Wanted: Site Host Provider

[cosquillero1]

I agree, i'd like than our community keep the same bandwidth, but if it's too expensive to keep the current contract, maybe would be a good idea to look for another provider with almost same bandwidth. Or look for another customers more (publicity's customers).

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I agree. If the difference in bandwidth is not considerable, he may not have to wing it and the site may not noticably suffer. It depends really on the package and whether there are any benefits for long-time members.

Maybe if he approaches someone with "I'm interested in being serviced for x-ammount of time, what can you do for me?" they may be willing to alter his contract either on the spot at over time once they see that he is stable business and will be for extended periods of time. Although, I doubt that, since most businesses are not looking to give you a deal, but want to collect on what they feel is a fair arrangement in their existing contract options.

 

[joeskilove]

Paypal doesn't have to know everything. Many people use it to get payment for their adult transactions. They make sure to tell their customers to leave the "Subject" field blank, or if they feel compelled to use it, to type in WiFi, or something safe. Your site fall under the "Service" category in terms of payment type. So donators can use that category, and leave everything else blank.

As long as no one blows it, the account remains in good standing.
Take it from someone who was shut down once, and is now under review because a custom video customer decided to post his custom name and script in the "Subject" and "Comments" fields.

When PP shuts you down, simply use a different bank account, as Paypal makes sure the one in question never gets used again.

Also, I propose two things, shop for better hosting, and increase the number of donators. Go to www.cozyfrog.com and GFY (just type it in the Yahoo or Google search box, and you will see what GFY means). There are lots of adult webmasters with excellent hosting plans for you. Tell them what you are paying, and most will try to beat it so they can get your business.

As someone said eariler, $60+ is a car payment for some people. Try getting 20 or more dedicated donators. You can even set Paypal up to automatically bill their accounts each month--just be discreet. $12+ is a lot easier on the pockets. I suggest the donators should all be moderators, as they will truly be the driving force of the site.

 

[Paradoxical]

TickleTheater;

What kind of equipment does this site run on? I'm assuming that with the traffic, space, and bandwidth required, you're not using a simple shared hosting account. Not for $244 a month, anyway. A price like that sounds more like a dedicated machine.

Being PHP script, the forum has to be a linux program. Would it be possible to look at a cheaper linux solution? I know that Windows VPSs (Virtual Private Server) run around $100 a month, with linux solutions being much cheaper.

Have you investigated such a route?

Just my thoughts.

-Drew

 

[MÿTicklingStudios]

TickleTheater;

What kind of equipment does this site run on? I'm assuming that with the traffic, space, and bandwidth required, you're not using a simple shared hosting account. Not for $244 a month, anyway. A price like that sounds more like a dedicated machine.

Being PHP script, the forum has to be a linux program. Would it be possible to look at a cheaper linux solution? I know that Windows VPSs (Virtual Private Server) run around $100 a month, with linux solutions being much cheaper.

Have you investigated such a route?

Just my thoughts.

-Drew

Hi Drew,

Windows servers are a waste of time. Linux servers are the only way to go, assuming they are setup properly. The site is a php script (which would run on a windows server), but also runs off a mysql database with each request you and anybody else makes on this forum translating into 1 or more database queries. The server load or stress the server is on would come from the mysql requests that are being made, meaning the likelihood of crashes or downtime would increase as the site continues to grow. This would mean memory upgrades, HD upgrades, RAID controllers etc to deal with the requests more efficiently. So we are not talking about a bare bones linux box as providing a viable solution - Bandwidth is only a question of cost.

After getting a server, assuming it is setup right, then there is still the job of server administration to do assuming you are using a dedicated server. If you have enough technical experience to do this yourself, then great. But if not, then managed services alone cost in the region of $100-$200 per month. Managed services are a must if you are running your own dedicated server, unless you wait until you get a problem and then you'll be paying the server company $90 per hour to make any corrections.

Finding a good reliable host is something I have been through many times and it is definately not easy. Having a few dedicated servers myself, I am speaking from personal experience and I will say, my server administrator is worth his weight in gold (if i could afford that!).

 

[nessonite1]

Not only does the site run on a dedicated server but it's a really nice server. It's got mega hard-drive space, dual processors I believe, and a beefy connection. We did a lot of price-comparisons several months ago and we were unable to locate a hosting solution with the specs we need for a lower price than what we have.

I'm not a big hard-ware expert but the most expensive upgrades that we would need to add to the standard $100 dedicated serevrs, were the dual processor and the beefy connection. Most of the entry-level servers came with a connection that would have made this site impossible to navigate when there were any apreciable number of people on.

 

[tickle_x-pert]

Being a newer member and risking the chance of speaking out of turn....If you multiply the number of active members by say $1 US (or even $5 US, for that matter) and have them send it to a PO Box, I think that would cover your costs, and then some?? Just an idea. I'd really hate to see this site dissolved, as it is my top choice these days, and considering the quality of this site, I think most folks would gladly pay.

I totally agree. Given the number of people on here. Everyone should be able to give $1.00-$5.00 a month, to keep the site going. Can it be changed to a pay site only? Those of us who really care about it, would help out.

 

[nessonite1]

It's always been the intention of the admin to never turn this into a site where you are required to pay. As far as I know that intention still stands.

 

[XxMystxX]

Well, it would be beneficial to instate a one-time fee. I can understand that it was Tickletheater's intention to create a free community, but life in general is growing more demanding with every year.

Better yet, with a one-time registration fee, it would negate most of the usual trolls around these parts who normally just re-register after being banned.

Just food for thought.

 

[Paradoxical]

Has this been explored before?

For any attatchments whatsoever, we make it a requirment that they be hosted offsite, thereby reducing a significant amount of bandwidth requirments.

For example, all image and art forums could be hosted at free services. I personally use imageshack for my sig pics, for example.

It might lower bandwidth costs significantly.

 

[XxMystxX]

Use imageshack to reduce bandwith, etc etc.

I'll admit, it's a sound plan. However, it's also something Tickletheater wished to avoid. I'm sure you're aware that imageshack only hosts the files for a limited time, as do most file hosting networks. Ergo, this makes old threads absolutely useless after several months and leads to many random threads pertaining to the "missing images" in question.

If we force people to host their files on imageshack, it'd be a temporary fix; but eventually demand would grow for a personal hosting service again. Can we deliver after that point? Probably not.

Edit: Damn your avatar. Everything you type I read in Data's voice!

 

[tickle_x-pert]

I applaud the intentions of the admin to keep this site free. But maybe it's time for all of us to, "step up to the plate" and show we appreciate it, by pitching in $1.00-$5.00 a month, (or a one time fee) to keep it going. Maybe the admin should consider receiving our help as thanks. I would be very sad if this site closed, it has been a joy for me in so many ways.

On another subject.... This is only my 2nd post, (I'm a bit shy), but I was wonder why everytime I try and reply to other posts or send a message to someone I get this message: "you do not have permission to access this page....." Can you or someone else tell me how do I obtain access?

 

[Paradoxical]

I'll admit, it's a sound plan. However, it's also something Tickletheater wished to avoid. I'm sure you're aware that imageshack only hosts the files for a limited time, as do most file hosting networks. Ergo, this makes old threads absolutely useless after several months and leads to many random threads pertaining to the "missing images" in question.

Okay, but lets face reality, here. Obviously, the luxuries and the functionality of this site is great, but it's not working financially. This is known. Therefore, either some parts of this functionality must change, or extra finances must be provided.

There's going to have to be SOME give and take, here.

I'm not saying that imageshack is the only solution, either. It was simply the example I used. For frequent posters of art, for example, it's exceedingly simple to create a free Geocities account and throw files onto it via FTP, then link them up to threads. Nothing is lost, we can continue to share the content we always have. There are many other solutions such as this, but that's not the point I'm trying to make. If the site cannot maintain the level of bandwidth and storage space it needs, under its current policies and allowances, then some of the ways that we do things have to change.

...Or, we charge people.

 

[MistressValerie1]

On another subject.... This is only my 2nd post, (I'm a bit shy), but I was wonder why everytime I try and reply to other posts or send a message to someone I get this message: "you do not have permission to access this page....." Can you or someone else tell me how do I obtain access?

Hi,

Your account is listed as still needing e-mail validation. Please see this thread for more information: http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=23456

Best regards,

 

[P[a]pi]

Well, I'm fine with 3 or 4 people splitting the bill and if that makes the 3 or 4 people all admins then I'm fine with that too. I'm also fine with paying 1 to 5 dollars. Hell, I'm fine with paying 1 to 5 dollars a year, or even 1 to 30 dollars a year. At a site where you buy clips the clips are usually 5 to 10 dollars a clip. If I'm willing to pay that, then why wouldn't I be willing to pay a yearly fee? Hopefully other members will think this way.

 

[TickleTheater]

Thank you all for your replies with your support and suggestions. I believe a viable solution has been struck which I intend to pursue further. More details to be available once it has been more finalized. 🙂

 

[tickle_x-pert]

Hi,

Your account is listed as still needing e-mail validation. Please see this thread for more information: http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=23456

Best regards,

MistressValerie:
Thanks for your help & suggestion. I read the thread & tried the "to complete your registration email". Nothing worked - not even the "click here to contact admin". I don't know alot about computers, websites, etc..., but I followed all the steps & it still did'nt work. I'm lost 'cause I really want to be more active (sending & receiving messages; posting; etc...) on this very cool site. Maybe the Admin TickleTheater can help me if he reads this?

 

[Kalamos]

For any attatchments whatsoever, we make it a requirment that they be hosted offsite, thereby reducing a significant amount of bandwidth requirments.
For example, all image and art forums could be hosted at free services. I personally use imageshack for my sig pics, for example.
It might lower bandwidth costs significantly.

Yes, issue's been raised before, and for a while we agree on putting a cap on maximum file size.
Since we can currently rely on Rapidshare and similar hosting services, I would suggest trimming the split files forum down a bit.

In the meanwhile, I'll be moving my pics to external hosts as well.
Just a drop in the sea, I know, but every little bit counts, right?

 

[nessonite1]

I'm not sure it counts at all, K. I mean...we're not paying per k of transfer. We pay for what we are allotted whether we use it or not, right? And since we're not continuously adjusting our hosting plan or adding and removing hard drive space (impossible on a dedicated server without physically switching out hard drives) so, as long as we don't go OVER our limits otherwise, it won't make a difference.

 

[Kalamos]

We pay for what we are allotted whether we use it or not, right?

Yes, but if we managed to lower traffic by moving contents somewhere else, we could eventually do with a lower allotment.

 

[BigNorm]

money's been tight on me aswell, but i'll pinch some here and there and donate whatever i can, whenever i can. i sure as hell would hate to lose TT, but i also would hate to switch forum service providers, i don't think all of them allow avatars, and other great options we have here.

 

[nessonite1]

Perhaps. I think that would have to be one of the "if we absolutely have to" things as going off-site (to upload as well as download) would just be a massive inconvenience for people.

 

[nessonite1]

Normie, he doesnt mean switching the type of forum we use, just where it is physically hosted and/or how to pay for it. The board itself wouldnt change. ^^

 

[BigNorm]

Perhaps. I think that would have to be one of the "if we absolutely have to" things as going off-site (to upload as well as download) would just be a massive inconvenience for people.

going off-site for media hosting would suck, heck, the on-site media hosting is why i switched to TT in the first place, and it gets more people to post. i'd like to do whatever possible to avoid going off-site.

here's a couple ideas, you say pay-pal doesn't support adult sites, but what if TT himself gets the money from pay-pal and not the site?

maybe openly announce your accepting donations to help keep the site running. in an extreme case, give donators specials, like bigger avatars, or bigger siggy size in bytes.

an online fundraiser? maybe sell some things of ours online to help support TT funding. heck, i got loads of stuff i could sell and let the proceeds go to TT, that'd be easier than handing straight cash over.

 

[nessonite1]

here's a couple ideas, you say pay-pal doesn't support adult sites, but what if TT himself gets the money from pay-pal and not the site?

something like that could work indeed. what we'd need is to not have paypal even mentioned anywhere on the ite as an option for donating.