Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Here`s a question to any windows server experts on the forum....

I am running a site in Community Server that at times 1) is unbearably slow and 2) is producing memory errors.

I have been researching performance in the forums at communityserver.org and some people have overcome these issues by using dedicated servers to avoid competing with other sites and gaining access to server parameters that can optimize performance. 

My questions is this:  Aside from the obvious cost, what are the pros and cons of leasing your own dedicated server?  How much do I need to know to do this correctly?

How many hits are you getting a month?

It may just be the server, because I`ve used sharing hosting up to 70,000 -100,000 pageviews a month without issues.

Very few hits...  Really haven`t even gotten started yet.  That`s actually part of the problem.  From what I understand Community Server is an application that shuts down if it isn`t used for 15 minutes.  The next person that needs to use it has to wait through the boot up time. 

With a dedicated host, you can modify the servers application timeout parameter and extend the 15 minutes to several hours.  That access is much more of a driver in this decision than the bandwidth or pageviews.

Shared hosting should not be a problem for you then.I think it may be the server. Administrating a dedicated server has lots of things to keep up with for a novice. There definately is a cost difference and if you do not need it, then you should wait. I would suggest talking to your server company first, describe the problem and have them check it out. years ago, i changed to dedicated as per a sales person`s suggestion. First I did not need it and secondly when i had the dedicated i had to teach myself how to use it, which took time and some messups...i then when back to shared until it was needed and now have basic knowledge but use a server administrator for lots of the issues i haven`t a clue about or the time to figure out. But learning it for you can would be a plus, if you need it. I would definately talk to your provider first.:0

Erin

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

I think you are talking apples and oranges.

From what I`m pulling out of my head ... community server is a software package, right?

Where is this thing actually hosted?

What exactly "shuts down" from inactivity ... the software or the server?

If you are talking about "leasing your own server" and it`s the software that is shutting down, I`d just find better software on shared hosting.

Community Server is a software package (ASP.Net front end, MSSQL back end).  Right now I am hosting my CS site on a shared windows server. 

Aparently, the server software has an application timeout parameter that others have adjusted to keep CS from shutting down in low traffic environments.  This is normally not allowed in most shared hosting plans.

I will contact my host with more specific questions about what can be done to improve the speed in the shared hosting environment.  My primary objective here was to get a feel for how difficult it would be to manage my own dedicated server... not even sure if that is what I want to do, but every little bit of info helps in evaluation the options. 

I`d say get rid of that community server and go with a shared hosting
solution. You don`t have to deal with the administration, and it`s a lot
cheaper than dedicated hosting, unless you need a lot of disk space.

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John Ahrens, President
John Ahrens, LLC

The amount you have to do for a dedicated server varies widely by host. Some set the thing up for you and keep the security holes patched ... Others just plug it in and say "here`s your SSH!" and then never talk to you again.

The main issue is monthly cost to obtain and maintain. You can quickly go from $5-10 per month for a personal account, to $30-50 per month for a reseller account, to $200-500 per month for a dedicated server.

There`s also this idea of dedicated-virtual, which is somewhere in between.

Casavalridge,
Have you tried adjusting your Scheduled Tasks? From what I make you your question is that server keeps shutting down every time there is no activity. This might be your problem, you might have adjusted a timer on your application.
If that is not the case, then you should talk to your host and tell them to modify the IIS files. I`ve found out that over the last few months there`s have been a lot of upgrades from Microsoft, so there might be a conflict in your settings (on the server).

Now as for going with a dedicated Server? I don`t see the reason why you should do that unless you know for a fact that your going to grwo within the next six months, if not stay with a regular shared hosting plan.

 NIKOLE is right, some companies just give you an Admin Login and your SSH login and its up to you to Modify the Server to your Preference.
My Question to you is: Why ASP and MSSQL? Why not PHP MYSQL?



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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net