[Hidden-tech] Recommendation for Web Hosting, Etc.

[James Triplett]

> Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 13:31:50 -0400
> From: Mark Bucciarelli <mark at hubcapconsulting.com>
> To: Elin Flashman <elin at techcavalry.com>
> Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Recommendation for Web Hosting, Etc.
> Cc: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> 
> If you think multiple data centers have anything to do with site
> reliability, you don't understand the hosting business.
> 
> A quality data center (such as Crocker's, TnR or the one GAIA
> uses in Boston) should never go down.
> 
> A good data center has multiple fiber links coming in through
> physically distinct conduits.  Even big providers don't provide
> this [1].
> 
> You web site will work fine at a bulk provider until you have a
> problem; for example, we have had customers that came to us from
> a bulk provider that had their site moved, without any contact,
> to a slower older server because they were using too much CPU
> resource.
> 
> I am always surprised when people choose to save $2 to $5 a month
> for an asset as important as email and their web presence.

Thanks for stepping up and saying this!  As a local provider trying to provide
quality web hosting- I continually run into people that think it is
smart to put their website with a big bulk provider "somewhere out there"
to save around a $100 per year.  For any company, their website is
an incredibly important asset, having a big effect on the appearance
and operation of that business.  For a Hidden-Tech type business, the
website is disproportionately important- since they don't have big
buildings and big ad budgets to impress people.

When you shop locally, you not only support your neighbors (including many
of us in Hidden-Tech) - you have the reassurance that if necessary- you 
can talk to them directly, and you will be a fairly important customer. 
This is another case where buying local makes both good business sense,
and good-neighbor sense.

cheers,
James Triplett
Thelix Internet, Amherst

p.s.: the following were very good questions to ask of any
provider (try to get a straight answer from one of the bulk providers ;-)

> 
> Here are a few things that make a difference:
> 
> - does the hosting company own their own servers, or do they rent
>   from a large provider.  If they rent, they have less control.