Dedicated Server - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 05, 2011, 12:08:14 pm
content: I've taken the plunge and got myself a dedicated server for the forum and the blog. (using HostGator, based in Texas)It's being set up now and should be ready within 24 hours, then I will start transferring everything, but that could take the best part of a day, so I'd expect the forum to be locked down for that period, and the DNS changeover to take the usual random time.Updates will be on Twitter.Sorry for the interruption, but hopefully this is for the better.I don't think I can keep using this shared server for the forum and blog, it is CPU throttled 100% of the time now, and it's getting quite slow from my end.Hopefully with a dedicated server just for the blog and forum database, it should scream?The video and audio files and other sites will continue to be served by my other shared servers which are holding up fine and not being taxed too much.ThanksDave.

author: Computeruser
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2011, 12:15:50 pm
content: You do very well on small resources. Thank you. ... C

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2011, 02:25:06 pm
content: Just upped my subscription by $4/month. Hope It helps

author: Chet T16
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2011, 08:42:58 pm
content: I find the site runs very well this end as it is, i can't wait to see what its like after the move.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2011, 11:22:13 pm
content: This is good news ... there is slowness issues and database overload issues from time to time.Is any known IP hosted on the new server, just to check the ping response ?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2011, 01:07:13 am
content: The new server IP is 184.173.12.165Dave.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2011, 01:18:43 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on September 05, 2011, 12:08:14 pmVery slow from the US side too. Recently it has been taking many seconds to respond to most requests. Good news about the upgrade!

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2011, 01:22:58 am
content: Ok this is how it looks like from my end.100ms to get in USA, and then gets higher in their servers.As gamer I know that happy response is something between 70-170ms.Thanks God that they do not host games... LOL

author: Frangible
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2011, 02:29:24 am
content: Well the new Apache startup page came up instantly here!Hopefully your new ISP won't have its databases running on overloaded servers. Sometimes that's the real reason behind a pokey forum...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 02:32:57 am
content: Sorry, the new dedicated server move didn't go to plan.Far too many issues for me to try and explain.It is being worked on...Dave.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 02:57:00 am
content: Nothing that cant be fixed with a bigger hammer!

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 03:06:29 am
content: A tip of the hat to you, Dave. It is never easy doing these migration sort of things on the web......You have my sympathies as well as a promise of funds to follow when your new site is up and I have a couple of shekels to spare in my account. The cupboard has been bare for some time, but all bad things do come to an all too short end before they blossom again....<groan>.Best of luck in the migration.... and yes, there's is at least one more EEV follower who will support you and your bio project!RegardsChristian AKAKaptain "Sh*t.... where did my paycheck go this time?!?!?" Zero

author: Jimmy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 03:17:43 am
content: Well done dave for someone with such knowledge of how things should work this must have tried your patience. I hope you have some hair left.It is a shame there are no reasonably priced dedicated servers in au and you had to go offshore like everything else.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 03:25:54 am
content: The US was no choice really, the majority of my audience are US based.I was hoping it would go smoothly, using cPanel, just like I've had few problems moving my server around a few times before.But this turned out to be a different beast, well beyond my feeble skills.The fight will continue, because at 30 times the cost of my shared server it had better!Dave.

author: Joshua
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 03:32:26 am
content: Does the hosting company not have any support? Or does the time difference make it screwy?

author: MrPlacid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 03:40:46 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on September 05, 2011, 12:08:14 pmThis is the dreaded, pain that comes with owning a successful website. I don't know if we should feel bad or happy for you.PS: Instead of moving, have you thought of using youtube to store your videos and remove it off your blog? And just have your blog and forum on the shared server?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 05:11:20 am
content: Quote from: MrPlacid on September 07, 2011, 03:40:46 amYoutube do store my videos.The server is just used for the forum and the blog (basically mostly just database stuff), and it is 100% maxed out virtually 24/7My podcast video files stream from another shared server, as does TheAmpHour and the MP3 audio files.So all of my sites are currently "load shared" across 3 shared servers. They will remain in addition to the new dedicated server.Dave.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 05:33:37 am
content: It didn't fire up the first time eh Dave? Sorry to hear that.What went wrong?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 12:52:48 pm
content: 40-Love Penguin to serve,but still the first match.

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 02:58:27 pm
content: Dave, if you need help configuring the dedicated server, you can add me on MSN (email in my profile settings). I've got a fair bit of experience with this kinda stuff.Not sure why you need CPanel but if its something you are comfortable with, I guess its ok. CPanel and the like are usually meant for shared hosting server's where you need end-user access to configuration. Since you need to setup CPanel properly in the first place, it's usually a lot of effort for hosting a single site (or even many of your own).

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 10:04:38 pm
content: Quote from: metalphreak on September 07, 2011, 02:58:27 pmIt's usually not a matter of needing CPanel or WHM its a matter of dealing with the configuration provided. A lot of ISPs will offer hosting this way, dedicated servers are not generally a open box.Your spot on that in this instance it's a lot of Sesame St type configuration to be negotiated for little advantage and a lot of extra effort but likely it will be the only configuration option available from the chosen provider.

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2011, 10:31:58 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on September 07, 2011, 05:11:20 amSure it is real user access that is maxing out the forum and blog? How many concurrent users does the server handle? Or could it be a targeted denial-of-service? Do you see any step changes in CPU loading over the last 6 months or is it continuously near its peak?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 08, 2011, 02:54:41 am
content: Quote from: DrGeoff on September 07, 2011, 10:31:58 pmYes, it seemed to be just a gradual increase.I had to move the video files and AmpHour files off to gain some speed back, but it's now maxed out again.Could be bots or something, I have no idea. I just know it's maxed out and it's slow.Dave.

author: MrPlacid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2011, 10:37:56 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on September 08, 2011, 02:54:41 amAlso, don't forget that it could be some other website on the same share server that's slowing yours down. Heck, it could be that the hard drive is slowly dieing too.BTW, I never notice your site was slow at all. Maybe I am just clueless.

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2011, 11:05:02 am
content: Quote from: MrPlacid on September 08, 2011, 10:37:56 amOn a virtualised system the resources are allocated with a cap on the limits, so another virtual server on the same physical hardware should not slow down other virtual servers.A good server farm will have continuous resource and system health monitoring so HDD errors are quickly detected and resolved without impacting the system (most use a raid configuration with hot swapping).

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 08, 2011, 04:40:51 pm
content: I don't think the old server was virtualized, just your basic cheap shared server with one apache instance serving all the customers. I wouldn't count on cheap hosting services using RAID either, although the better ones do.