Noob Hosting Question
 

Hi all, I'm new to the board and to adult content hosting.

I've looked at the hosting section of this site and wasn't familiar with the hosts listed. Some of the links didn't even work.

My question is what do you guys think if companies like 1and1.com
They offer discounted hosting with lots of space and bandwidth. Also their T&C doesn't not prevent you from hosting adult content. It only states that you should not host illegal content. See sections 7.4 & 7.8
http://order.1and1.com/xml/order/Gtc

I would like to stick with a known host. I have delt with no name hosts and it has never had a good result.

I really don't expect to be hosting anything crazy that would take down a shared hosting server. If that would happen I would move to a dedicated setup.

Any information or your opinoins would be great!

Thanks in advance!!! |bananna|

Their customers aren't very happy.

I was asking about using popular hosts that mention nothing about adult content, not about how the customers feel.

I know many people who use 1&1 and many other popular hosts with no problems. Their support staff may not be the best but if you host you should know enough not to need them all the time.

Well, I guess you have all the answers you need then. You don't care about customer service and by your own research they don't prohibit adult so you should be all set. I say go for it.

The only opinion I have to offer is don't automatically think "known" is good and "no name" is bad. Good luck.

First, let me say that 1and1.com sounds like absolute shit. I wouldn't trust anything to them. I bet they're a bunch of crayon eating idiots.

Next, your statement makes me think you may be a crayon eater too. If a person knows enough not to need any support, then they may as well get a budget unmanaged box and handle it themselves. Otherwise, you want to know that the host has EXCELLENT support. Shit happens, and when it does, I don't want to wait four hours to speak to someone who is sitting there munching on crayons and drooling on himself.

I had a server catch fire a few years ago, it happens sometimes. I was down for about 8 hours while my host re uploaded everything from his backup and was totally up to date about an hour later. I pay slightly more than most and it's worth it. My host is pretty much unknown outside of the adult biz so wouldn't qualify as "popular" but you get what you pay for.

Your best bet is to search to find who uses what and how they like it or don't like it. Look through the topics by using the search function, that should answer for you. I use cyberwurx and am happy. Others use colo-cation and love it , UW put a link above.

When it's 4 am and all your sites are down, running the risk of being deleted by bots from link lists, you will thank god for backups and courtious, prompt customer service.

After a few unpleasant adventures with cut rate hosts, I decided hosting was not the place to cheap out. At this point, I'm with what's probably one of the most expensive hosts in the business...and I pay them every month with a smile :)

Not only no downtime, but when I DO need something...it's dealt with in minutes. That's worth every penny I pay them, plus my server is always blazing fast.

While I don't host with Colo Cation, I've heard nothing but rave reviews from those who do |thumb

As to the host you asked about, if their customers aren't happy with them...that should be a big red flag to anyone considering hosting with them.

Thank you all for the information. I guess I should have phrased my original post a little differently. I am hardly a crayon eater. I have about 10 years experience in the IT industry (as an admin), but don't wish to have a lot initial investment in this. I would like to start out small and build from there.

As for 1and1.com not everyone hates them, I was just using them as an example.

What hosts / methods do you guys use? At this point I would only invest in shared hosting then eventually (long term) moving to virtual or even dedicated. Thanks again... |santa|

I have a mainstream site with 1&1. I don't rate them at all and I'm going to change. Its the usual large company syndrome - wait on the phone for 10 minutes to get a 7 option choice. Choose one and have another wait for another choice. Really pisses me off.

|spam|

Friendly, Mr Yum is right in the adult industry, hosting is not the place to cheap out. You can't afford down time or your sites get unlinked and unpleasantness happens.
I honestly recommend looking around the board at the large sites who have little or no down time, and picking your hosting from there. Nothing works better than the tried and true. You know these guys can't and won't afford downtime and their hosting will be the best. I realize also that beginning you may not be able to afford or want a dedicated server but many of these very reputable companies also offer smaller hosting packages. Deals from little known or unknown hosting groups who do not specialize in adult traffic, may sound attractive and you probably won't have a ton of traffic to begin with but if you want to start off on the right foot go with a host that specializes in your adult traffic needs and will grow with you. I would like to add that all the content in the world, the best designs and the most perfect traffic trades will not make up for a lack of support in a host or sites that go offline even occasionally!