Web Server Performance...

[Wayne 962]

P.S I know about 500% more information on computers and programming then I do about Porsches, just to put it into perspective...

[pwd72s]

BOY OH BOY does it pay to surf page 3 now & then. Wayne, I missed this string completely. The techno talk means zilch to this computer illiterate. Might as well ask me to write a program for the Jupiter explorer rocket. But, whatever you do...just keep us in touch, okay? Otherwise? Well, I may start buying parts from "just another vendor". Whoever is cheapest, like WAL-MART success. But for now? I order from you. My way of saying thanks for this service...(I can live without the smileys, BTW)

[jbirkett]

Just my 2c worth. After all it is not often that I can give a somwhat educated answer. You made mention of XO and any experience. My company just recently moved location and we host our own web server and DNS. Most of the problems were with the way we were registered for DNS ( another story for another time). Anyway we had a T1 installed by XO and then delayed our move because of building construction in the Suite. XO did a great job of monitoring our T1. I received several calls from them telling me we had a problem when the contractors kept un-plugging the router. Most of the problems we have encountered with XO turn out to be problems with the LEC, that will remain nameless but were a CA company beginning with P and now owned by a Texas company beginning with an S.

Anyway, I use a DSL line that on average gets 800 speed and don't have any problem what so ever with your Web page or BBS. I am a beleiver that if you have the knowledge and time, host your own. You then have the control over what happens and can usually fix any problems quicker.

[campbellcj]

I'm not a big fan of total outsourcing/hosting either. It only works IMHO for pure (static) 'web sites' not interactive web-based apps or complex database driven e-commerce configurations.

The ideal solution -- but expensive -- is "co-location" where you basically park your own servers in rack space within a professionally built and managed data center (or 2+ if possible), often in a hardened bunker type building. Massive UPS and line conditioning systems, fire systems, multi-layer physical and electronic security, 24x7 staffing, redundant multi-tier1 connectivity, etc. You manage your own software configuration and they worry about the connectivity and physical aspects.

The issues of power outages and potential physical security threats are non-trivial in Santa Monica where my office is located. Our UPS alarms go off several times a week due to brownouts or short transient blackouts, and we have 10-20 minute outages a couple times a year. And this is a fairly new, Class-A commercial building in a major business park. Connectivity downtime hasn't been an issue yet, but these days ISP's can disappear with little or no notice. We're hosting our own stuff now but nothing that is high volume or mission-critical. As soon as that happens, our production servers are going to a data center.

You gotta ask yourself...what would happen if my server got stolen, or if the office burned down, or your Win2K registery/directory gets totally trashed, or ??? What's the cost of downtime? How many customers (or potential customers) would I lose if my systems were down for 2-3 days or more?

Just my $.02...

[Wayne 962]

Our server is currently co-located in Culver City. This is the place that is going under.

We have made alternative arrangements which will indeed improve the speed of this website, even as we add traffic (13,000 visitors per day right now!)

Look for some problems as we make the move, and then look for things to get better!

-Wayne