain through the two hosts that I've dealt with to
date, so I don't have any experience in dealing with registrars. Maybe
someone else can answer that question.

This is the bit Globat offers:

"How do I transfer my Web site to Globat's servers without
experiencing downtime?


Website uptime is a key concern for many domain owners when exploring
transferring their domain to another hosting provider. In reality by
following a few simple steps, you can help prevent any downtime.

1) purchase one of our hosting packages

2) when you receive your welcome email, you will have ftp access to
your site by using the hostname of the server. You can verify you site
with the temporary url we send you in your welcome email.

3) Once your site is set up on our servers, conact your registrar and
change your dns servers to point to ours:
Primary DNS Server: ns1.DNSjunction.com
Primary DNS Server IP: 203.22.204.101"

 

[REM]

"Mark Warner" <[email protected]> wrote:

I'd be in favor of anything that would make it quicker/easier to
download the PL2005CD.iso, at least to us "1st tier" burners if not the
a.c.f participants in general.

This should help a great deal in getting the image out to as many
people who can spread it quickly as possible. The actual PL pages
require very little bandwidth. There are some programs archived now
and the May bandwidth usage was ~5 gigs, so there should be 65-70
spare gigs per month, depending on how many more files are added
between now and then.

I have excess bandwidth on my personal site too, but I don't have a
way to get the image uploaded (before the next CD comes out anyway).

We really should try to tweak the tiered system this year so as not to
swamp the servers down completely, haha. If the initial volunteers
grab it and upload to other places, like my personal site to use up
that bandwidth with the second batch of volunteers. We can kinda
calculate the bandwidth, how many people can get it and when from each
place and not strain the central server as badly. That will give fewer
botched attempts I think. As the month flips over so do the fresh
bandwidth limits.

Were there other problems last year that we should review?

 

[Ulrich Neumann]

I really don't know this. Domain names appear to be simple pointers
and I don't know any reason both could not point to the same host
account.

I am not a webhosting guru myself but to my knowledge both the DNS
servers and Apache (or whatever web server software is used) need to be
configured to support the second domain name. Usually you will have to
pay for this and I think at Globat there is a USD 12 charge per year for
this (http://support.globat.com/faqs.php?action=sub2&c=16&id=124). Just
ask Globat how many domain names they support free of charge, maybe they
already support two domain names with your package.

What you could do is something called URL forwarding. This needs to be
configured with your domain name registrar (of the second domain) who
has to suppport this feature. I am using http://www.namecheap.com who
offers this feature.

I bought the domain through the two hosts that I've dealt with to
date, so I don't have any experience in dealing with registrars. Maybe
someone else can answer that question.

This probably means that URL forwarding won't work since it is not
supported by Globat
(http://support.globat.com/faqs.php?action=sub2&c=12&id=104). But I
think it's best to double-check with Globat.

Ulrich

 

[Susan Bugher]

This should help a great deal in getting the image out to as many
people who can spread it quickly as possible. The actual PL pages
require very little bandwidth. There are some programs archived now
and the May bandwidth usage was ~5 gigs, so there should be 65-70
spare gigs per month, depending on how many more files are added
between now and then.

We really should try to tweak the tiered system this year so as not to
swamp the servers down completely, haha.

Yup - that was my bad. I sent the download info to the other PL2005 ISO hosting sites and the PL2005
CD burners. I should have notified *just* the host sites so they download/upload ASAP - then the
burners would have had several sites to download from.

Were there other problems last year that we should review?

The main problem with the PL2005 CD was no volunteer to download the files and compile the CD.

Steven Burn stepped forward at the last minute and saved the day (my hero) but hoping for more
miracles is hardly the ideal way to plan for the future. IOW - the PL2006 CD is pie in the sky till
we have a volunteer compiler.

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://groups.google.no/groups?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware&hl=en
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)