Shall I stick to PowWeb or move away [Archive]

tsvas

4-18-05, 05:52 PM

Kane

4-18-05, 06:01 PM

I know how you feel, I keep getting these errors wehn my members try and post on my forums

Error in posting

DEBUG MODE

INSERT INTO phpbb_posts_text (post_id, post_subject, bbcode_uid, post_text) VALUES (34897, 'dghb', '586375fa5c', 'dfhg')

Line : 282
File : /www/g/gorbag/htdocs/includes/functions_post.php

This happened Saturday (UK Time) and we havent been able to fix it yet.

It's getting very annoying.

Kain

morrow

4-18-05, 11:31 PM

I've been down over 400 times since last Tuesday, and have records to prove it. tsk tsk...

At one point on Saturday I believe, I had to repair the tables in my database because something got corrupt. That was not too big a deal because it only takes a second to do... You might want to try that on your DB too. It might fix your issues.

unproductive

4-19-05, 12:17 AM

Yes, I also know how you feel. I have been with powweb for about a year and a half now and have had great service until the last couple of months. Now it seems that these problems are becoming more and more frequent, so I've decided to go in search of a new host even though I'd rather not. There are so many choices in web hosting that I'd rather give my money to some place that may actually keep my site up and going for the majority of the time.

My laziness is telling me to give it a couple of months and see how things turn out, which I will probably do. After that, if things don't improve, I'm out of here.

mikem

4-19-05, 12:23 AM

Same here. Over last weekend especially. I have been with powweb over 3 years. I can only hope they resolve their issues.

thanks,
mikem

BrandonColorado

4-19-05, 09:22 AM

For my money you won´t find a better host for 7.77. I love this service, I love the forums. I think the service we all used to receive has spoiled us. Powweb has gone from great to good in the last couple of months. I think they´ll get over it. I wouldn´t leave.

blw911

4-19-05, 10:31 AM

I'd leave, to many problems.

extras

4-19-05, 10:48 AM

I wouldn't leave either. (But I understand fellow users who leave.)
Most of problems have been PHP/MySQL related, and I don't use them. :)
For small and/or simple data, you don't need heavy DB, anyway.

If I need DB, I would use SQLite or metakit. (I've already installed library and tested them.)
They are (mostly) independent of server settings, and back up and restoring of the DB is
matter of downloading/uploading DB file.
No limit what so ever about connection or database.

On shared hosting environment, I wouldn't recommend PHP,
other than for scripts that run only occasionally.
You would be happier with lighter, quicker (and probably more secure) solutions.

Capo

4-19-05, 07:49 PM

Hi guys,

I am with Powweb from almost 3 weeks. First 2 days my site is OK. From past 2 and half weeks, because of database issues, almost 75% of the time it is down. Almost all Saturday (April 16th) it was down. It caused a lot of damage to my site. I am loosing my visitors.

From past 2 days it is little better. 70% of the times it loads lightening fast. 30% times it is very very slow.

I think some you may know this company from a long time. I need your honest opinion. Shall I stick to PowWeb or move away?

Powweb has digressed into a good host for personal webpages, gaming clan sites, and generally anything that isn't of huge importance. If you plan to run a business site or anything similar, then sadly (with Powweb's previous 8 months of poor service) it is not worth any money you may save over a more reliable providor.

toastmaster

4-19-05, 08:22 PM

YvetteKuhns

4-19-05, 08:59 PM

I was disappointed in the last few months of service, but I have been here for years and almost never had problems with my site or any of my clients' websites. The changes in the last few months were supposed to improve service, not impair it.

Many people requested changes in OPS, email, and support of those stupid content management programs that are often abused. Many of the problems with the server were caused by PowWeb customers or exploits of their websites. Most complaints were by people running forums. While the problems were unintentional, they affected everyone.

Since we cannot stop people from using forums like phpNuke or form scripts that are often abused, we can educate people about alternative scripts or keeping their current scripts updated.

If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

toastmaster

4-20-05, 05:42 AM

Many of the problems with the server were caused by PowWeb customers or exploits of their websitesI don't remember a single incident which was caused by a customer script being exploited that caused the slowdown on all of Powweb. Can you point me to one? I remember DOS attacks, sessions problems, ftp not working, email lost for a day, mysql servers dying on their feet - which of these incidents was caused by a customer script?

linnetwoods

4-20-05, 07:15 AM

Powweb has digressed into a good host for personal webpages, gaming clan sites, and generally anything that isn't of huge importance. If you plan to run a business site or anything similar, then sadly (with Powweb's previous 8 months of poor service) it is not worth any money you may save over a more reliable providor.

I cannot agree with that swingeing assessment - I have several clients with business sites on PowWeb and none of us has had more than a very occasional and very minor problem. I think the reason for this is that we all have extremely low-tech sites.

My clients are all local small businesses, in various countries, and use their websites to tell their customers who they are, where they are, what they are offering and how to obtain it.

Pages are very simple, with images and text in tables and all are built in FrontPage. I use none of the FrontPage 'components' except one or two hit-counters and a single marquee on a page explaining why I don't use that sort of thing.

There is no php, MySQL, Flash or any other complex scripting on any of the sites, which are merely used as tools to promote businesses, to inform and to encourage contact. They seem to work very well and I have had all my business so far through recommendations from existing clients or people seeing their sites and wanting ones like them. Mainly, visitors are expected to go to these sites because they have seen the URL in relevant contexts (on a brochure, flyer or poster or a site belonging to a related business that has reciprocal links) rather than being expected to find them via search engines, although plenty do arrive that way.

I think what may be true, is that for e-commerce sites - shopping-cart-type, buy online businesses - PowWeb may be temporarily unready...

Do bear in mind that, out of 60,000 customers (I think that's what I read) only a very small proportion of you are having a hard time. I believe it is mainly you guys that are on the cutting edge of new technologies that are mainly affected by the problems and I have no doubt that, before long, PowWeb's staff and equipment will have become fully geared to your technologies.

:D Soon, of course, there will be other new technologies to challenge everyone. That's progress!

toastmaster

4-20-05, 07:29 AM

I cannot agree with that swingeing assessment - I have several clients with business sites on PowWeb and none of us has had more than a very occasional and very minor problem. I think the reason for this is that we all have extremely low-tech sites.So I don't really see your defence as relevant to this thread, insofar as you fully admit that your sites are very plain and simple, and could in fact be run on any free webspace that an ISP would give you
I think what may be true, is that for e-commerce sites - shopping-cart-type, buy online businesses - PowWeb may be temporarily unready...
Do bear in mind that, out of 60,000 customers (I think that's what I read) only a very small proportion of you are having a hard time. I believe it is mainly you guys that are on the cutting edge of new technologies that are mainly affected by the problems and I have no doubt that, before long, PowWeb's staff and equipment will have become fully geared to your technologies.
I really don't think you are understanding the basis of the problems here, and you are comparing apples with cheese.
php, mysql etc have been around for years. There is nothing new or cutting edge that any of us are doing, or haven't been doing for years (in my case 3 years) here.
Powweb advertises these services as part of the package, and until 8 months ago, Powweb was providing these services efficiently and with minimal downtime. We're not talking about doing anything new that has broken Powweb, we are talking about doing the same things we have done for years, which Powweb has broken recently.
It's like me buying a ham sandwich, and getting two slices of bread with a bit of lettuce, then someone saying "yes, but the lettuce is the finest quality organic lettuce...what, you want the meat AS WELL??". Damn, that was one fine analogy there!

linnetwoods

4-20-05, 07:47 AM

I understand what you are saying but PowWeb could probably manage the queue for ham sandwiches with extras when there weren't so many people wanting so many extras... nowadays, the regulars who just want plain ham get served just as well and as quickly as before and, perhaps, the ones who don't just want lettuce but pickle as well are having trouble getting what they want... Or am I wearing your splendid (I mean that most sincerely, folks) analogy a bit thin?

Sorry, I'm addressing your remarks in reverse order ( I am a little backward, after all...). Of course PowWeb gives me and my clients things a free host doesn't give! To name but three out of the many:
1) I don't have to tolerate the advertising for other businesses that comes with free hosting on any of my sites.
2) I have space for as many images as desired on each site I administrate (some of my clients tend to need to use lots of photos to display their wares) and as many pages as wanted.
3) The email facility is ample and left alone regardless of frequency or infrequency of use.

It is plain silly to assume that the only worthwhile businesses on the planet are ones like one's own. There are probably at least as many small to medium-sized businesses using the Internet as an auxiliary to real-world sales as there are businesses selling directly online. Even then, the products themselves have to be shipped by real-world people (unless you're one of those snake-oil salesmen selling e-books full of hot air to the gullible and greedy) so the only real difference is the removal of the need to meet people face to face and take their money with your own hand once they've seen your site and liked your products.

mikem

4-20-05, 09:44 AM

If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

Isn't that what John Cena said? Then he FU'd Holla Holla...:D
(if you don't get what I am referring to, that is ok)

Back to the topic at hand. ;)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Capo
Powweb has digressed into a good host for personal webpages, gaming clan sites, and generally anything that isn't of huge importance. If you plan to run a business site or anything similar, then sadly (with Powweb's previous 8 months of poor service) it is not worth any money you may save over a more reliable providor.

I cannot agree with that swingeing assessment - I have several clients with business sites on PowWeb and none of us has had more than a very occasional and very minor problem. I think the reason for this is that we all have extremely low-tech sites.

So what are you saying there?
Powweb is actually good for businesses with low tech sites?
What about a business that runs a high tech site? One that uses PHP or ASP or other scripts?

Capo is right. Maybe he/she should have said it this way instead...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Capo
Powweb has digressed into a good host for personal webpages, gaming clan sites, and generally anything that isn't of huge importance. If you plan to run a high tech business site or anything similar, then sadly (with Powweb's previous 8 months of poor service) it is not worth any money you may save over a more reliable providor.

I've been with powweb for over 4 years. However, the last 6-10 months of downtime etc. has been unacceptable according to their claim:
Avoid site downtime through server failover

No More Embarrassing Downtime
100% Redundant Connections
Fault Tolerant Infrastructure

I don't know about ANYONE else, but when I see "No More Embarrassing Downtime", it means NO MORE DOWNTIME to me. Does that mean something else?? Like occasional downtime? Or periodic downtime? Please someone correct me if I have misunderstood powweb's claim.

thanks,
mike

Note:
It's like me buying a ham sandwich, and getting two slices of bread with a bit of lettuce, then someone saying "yes, but the lettuce is the finest quality organic lettuce...what, you want the meat AS WELL??". Damn, that was one fine analogy there! EXCELLENT ANALOGY!

extras

4-20-05, 10:32 AM

I don't think using PHP or ASP is "high tech". :)

PHP is just a little too slow and too big.
So, when things get tight, it'll feel the effect first.
Using MySQL adds another piece, increasing chance of failure, too.

But PowWeb could have done better job in certain areas, for sure.
I don't insist a lot these days, but I still think they should offer
real raw log as advertised, for example.

jschein

4-20-05, 10:43 AM

php a little too slow along with sql? aestechnologies.net let me know how slow that is for you . . .

linnetwoods

4-20-05, 11:23 AM

None of my sites or my client's sites have registered ANY downtime WHATSOEVER in the past 24 months, so PowWeb IS managing to keep it's promises to some of us. I was just looking for something that might explain why all the complaints seem to be from people using php and MySQL as far as I could tell.

Maybe we need to remember that these forums are open to ALLPowWeb's clients and potential clients and not berate those who post to tell the truth about their satisfaction with the service any more than we berate those who are having problems and come to talk about them here.

This does not make me an apologist for PowWeb. Why should I be? I pay my money, like everyone else, and assess the value I get for it in terms of results. It would be shabby of me, given that those results have, so far, been excellent in the main, to stay quiet and let onlookers assume that the only kind of customer PowWeb has is the unsatisfied kind.

Do all of YOU give 100% top class perfection to all of your customers in whatever business you are in, all of the time? I'd like to think I do my best to achieve that aim but I'm darned sure I must fail from time to time, no matter how hard I try.

I would be very affronted if my clients automatically assumed the worst about me and started hurling unpleasant remarks in my direction, every time I made a mistake or found myself struggling because I was temporarily overstretched!

toastmaster

4-20-05, 11:35 AM

Do all of YOU give 100% top class perfection to all of your customers in whatever business you are in, all of the time?I don't promise it, Powweb do, and I think that's what annoys - if you promise 100% and a no downtime GUARANTEE, then can you not forgive people for expecting that?

linnetwoods

4-20-05, 11:44 AM

Of course I can! It was rather silly (extremely silly perhaps?) of them to guarantee the unguaranteeable but perhaps they actually thought they could back it up forever at the time they came up with the idea... I am a great believer in codicils such as 'excepting in unforseeable and exceptional circumstances' myself!

Usually a guarantee comes with a follow on such as 'Or your money back!' or, as with one of my old hosts, 'A day free for every minute of downtime!' (or was it a month for every day, I forget now...) or some such thing. What do PowWeb offer? That is an innocent question. I have no idea and cannot be bothered to go and look...

linnetwoods

4-20-05, 11:46 AM

Oops... where's toastmasters' message that I was replying to gone?

YvetteKuhns

4-20-05, 11:47 AM

I was just looking for something that might explain why all the complaints seem to be from people using php and MySQL as far as I could tell.

I don't remember a single incident which was caused by a customer script being exploited that caused the slowdown on all of Powweb. Can you point me to one?

If you look at complaints on this forum, you will see people with php forums who have interrupted service while others see no interruption of service. People with problems are usually on the same shared server. Often after things get resolved, you will see someone post a complaint that his or her site was disabled. While that person did not intentionally make the server busy, that person's website had to be disabled to restore service for the rest of the people on that web server.

While some problems are the fault of PowWeb or outside sources, many problems are caused by customers. I am really tired of hearing about people using phpNuke and other sites that are "hacked" as they call it, while I simply call it abused. Or people sending newsletters, whether legitimate or spam in large quantities to tie up the mail servers.

I just think that we can avoid some problems by educating people here on the forum. linnetwoods has made websites that work for the clients and luckily doesn't see interruption of service. My own website has more static pages than dynamic pages for quicker loading and something to see if the php/mysql isn't currently working. ;)

The sites that rely on php/mysql entirely (yes, I have made several that are hosted here) are the ones suffering. My clients didn't see much problems aside from the custom.ini file needing changes and the default chmod for images uploaded in php. These changes by PowWeb were made, because of people using those open source CMS that need updates. So, please remember to update or use better programs! :D

YvetteKuhns

4-20-05, 12:37 PM

Oops... where's toastmasters' message that I was replying to gone?

I don't know. I have a recent example of someone exploiting scripts and a forum which caused a site to be disabled. I do not blame the PowWeb client for someone abusing his site. I was only commenting that we can educate people to find better solutions.

http://forum.powweb.com/showthread.php?p=293685#post293685

linnetwoods

4-20-05, 12:44 PM

Atta girl! You tell em! I have been enjoying a right old verbal ding-dong over on the dog meat thread on the Chit Chat forum over the past few days - who needs a gymnasium - the workouts on PowWeb are far more fun!

Seriously though, you are absolutely right. Too many of us are ignorant of too many of the facts (and I include myself wholeheartedly in that category)and it makes it even more confusing when people make categoric statements that later turn out to be untrue or at least partially mistaken, especially when those statements are being used to level accusations in all directions.

mikem

4-20-05, 12:51 PM

I don't think using PHP or ASP is "high tech". :)

PHP is just a little too slow and too big.
So, when things get tight, it'll feel the effect first.
Using MySQL adds another piece, increasing chance of failure, too.

PHP/ASP etc is High tech compared to straight HTML. Don't 'cha think? Surely an inexperienced webmaster would agree. Unlike you or me, who may have more experience than a newbie, even so, PHP and scripts alike are HIGH TECH.
What do you consider a High tech site?
PHP and MySQL have been around a long time. Don't blame them for any slowness etc.
I can run a PHP site with MySQL etc on another UN-NAMED hosting service I use and it runs like FIRE..but here at Powweb the same darn scripts run like molasses...I call that a webhost issue PERIOD.

The only reason I use powweb is because they are cheap for what you get..but then again...you get what you pay for right? I pay a lot more for my other webhost and get a little less space and bandwidth, but the speed and reliability of their servers blow Powweb's servers out of the water.

So, anyone can call it what they want, but I know my opinion of the matter, and that is that powweb is an average webhost that provides average webhosting for a very cheap price, no more, no less. I am in no way complaining or trying to degrade powweb, they can do that to themselves and have, I am simply stating my opinion and it seems that my opinion is based on factual evidence.

But PowWeb could have done better job in certain areas, for sure.
I don't insist a lot these days, but I still think they should offer
real raw log as advertised, for example.

I agree with you there 100% bud.
I simply wish they would perform as advertised.

thanks,
mike

YvetteKuhns

4-20-05, 12:52 PM

Thanks! I know I don't always say things people like, but I am honest. I saw your dog meat thread in chit chat, but chose not to reply. I have had posts edited or removed and told people they take remarks too personally or seriously.

I was always good at spelling and grammar, but one time I said I didn't have any patients, but I meant to type patience. Everyone at home was sick and we had doctor appointments, so maybe that was on my mind. Or maybe I am just human and even I can make a mistake once in a while. :eek:

Too bad they removed the post instead of editing it. The thread would read better that way. I am sure I am being watched as I am a repeat offender. :D Too much honesty can be too much. :)

YvetteKuhns

4-20-05, 12:58 PM

but here at Powweb the same darn scripts run like molasses...I call that a webhost issue PERIOD.

PowWeb is a SHARED web host which means you share with other people who may have scripts that are being abused or running wild. Some people had scripts that would run forever if there weren't set limits. I got a "too many connections" error yesterday for testing a php form too many times in a short amount of time. I didn't blame the web host, because it was my own fault.

There IS a problem with the web host. There are sites that are affecting the others on the server. This can happen on ANY shared server. I have used several web hosts with clients, so I know this is true.

linnetwoods

4-20-05, 01:00 PM

I am surprised I haven't had any of my posts (that I know of) pulled yet... but I do wish I had quoted toastmaster instead of just replying. I can't remember what he said but I didn't think his remark was particularly out of order. It was something about the fact that surely one could forgive people for feeling that other people should honour the claims they make, such as guarantees of no downtime, which was a fair enough thing to say, I thought. Obviously someone else thought otherwise...

YvetteKuhns

4-20-05, 01:03 PM

Had you quoted him, your post would have been edited anyway.

toastmaster

4-20-05, 01:05 PM

I am surprised I haven't had any of my posts (that I know of) pulled yet... but I do wish I had quoted toastmaster instead of just replying.Is it not the one 9 posts up from this one? I can't remember which one has gone missing now - posts vanish from time to time, it's a moderated board.

linnetwoods

4-20-05, 01:05 PM

;) Ah...

mikem

4-20-05, 01:52 PM

PowWeb is a SHARED web host which means you share with other people who may have scripts that are being abused or running wild. Some people had scripts that would run forever if there weren't set limits. I got a "too many connections" error yesterday for testing a php form too many times in a short amount of time. I didn't blame the web host, because it was my own fault.

So is my other webhost, as I mentioned in my above thread, and they do not have near the slowness or downtime issues I have experienced here over the last 8 months running the same scripts and even website. My other webhost also allows it's users to run PHP-Nuke and the like that are always so vulnerable just like Powweb. Shared servers may have a little to do with the slowness dowtime etc., but it is not the definitive answer.
It still points back to the webhost provider.

Maybe powweb has gotten too big for it's britches? I'd like to know what my other webhost does that is different from powweb that keeps them running so smooth. Maybe powweb could use some constructive advice from another webhost provider.

mandril

4-20-05, 02:52 PM

I've noticed that several threads and a lot of replies have just disappeared. I've sent an email to support to let them know.

There's nothing like that going on. Please David, follow this link (http://www.skullface.com/MIB/MIB-MEMORY-ERASER.jpg)

linnetwoods

4-20-05, 02:59 PM

Is that, unlike PowWeb and it's clients, most people are nothing like as generous with their knowledge in the real world. there's probably not a great deal of shared knowledge bandied about between competing hosts...

If all toastmaster's posts have vanished then it must be either a glitch, a hack, or he has just had his epaulettes and buttons cut off with a sword and been drummed out of the forums as a traitor... hope it's not either of the latter two... Maybe his sheep turned out to be a spy from some other hosting service....