Pre sales question

[President]

I am thinking about recommending Hostmonster to approximately 10,000 of my clients.

I had posted a ticket asking these questions but I got back one of the lamest responses I have ever received from any company's sales team.

They did not answer a single question but referred me to search the site for answers which I had already done (but not found what I was looking for).

So I decided to give you guys another chance to make a first impression since he did not want to take the time to answer any of the questions in my ticket...

So here goes:

1. How many simultaneous hits to a single file are allowed. For example lets say I have 10000 visitors arrive on my site at the same time and all visits load the index page and header graphic etc.

In other words how many simultaneous visitors does your system allow? The limiting factor for a lot of traffic on the website is cpu time allotted per account. For your hosting account you are allowed 40 seconds of cpu time for every 60 seconds of real time. So when someone goes to your website and it uses the cpu for 0.10 seconds you could have up to 400 people on your site in a span of 60 seconds if that was the only page they were going to.

2. How big is the pipe connecting to the server. Is it 10mb 100mb 1000mb? Ie. how much data transfer/traffic can a server connection handle. The server can handle any amount of bandwidth.

3. What are the limits you set on mysql queries. Ie. how many mysql queries are allowed per hour? You are allowed 20 simultaneous mysql connections.

Looking forward to your honest, clear, and complete answers.

[RDM]

First thing you should know is that this is an user-to-user forum, not a customer support forum. We are all users just like you and don't work for hostmonster. Some of your questions we may not have an accurate answer for. Best way to find out is to ask support. Try calling them this time.

I will try to answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.

1. If it's a static HTML page, you should be able to have as many people viewing it as humanly possible. If it's just a simple static HTML page, it will only take a millisecond load, so no CPU time is used. If it's a dynamic PHP page, then you can have 30 simultaneous connections at once. If the PHP is written properly, no PHP page should take more than a fraction of a second to processes, so again you shouldn't have a problem.

2. I believe each server is connected with a gigabit network card to a gigabit internet backbone. But again, you will have to contact support for a more accurate answer.

3. As far as I know, there isn't a limit on how many queries you can do in an hour. It's all about CPU time. As long as each query isn't going over the allotted 90 second CPU time, then you shouldn't have a problem.

One thing that you should remember is that Hostmonster is a budget shared hoster. There about bout 600-1000 websites on each box. A single site can bring down the entire box and create down time for every client on that box. HM staff are pretty good at finding those offenders and taking care of the issue quickly.

If you have a large dynamic site, with large amounts of visitors that generate monthly revenue, then you probably would want to invest in a more dedicated solution. Such as a VPS or a dedicated server.

IMO, shared hosting is for the small to medium sized sites. Large dynamic sites are not for shared hosters. However, I've seen sites on HM that are dynamic with hundreds of thousand of hits each month. If the site is programmed right, you should be ok. But remember, there are other users on the same sever that can ruin it for you.

[President]

First thing you should know is that this is an user-to-user forum, not a customer support forum. We are all users just like you and don't work for hostmonster. Some of your questions we may not have an accurate answer for. Best way to find out is to ask support. Try calling them this time.

I appreciate the reply...

man that really drops my confidence in this company...

Would you be surprised if I told you that their reply to the same questions I posted above from the first customer service rep was to come here to the forum for answers?

Sounds like that guy needs to be relieved.

At any rate I got a second rep to reply and answer 2/3 of the questions correctly... but they did not understand the concept of uplink/pipe bandwidth/uplink limitations so I am still waiting for them to respond back on that.


If you have a large dynamic site, with large amounts of visitors that generate monthly revenue, then you probably would want to invest in a more dedicated solution. Such as a VPS or a dedicated server.

Yep. That's why I needed them to get specific... not for us, we have our own private rack at theplanet, but for my clients who I am researching out low cost solutions for who this type of a solution may fit their needs...

If the company is reliable that is ;-)

[RDM]

For what it's worth, I have been with hostmonster/bluehost almost since the beginning and haven't had one problem. Yes I have had some down time, very very little in all the years, but that's to be expected with any hoster, dedicated or shared.

[Austin]

Hostmonster SUCKS. I just spent a thousand dollars on PR, and had the NUMBER ONE rank in google out of 56 million, for a very popular search term.

With NO goddamned ****ing warning at all, they shut down my server - why? because, for two years, I'd been backing up my work files, below the html directory, which is apparently againt their TOS. I had no idea....

NO phone call, NO ****ing email, no warning -

I only found out six days later, and my site is no longer on google at all, no one has joined in the six hours since I put it back up -

**** hostmonster **** THEM.

THEY ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL HOSTING COMPANY - **** THEM

[President]

Hostmonster SUCKS. I just spent a thousand dollars on PR, and had the NUMBER ONE rank in google out of 56 million, for a very popular search term.

With NO goddamned ****ing warning at all, they shut down my server - why? because, for two years, I'd been backing up my work files, below the html directory, which is apparently againt their TOS. I had no idea....

NO phone call, NO ****ing email, no warning -

I only found out six days later, and my site is no longer on google at all, no one has joined in the six hours since I put it back up -

**** hostmonster **** THEM.

THEY ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL HOSTING COMPANY - **** THEM

What does "below the html directory" mean?

You can have sub folders can't you?

At any rate have you been hanging out here just waiting to make your first post?

Seems odd that Hostmonster customer service would send me here to get presales answers

[sjlplat]

2. How big is the pipe connecting to the server. Is it 10mb 100mb 1000mb?

Hostmonster servers run MMF links to a redundant OC-48 SONET backbone. That translates to over 10 Gbps throughout the datacenter, and 2.5 Gbps at the backbone.


Hostmonster SUCKS. I just spent a thousand dollars on PR, and had the NUMBER ONE rank in google out of 56 million, for a very popular search term.

With NO goddamned ****ing warning at all, they shut down my server - why? because, for two years, I'd been backing up my work files, below the html directory, which is apparently againt their TOS. I had no idea....

NO phone call, NO ****ing email, no warning -

I only found out six days later, and my site is no longer on google at all, no one has joined in the six hours since I put it back up -

**** hostmonster **** THEM.

THEY ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL HOSTING COMPANY - **** THEM

So, how is it Hostmonster's fault that you didn't read the TOS? If this is the fashion in which you speak to customer support, I wouldn't expect them to help you. I'm certainly not inclined to. ;)

[President]

So are sub folders not allowed?

I still don't get this statement:


I'd been backing up my work files, below the html directory, which is apparently againt their TOS

[sjlplat]

So are sub folders not allowed?

I still don't get this statement:

Yes, subdirectories are allowed. I'm assuming that particular statement is referring to storage above the public_html directory. You can use all aspects of the account for web hosting purposes, but not for file storage. Basically, if you are serving files to the web, then they can reside on the servers anywhere within your account.

[President]

Thanks for your help.

Regards.

[RDM]

I just spent a thousand dollars on PR, and had the NUMBER ONE rank in google out of 56 million, for a very popular search term.

Then why don't you invest some of that money on a dedicated box? That way you can do whatever you'd like.


THEY ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL HOSTING COMPANY - **** THEM

And you are the perfect example of professionalism, right? Go somewhere else if you can't have an intelligent discussion.

No personal backups, other then what is used for your website. Also no copyrighted material what so ever is allowed on the servers. (only if you own the copyright)

[D0gSoldi3r]

Personal backups, what does all this mean. Where are the TOS i don't want to get screwed over either, could you guys be more clear for some of us so we know what he got banned for.

[shadmego]

www.hostmonster.com/terms.html (http://www.hostmonster.com/terms.html)

You can put backups of your website files anywhere in your account. You cannot store your local computer files in your Hostmonster account ... anywhere.

~regards

[pghcollectibles]

little more than halfway down:

Backup Storage
HostMonster.Com Web Hosting intends to offer services to host web sites, not store data. Using an account as an online storage space for archiving electronic files is prohibited.

[D0gSoldi3r]

little more than halfway down:

Backup Storage
HostMonster.Com Web Hosting intends to offer services to host web sites, not store data. Using an account as an online storage space for archiving electronic files is prohibited.


But thats very vague and hypocritical of them, alot of websites are online storage sites, like youTube stores video and NewGround.com stores games every single website that exists is storage. Give me one example that doesn't do it and i bet you the example you give me stores at least text.

[President]

Though I appreciate you sharing your feedback I suggest you keep your gripes to your own thread.

I started this thread to find out specific answers to specific question not for you to voice your complaints and your griping is not helpful.

Maybe next time you should read the TOS.

[sjlplat]

But thats very vague and hypocritical of them, alot of websites are online storage sites, like youTube stores video and NewGround.com stores games every single website that exists is storage. Give me one example that doesn't do it and i bet you the example you give me stores at least text.

YouTube and NewGrounds are serving those files for viewing on the web. They aren't used solely for storage. The term storage refers to storing files that are not served for viewing or downloading over the web.

[RDM]

Also be careful with online storage sites. This may be viewed to hostmonster as personal backup storage, which yes it is, to you and others using it.

Your account may or may not be suspend because of it. But one thing you really have to watch out with is someone uploaded something that is copyrighted, this will absolutely get your account suspended.

Always check with hostmonster first regarding these types of things so you don't end up with a suspend account.

[jkinz]

Hostmonster SUCKS. I just spent a thousand dollars on PR, and had the NUMBER ONE rank in google out of 56 million, for a very popular search term.

With NO goddamned ****ing warning at all, they shut down my server - why? because, for two years, I'd been backing up my work files, below the html directory, which is apparently againt their TOS. I had no idea....

NO phone call, NO ****ing email, no warning -

I only found out six days later, and my site is no longer on google at all, no one has joined in the six hours since I put it back up -

**** hostmonster **** THEM.

THEY ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL HOSTING COMPANY - **** THEM


How is it their fault that you didn't read the TOS? I don't get this. They have every right to shut your site down. If you were storing anything such as music, they can get in BIG trouble with the RIAA. Why? Because that could be a potential share with people who haven't purchased the music legally.

Again, before you come on here and rant, think about it...

You didn't read the TOS and somehow this is HostMonster's fault? I don't think so.