virtual server or reseller package

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Posted by fuffalo, 07-28-2004, 03:18 PM
Hello, I was looking for some opinions on getting a VPS vs a Reseller package. I'm looking to start hosting some sites for friends/family then possibly moving into hosting for a some companies in town etc. I've been in contact with a couple of hosting providers now, and I've pretty much decided on one. The only problem I've found is that it's a shared server, as opposed to a VPS. Does this mean that I'm at risk of getting onto an overloaded server where if they sell enough accounts, my sites will be slowed down? Or is a reseller package an acceptable way to start out, or is VPS the only way to go? Thanks in advance, -fuffalo
Posted by idologicJeff, 07-28-2004, 07:52 PM
I often advise not to move towards VPS initially, unless you are absolutely particular that a VPS is what you need. My rationale is that I believe VPS's are more expensive and give you less. The benefit to a VPS is that you get root level control over your resources. Why are they more expensive and give you less? Lets assume that you pay for 3GB diskspace. On a VPS some of that diskspace will be taken up to support the OS, as most VPSs essentially run their own version of the OS. This means that your effective diskspace is somewhat less the the same sized reseller account. Also VPS's are more expensive to operate (as a host) and the control panel license, almost always gets tacked onto the price of the account. Whereas in the same size reseller account, many clients are under a single Control Panel license. Although the single "reseller" control panel license is more expensive, cumulatively the VPS licenses add to the total cost of the server. If you don't absolutely need root, I'd go with the advance reseller. Pay less and get more. Cheers Jeff
Posted by Shoey, 07-28-2004, 08:15 PM
VPS is better.
Posted by idologicJeff, 07-28-2004, 08:24 PM
You'll get diverse opinions at WHT (A good thing). Shoey, would you share your opinion why? Cheers Jeff
Posted by Shaw Networks, 07-28-2004, 08:26 PM
Unless you need to able to administrate all the services and have root access you'll end up paying more for a VPS than you would for a reseller account of the same HD space and bandwidth. Performance could go either way considering how much your reseller host oversells.
Posted by fuffalo, 07-29-2004, 12:59 AM
I've decided to go with a shared host that gets good reviews. Hopefully they don't oversell too much, and I get good performance! -fuffalo
Posted by Russ Foster, 07-29-2004, 01:55 AM
Reading over your requirement go for a reseller package but make sure that you pay about $0.75-$1/GB per bandwidth. Why do I say this? Well this should make sure that you are on a quality provider and that as such the servers won't be overloaded and speed will be fine. I don't see any real reason for you needing a VPS yet. HTH Rus
Posted by Shoey, 07-29-2004, 08:57 AM
becase you can create reseller accounts on a VPS.
Posted by net-trend, 07-29-2004, 10:10 AM
If you choose a good provider in the first place, there is no risk of getting on to an overloaded server. A hint though, some popular providers here have overloaded servers as well. Best do your research well and ask for a guarantee that if the server starts to slow down or has high loads, make sure they can provide you with the option to move to a less crowded server and hope it stays that way.
Posted by TechRanker, 07-29-2004, 03:25 PM
This is also why I went VPS. You might be able to easily sell reseller accounts to your friends. Give them 1GB for $5-$10 with minimum support and they will probably cover your prices. Besides the reseller accounts, my VPS account gives me 10GB/200GB for $49/mo. Sure I lose about 700MB in storage to the OS over head but I think 9GB+ at this price is still very competitive. Mulder
Posted by InSite, 07-29-2004, 03:35 PM
Personally, I wouldn't want to buy a reseller account from someone who was hosting it on a VPS - I don't think that is a suitable platform. And how would you advertise the server specs to your customers? If you want to be able to sell reseller accounts, I'm sure most hosts will give you a discount off additional reseller plans to enable you to sell these on, which will in turn give far better performance... Just my opinion though
Posted by TechRanker, 07-29-2004, 03:59 PM
Just in case, I don't plan to market reseller accounts to everyone- only to a select few of my web design customers that want that extra functionality (and that are willing to pay the premium for it ). The thing I like about VPS is, as long as my account is getting the resources I pay for, I only have to worry about my clients overloading the server. With a reseller account, you might have to worry about 1,000 other sites. Mulder
Posted by lumbyjj, 07-29-2004, 06:13 PM
I could be wrong, but other VPS on that server could slow it down too. Alot depends on how they set it up and what their hard limits are for each VPS.
Posted by fuffalo, 07-29-2004, 06:15 PM
That's true lumby, but I think they are saying with VPS you atleast get told what your minimum specs are, where as a reseller account could be oversold without you knowing. -fuffalo
Posted by Private PDX, 07-29-2004, 09:01 PM
I have used HostRocket for years now, for myself and clients. And they are by far the best. Every year I go shop around for someone better and still I have not found anyone comparable. They offer everything PHP, MySQL, dedicated servers if you need them, the list could go on forever. As ya'll may see from my other post about the "Worst Authorize.Net reseller" I hold strong feelings with regard to my service providers. You know I could stick a link from Commission Junction in here and make a $70 kicker too (if someone joined)... but I will be nice and just leave the tip. Oh and again... AVOID COMMERCECONSULTING.COM AT ALL prices. ESPECIALLY MIKE FENIMORE... He's a bad man!
Posted by ldcdc, 07-30-2004, 10:20 AM
Actually posting affiliate links would be against the rules.