Web host down - do I have any options

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martyyn

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#148690 27-Jun-2014 17:25

I use Jonesolutions in the US to host a couple of websites. They have been down for nearly 48 hours now with apparent issues around supermicro motherboards.

I have WHM access but no Cpanel on the actual sites and with little to no information coming out from Jonesolutions (other than 'we are working on it') do I have any options to get the sites up and running again ?

I've learnt today about using a separate email host in future so that should work and although I don't really want to move from Jonesolutions is that my only choice and could another host transfer it without cpanel access ?

Cheers

AidanS

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#1075686 27-Jun-2014 17:30

As far as I'm aware there is nothing you can do. The only possibility would be to rehost the files/sites on a separate host temporarily. If you have static websites then investing in a service like CloudFlare would mean that static content is cached in the event of host downtime in the future.

-A.

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mattwnz

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#1075694 27-Jun-2014 17:56

Sounds like it is time to move host. Use a NZ one that specializes in proper business hosting, not one of the cheap ones. It is very rare for a host these days to have that sort of downtime. Are you reselling hosting to customers and providing all their support?

kingjj

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#1075835 27-Jun-2014 23:23

I'm really surprised you've had this issue with JoneSolutions. I used them for about 4 years and found them rock solid both in performance and support.

It is very much possible to do a transfer without Cpanel access, but it would be a huge PITA. You wouldn't be able to transfer everything across (eg you'd have to manually take a copy of your public_html dir, and take a dump of any MySql database via PhpMyAdmin or similar etc etc). Things like Email are a lot more tricky. Most web hosts that offer 'free transfers' require Cpanel access.

What product line were you using with JS? From what I understand (from when I was with them a while ago now), there standard and reseller hosting packages are hosted in a CloudLinux cluster on some very decent gear with backups galore (which would explain why you would still have WHM access but potentially not Cpanel/HTTP).

Perhaps pop over to webhostingtalk.com for more updates. JoneSolutions owner is one of the senior moderators there and will be very active in trying to save face for his company (trying to remember his username off hand but can't - possibly 'Net' - a quick search will find him).

CloudFlare as mentioned above would be a great way to lessen the effects of future downtime, or you could have your own backup hosting and use a very short TTL on your DNS entries (there are DNS services which specialise in failover DNS solutions like this). The advantages of having a secondary hosting environment would include having secondary MX servers so you wouldn't lose your email in the future (although with JS you really shouldn't at all).

martyyn

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#1101599 4-Aug-2014 11:50

I'm finally getting around to looking at this again, and in particular Cloudflare, so thanks to you three for the suggestions.

Yes, Im reselling hosting to my customers. They are small businesses (one person typically) who cant afford 'big town' prices when it comes to getting a website. They are aware its not going to be 24x7 up time and its typically 99.96% according to Pingdom. JoneSolutions have been nothing but brilliant in the two years I've been using them, their support in particular, so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt this time.

I'm looking into the email side of it as well and I've set my own email up with Google Apps for Business instead of JS. I dont suppose there is any way of know it all works until there is a problem with JS again !

Andib

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#1101603 4-Aug-2014 11:54

martyyn: I'm finally getting around to looking at this again, and in particular Cloudflare, so thanks to you three for the suggestions.

Yes, Im reselling hosting to my customers. They are small businesses (one person typically) who cant afford 'big town' prices when it comes to getting a website. They are aware its not going to be 24x7 up time and its typically 99.96% according to Pingdom. JoneSolutions have been nothing but brilliant in the two years I've been using them, their support in particular, so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt this time.

I'm looking into the email side of it as well and I've set my own email up with Google Apps for Business instead of JS. I dont suppose there is any way of know it all works until there is a problem with JS again !

As others have said, I would recomend changing your DNS to cloudflare as even if your Cpanel hosting goes down your google apps email will still be up and usable

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