Forum Host

[mutley 4,498]

Hi gang

I am presently looking around for a new forum host as I feel the speed of this board is sometimes painfully slow?

I understand this is a predominately an American used server so I would expect the peak times to not affect us adversely. Unfortunately this doesn't appear to be the the case, do you experience long wait times too?

My previous forum was hosted on my web sever and so must faster but my service provider Freedom 2 Surf charges an absolute fortune if I want to extend the database past the included 10Mb (Currently this one is about 13Mb)

So I am looking at a couple of options-

1. A new web host for Mutley's Hangar including forum space to bring it all back under my control.

2. A new forum provider, but needs ftp or Myphp Admin access to import the database from this forum.

3. Do nothing!

If anyone has any suggestions or knows of a reliable, fast host please let me know. It doesn't have to be a free forum like this one (Except I pay to remove the ads) as there is plenty of life in the forum yet .

I am prepared to pay for something good and there will never be a membership fee to Mutley's unlike some sites! (Although there is a donation button on my home page )

Comments appreciated..

[ddavid 149]

Hi Joe

Sometimes The Hangar takes time to come up with me, but I don't find it unacceptably slow. If you prersonally feel the need, then I'll back the move, otherwise, as usual, option 3 looks the best!

Oh yes, a BIG THANK YOU to you, Joe, for keeping us Old Hangarians going - other forums pale into insignificance.....

Cheers - Dai/David.

[allardjd 1,853]

Mut,

I do find the forum screens slow to load at times, but can't say it irritates me. I just click off elsewhere and amuse myself for a couple of minutes and when I come back the screen has loaded. It's my impression that it happens most often when there are three or more members logged on. Once all of you have gone to bed over there (7 PM or later here), it is generally very quick (and quiet).

I don't have any suggestions about alternatives, though the JF forums are always pretty quick in my experience. I don't know if they run an in-house operation or if their host might be an option, or how expensive it would be. I'm sure you've already considered that.

Doing nothing would certainly not put me off. I think that's a viable option. My annoyance meter remains in the green.

John

[hello_basil 0]

I honestly don't mind what you do but I will be using a webhost called "Heart Internet" and for 2.5GB of webspace, 1,000 Email Boxes & PHP, Perl etc £35 is a bloody good deal! :wink:

I'll be using them in the near future! :yes:

http://www.heartinternet.co.uk/starter-h.shtml

[dgor 0]

Joe,

If you go for option no. 1, do we still get to keep the accounts etc? Keeping the existing database is a must I think, with all the old topics and accounts.

Option 2 sounds good but as I said I think keeping the database is important.

If you are happy to do nothing then I'm happy enough Joe. But personally I am finding it slow at times and sometimes it dosen't load at all. But as I still think keeping the old database is important.

Cheers,

Dave

[simi_av8r 0]

Hi Joe,

although ultimately not my decision, i know how much feedback on these topics really helps to make up your mind.

Personally, i've experienced the odd occasion where the forum takes a few moments to load, but its not overly bothering, and only ever happens mid-morning and later in the evening, and i expect this to be the case most times.

As dave said, i also think it's important to be able to keep the database and files from this forum, else it means starting fresh and loosing an immense amount of fantastic data, let alone the AWTC thread and the events encountered on our travels thus far :wink:

If i had to make a choice to move the forum, then option 2 would be my preferred route. But at the moment i'm very happy to sit and surf elsewhere whilst MHF loads itself into my Safari for XP browser

just my two penneth

simi

[mutley 4,498]

Thanks Dave & Simi,

At the moment I am still kinda happy with the devil we know. The forum host does sometimes appear not to be monitoring the the performance of the servers and when I look to see what the problem is there have already been unanswered questions from other forum admin who also use this service.

I would not consider moving the forum without the database, the previous MH forum had nearly 4000 posts but I could couldn't import into this one.

I back this databas up very often and according to phpBB should be able to migrate it.

So I am going to sit on my hands for a little while longer. Thanks for th efeedback.

Cheers