New hosting account...questions.

alphawolf · 08-06-2009, 04:25 AM

Hello, I’m looking for a new web hosting company. We are an accounting firm (my wife is a CPA) who also provides technical services to our clients. I am the technology person here doing troubleshooting, computer maintenance, and training as well as part time web design for many of our clients.

We've been thinking that I need to have a reseller level hosting package so the websites I create can also generate some recuring income.

I like the fact that you use Plesk, I've seen demos of that and it seems pretty good (I HATE cPanel and WHM). I wonder what version of Plesk you are using? The demos I've seen are of 9.2 on the Parallels website. How easy is it to manage reselling (setting up 'packages', setting up clients, administering websites and email)? I’ve only been on a shared hosting plan in the past. Do you have tutorials/instructions/documentation for a noob like me?

Also I am interested in trying to learn dot net/Silverlight stuff so I am thinking of getting a Windows reseller account. What would I be missing if I went that way over a Linux account?

Also, If I do manage to completely blow things up, how easy (or hard) is it to get support? I'm leaving my current host because I can't get any great support from them, they flip flop between extremes: either I know more than they do, -or- they are smarmy and rude acting like I asked a question that 'everyone' knows the answer to (I may as well have asked where to put the pink elephant in my web space).

What ways are there to contact support? How are the questions answered? How long is the average wait for a response?

I know these may be dumb questions to ask, but Ive learned that I need to ask BEFORE I make any decisions.

Thanks
Jared Finkenbinder
Alpha Omega Accounting
Johnstown Colorado

**NexDog** · 08-06-2009, 04:48 AM

Hi Jared,

Most servers still have Plesk 8.6 but all linux servers will have Plesk 9.2 by end of August. If you sign up I'll make sure you go on a Plesk 9 server though. Plesk is really so simple to use. We don't have any tutorials for Plesk 9 but I can point you to some flash tutorials from the site that sells them to hosting companies. You can also login to the demo and take it for a spin. It really is simple though. You can create Client or Domain templates and setup your clients as Clients or simply Domains. You set limits for them which match your plans.

Managing everything is so much simpler than cPanel/WHM as everything is in one place. If you need to do something for a client on ther domain you just click on their domain name and make the changes.

At the moment I'm not really sure when Windows servers will be upgraded to Plesk 9 so that might be something to consider when choosing Linux or Windows. If you really want Plesk 9 then grab a Linux Reseller account and then maybe get a small Windows account for any Windows stuff you might want to learn.

Getting support is really easy and you'll find it reliable. Mainly we use our support desk system for support but Live Chat is also available. Support is guaranteed 24/7 but Live chat isn't completely 24/7. You can always try it but if you don't get an answer you will for sure on the support system and normally within 30 minutes. But Live Chat coverage is pretty good too.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you want. I'm happy to answer!

lharvey · 08-06-2009, 07:57 AM

Hi Jared

Been here since 2002 or just before dirt.

Plesk is simple. I have a Windoze and Linux reseller account.

Love this place.

Good call.

Lee

alphawolf · 08-06-2009, 03:03 PM

Ok so you guys are at the top of my list for new hosting company now (even the fact that someone replied within 24 hours let alone 20 minutes puts you in the number one slot). I know I was up way past my bedtime at 2am but what were you doing then (at work) Nexdog? If that is what getting support is going to be like then wow!

So linux has the newer Plex control panel. What would I be missing from a windows account if I got the linux account (I know .net/asp and sql stuff) anything else? Is there any differences in managing the linux server than the windows? Or does Plex make them both prety equal? I did find the flash tutorials you spoke of and will go through them as I have time.

If I went with the linux hosting, would I be better off getting the nexusLite plan to start, or would the nexus 3.0 Relaunch Special be a better start? Im not sure I can resell with that special package though (less cost is good right now but can more than 15 domains be added to the special later?).

As you can probably tell I don't have any experience being a reseller (yet) but I think I will want to try especially if you guys will put up with a stupid question or two when I have a "doh! moment." If anyone has a source of "how to's" for the reselling buisness let me know.

Thanks again!

Jared Finkenbinder
Alpha Omega Accounting
Johnstown Colorado

**MikeMann** · 08-06-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphawolf

So linux has the newer Plex control panel. What would I be missing from a windows account if I got the linux account (I know .net/asp and sql stuff) anything else? Is there any differences in managing the linux server than the windows? Or does Plex make them both prety equal? I did find the flash tutorials you spoke of and will go through them as I have time.

Not sure if they have the new plesk yet, but that should be coming as NexDog pointed out.

Quote:

If I went with the linux hosting, would I be better off getting the nexusLite plan to start, or would the nexus 3.0 Relaunch Special be a better start? Im not sure I can resell with that special package though (less cost is good right now but can more than 15 domains be added to the special later?).

Not sure myself, but the plan can definitely be upgraded if you need more space, traffic or domains.

Quote:

As you can probably tell I don't have any experience being a reseller (yet) but I think I will want to try especially if you guys will put up with a stupid question or two when I have a "doh! moment." If anyone has a source of "how to's" for the reselling buisness let me know.

The only stupid questions are the ones not asked (generally speaking). There are a ton of tutorials here (I wrote many of them and maintain them), but not too much as for the reselling business per say.

alphawolf · 08-06-2009, 06:44 PM

Thanks Mike!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMann

Not sure myself, but the plan can definitely be upgraded if you need more space, traffic or domains..

Who should I contact to see if this package would work for reselling?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMann

The only stupid questions are the ones not asked (generally speaking). There are a ton of tutorials here (I wrote many of them and maintain them), but not too much as for the reselling business per say.

Could you point me to the tutorials? Sorry if they should be obvious, I was up at 2:30 am posting to Nexdog last night. Im still a little foggy :-)

@Lee (Iharvey), youve been here since 2002? they had the internet then? Just kidding. Longevity and customer satisfaction go along way dont they?

Jared Finkenbinder
Alpha Omega Accounting
Johnstown Colorado

**NexDog** · 08-06-2009, 09:10 PM

The Relaunch Special will work for reselling. Just add 2 IPs with the order for your custom nameservers and you'll be good to go. We get our tutorials from DemoDemo.com. When the Plesk 9 upgrades are done I'll update our own site with a Plesk 9 set from that site. You can view them all there though.

We have quite a few clients that joined us in 2002 and are still here including Lee and Mike above.

**MikeMann** · 08-06-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphawolf

Could you point me to the tutorials? Sorry if they should be obvious, I was up at 2:30 am posting to Nexdog last night. Im still a little foggy :-)

They're under Support at the top of the page. From that page, choose Tutorials.

**susannad** · 08-07-2009, 04:07 AM

I've been here for a while too. Even after all this time I'm not over-endowed in the tech-savvy department so the support I get here is the big bonus for me. They are indeed 'Open All Hours' and, better still, super friendly!

I have a smallish number of over-55s under my wing - and the Plesk is the bees knees for managing their domains and spaces. Believe me, if I can do it easily then you can do it standing on your head

lharvey · 08-07-2009, 08:17 AM

Yes there was Internet in 2002

Al Gore invented it just for us.

I moved all my customers over to Host Nexus after being with another company for two years. I got tired of no support, no forums to hunt info, and I really didn't like cPanel at all.

There are many people here that have been here as long if not longer than I.

At some point in time we have all asked those 'duh' questions and you can find the answers here in the forum.

Lee