Choosing a new Host: Help Highly Welcomed :)

First of all, thank you very much for taking the time to help. I am relatively new to webhosting and using vBulletin, so I will greatly appreciate any help I can get.

I am currently running a message board for a college, projects-based program. As a result, it needs to be highly professional and have good features. The program has about 70 members, which translates into 70 members for the board. However, it is possible that the membership will be allowed to grow to 100 in the future. Although each year new members are added (about 10), about the same amount leave. Those who leave are allowed to still use the forum, so forum membership will continue grow (those who leave will most likely chose not to use the forum regularly though, if at all). However, so far, all the members have not been on at the same time. The most active users at one point has been 43, and it is likely that some of those accounts were simply left open as students went to class.

Right now, I am using Servage at my host. So far, it has been a very unpleasant experience. The first thing was with the whole max_questions thing, which I now know is a very bad thing for a host to impose. After installing the mods that I needed, I have experienced some lag at times, and some database errors a long the way (as well as not being able to install certain important mods, such as vSpell). For a list of my installed hacks, please look at my user profile.

I consulted the following thread for more information (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showth...=530676&page=2), and have found one of my options to be ASmallOrange. Would this be a good host to have for my forum? I'm trying to learn as much as I can, so please let me know if there is anything else I should know!

And, by the way, I do not know what my server load is. Servage is not too helpful in providing this bit of info.


Thanks again!

[bashy]

Hi we supply hosting, take a look at www.bashys-hosting.com

[Cooleyvol]

I use hostdime.com and have for years with great results. My board has around 200 members and I've had no problems.

[lighti]

I can accomodate your website on my servers (dont want to spam) you can email me if you want the link to my business site Steve@Lighti.net is my direct email.

[DementedMindz]

Originally Posted by Cooleyvol

I use hostdime.com and have for years with great results. My board has around 200 members and I've had no problems.

Used them for a long time till they messed up all my server settings on a vps and it crashed and kept crashing for months since then I have moved to Wired Tree and I have to say there support is amazng they answer and fix problems in less then 5 mins. take a look at there feedback on webhostingtalk. :up:

[santimariani]

I am thinking of going with ASmallOrange. Do any of you have good experiences with this company?

Thanks for the feedback so far

asmallorange is the same level as servage...

for the kind of project you have, you may require some basic hosting on a solid reputed webhost, like hostgator.com .... the servers that suggest free stuff all around and unlimited stupidities are always craps...

[Brendan Lennon]

Originally Posted by Cooleyvol

I use hostdime.com and have for years with great results. My board has around 200 members and I've had no problems.

I've had a bad experience with hostdime, with them for over 2-years and everything was fine until I enquired about an upgrade package for more space.

They were pushing for a dedicated hosting solution I didn't need, citing all manner of nonsense about cpu & ram usage and ultimately denied access to Sql databases and my entire ftp directory I needed for moving to another host provider.

The whole thing left a sour taste and wasn't resolved for over a week with the forum offline (I'm guessing 9 times out of 10 people just hand over the extra $$$), so if you're with them- don't ask about upgrading or you could be met by arrogant sales men who may hold your site to ransom also, and support or anyone else couldn't care less :down:

[towermatt]

I use HostRocket, they seem to be great!!

<--only been a few months

[mtlcore]

Hi santimariani, ASmallOrange is an excellent choice!

They provide the best support in the industry as far as I know. Their servers are really great with uptime and speed. Support tickets responded in seconds. Go with them. You won't regret it.