Topic awaiting preservation: Good dedicated server provider?

I'm in a bit of a pinch and I need a new server for me and my clients... I'm researching now but I just can't come to a conclusion. Does anybody have a provider they do or do not recommend?

Dreamhost just dropped their lowest dedicated package to 99/mo (if you pay a year in advance, otherwise 125/mo/qtr or 150/mo), unmanaged, just a reboot and powercycle button with notifications via email when ping/telnet discover something goofy.

I've been using DH shared forever and they're simply the best I've come across for the money, their dedicated is very much the same stuff but not shared, you even get the webpanel. If you need any further help, feel free to holler.

Thanks Jason. I'm seriously considering them. I'm not the most "server savvy" person. How's there support been? BTW, it looks as if they have a refferal program. I'll make sure and contact you if I decide to go w/ them.

Their support for shared hosting has been stellar over the last 4 years or so that I've been with them. The only trouble they've had through that period has been from DDoS attacks on their nameservers, which would most likely effect their dedicated machines as well. There's been 2 or three of those that I recall and they handle it better every time, the first one was massive and ugly but they always learn from these things and make it better next time. Super geeks, super secure, super good about keeping things running smoothly.

I'll email you from your site with my contact info, feel free to hit me here or there with more in depth questions, I'd be happy to help you out as much as I'm able. I know my way around their setup fairly well.

i'm also running a DH shared account which works nice so far. all i can say about their dedicated package is that it is VERY expensive. (compared to some german servers here in europe). but if you are looking for a good support and stuff and you can afford the money, just go for it. oh and be sure to check http://www.lonesomeend.com/browse.php category webdesign, etc. --> webhosting

B | T | E | P | L

you should be wary about getting a 'root' server if you're not 'server savvy'.
Most of these machines are well connected to the net, and a 100mbit/s system that
was hacked can create a lot of harm (or spew a lot of spam).

If you're not into the whole 'securing linux' thing, I suggest you get something managed.
You should also consider the problem with potential hardware failures - how soon can you be up and running again,
especially if your backup server (if you have one) has a different ip than your regular system (for example because your
host is to cheap to switch them around).
That's why I'd never host customers on most dedicated server systems.

Hmm.... Good point TP. I was on a reseller plan w/ my current provider but was forced off because one of my clients was using more resources than everybody else on the machine combined. I've installed the oscommerce shopping cart system for them and that combined with their traffic (they average around 10GB data transfer per/mo) was using too much CPU, I guess. I just assumed that most hosting companies would be the same and not want the usage on a shared machine.

yeah, in that case you should probably get a managed dedicated server. Meaning they have to deal with all the hazzle of keeping it secure and the hardware running and so on.

We use www.servermatrix.com , support's been great and we've had 0 downtime over the last 6 months. We used www.serverbeach.com for awhile but their support isn't as great as they have you seem it is. You go to their site and they have a web application that let's someone speak with you and Live to. If only their real support was like that. =\
I really liked their speed, we host game servers and they had us on located at their backup facility by mistake, I can tell ya the pings were killer. I pinged 30 constantly to the servers, now were in Texas and I ping 50-100 which is not bad, but it aint no 30.

-=BmF=- Clan

(Edited by newbielike on 11-06-2004 17:38)

some good questions you've raised for me there TP, I'm making inquiries to DH about them. Also asking how they manage patching for newly discovered vulnerabilities. I always got the impression that if you went with their default config packages (debian suexec etc) that they kinda kept them up like the shared services with critical patches, like they're managed to a certain degree. I don't recall why I have that impression tho, so I've asked directly.

I'll report back with news.

mas how is 99/mo considered expensive? The hosting market is changing to where there's more options these days between shared and dedicated so I'm wondering if you might be talking about something else besides dedicated?

daggum too old to edit thing got me again...

EDIT reporting back with news, they manage them if you go with their standard config and you can operate them just like the shared hosting through their web panel, and have root access to boot.

Cool! That's great news! So that's all included w/ the DreamCatcher Basic free managed package?

That's the impression I had, and was reinforced from my Q&A with will at DH. I'd suggest you make any specific inquiries about DH to sales but here's what I think I know about their dedicated services:

You can config them however you like, Red Hat, Windows, whatever, but they will only support their standard configuration, Debian (minimally/OS speaking). Being extremely comfortable with their configuration I'd be inclined to go with it personally, they are very much on top of security with their config, their bandwidth is, honestly, as good as the next guy's, they're building great relationships with their multiple bandwidth providers so that they can respond to problems in tandem, rerouting things when the need arises, their support is great (email, guaranteed less than 24 hour response, often times MUCH quicker). Haven't a clue where they stand on hardware failure/replacement but if every single other thing they do is any indication, they'll just flat make things right for you.