A Call For Help

[Stryder]

QUESTION GANG:
We need some help getting this site started. Mark called and is stressing about who to get to host the site because of the adult content (you all know what the content will be). He was looking at a company called Simple.com in the States and they say they will host anything that is legal in the States (not much help there except of course for the obvious things like kids, animals, violence). We want to do it right. Does anyone know of the most reliable companies dealing with site hosting in terms of adult content good storage and download, bandwith etc? We would prefer the States (because the language is no problem) but anywhere will be ok providing we can make ourselves understood and receive good service when we need it.

Is a dedicated server the best way to go or shared? Is the UNIX or NT base better? I dont know why he asks me all these questions I have no idea I just know trample...in any case he led me to think he knew all about it???!!! Got me worried now about what kind of webmaster he will make but I am sure it is just teething problems.

Would really appreciate some feedback from my friends that are more in tune with these issues....of course it will be give and take as usual

Hellfire tonight so stay tuned for some great material.

[footwipe]

hi Stryder.
a few answers to your questions:
1. don't know any hosting providers in the states but suggest checking with their policies and in doubt mail them and explain. If they say something like "nothing of adult nature" you know enough.

2. I suggest a dedicated server if you have the money. You can expect quite a few hits and shared servers usually have some restriction on the number of hits/download size. They cost more though.

3. Unix (Linux) or NT based makes not much of a difference if the hosting provider does know what he's doiing. Suggest agreeing on a SLA (Service Level Agreement) that defines things like acceptable downtime and security levels. These things are the responsibility of the hosting provider.

4. If the provider doesnot know what he is doiing, find another. Check by asking a few questions and see if you like/understand the answers.

hope this helps,
footwipe

[hotbiman]

G'day Stryder,

Some thoughts.

BOXES
Unix boxes are much more stable, and more common. Therefore more people know how to fiddle about with them, therefore cheaper if you need high-end programming.

If you have a dedicated server, you have to maintain the server. It is also up to you to update it. If you don't know how to maintain it, you have to pay someone to do it for you.

Far better to share a good Unix box being maintained by people who know what they are doing. WHEN you make oodles of moolah, you can get your own box, and someone to maintain the box. Otherwise it's not worth it. Think of it like an office for a new business. Are you going to buy the building or rent space?

MISTRESSDESTINY SERVER
As an example, this website is running on an Apache/1.3.22 (Unix) PHP/4.0.4pl1 on Linux, being hosted by Global Compass (Atlanta USA) at http://globalcompass.com/

Now, if you can imagine relatively huge volumes of bandwidth (uploads/downloads in Megabits) used up by this website, then you can imagine that what runs this site can easily run yours.

CHOOSING A HOST
My suggestion is, go look for a popular adult site you like that works well, and find out who hosts it. This way, you don't waste time with hosting co's that don't host adult. Also, you know if the boxes are stable or not. I'll tell you who hosts what if you email me a list at the email address I sent you. Put FROM STRYDER in the subject box so I know it's not spam. I get 200+ per day!!

DOMAIN NAME
Whatever you do, don't use a .au address as Australian government censors Australian websites for Australians. Weird!! Got to get rid of those twits in Canberra I recon :moon:

My suggestion is stryderdownunder.com - nice and easy.

All the best,

Mike

[The Penguin]

I am just a humble user of the net
Where's John when you need him?
but I would like to throw my two cents in
watch for hosts that have popups when you go in these will help pay for the site but the trade off is some annoyed customers
Its your call
I wish you the best of luck Stryder and Helen