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Hostgator - Word of Caution
| Posted by spike7x65x, 01-18-2009, 12:35 AM |
| Hostgator are an excellent host, been with them for a few months, but just found something of a potential show stopper.
Being a shared IP box, I noticed yesterday there were several adult websites on the same server. This concerns me as the IP could potentially get blacklisted for adult content or possibly for spam.
I queries this with hostgator who said their TOS does permit adult websites.
But that leaves the problem of either a) I live with it and hope the IP doesn't get banned or b) purchase dedicated IPs for every domain or c) move....
Maybe I am overestimating the seriousness of this to my customers, any thought anyone?
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| Posted by MoneyRiot, 01-18-2009, 02:59 AM |
| I can't speak about the spam aspect, but where would you get blacklisted for adult content? Hopefully you're not conerned about any of the big search engines as they would definitely not do that to you.
Also, keep in mind that adult content is 100% legal as long as all models are of age and proper records are kept in accordance with 2257
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| Posted by spike7x65x, 01-18-2009, 03:02 AM |
| Not thinking so much blacklisted, but filtered. Some protection systems work on the basis of IP address and not only domain names. I agree adult content on the server wont get you blacklisted but it may well get your IP filtered by public institutions or by parental control software.
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| Posted by Mxhub, 01-18-2009, 03:49 AM |
| The disadvantage of hosting under a shared environment is all accounts are on a shared IP.
Not really a good idea to get new ip for each domain you have on the shared server..
If you do not want to run the risk of having "adult sites" as your neighbour, look into getting your own vps.
You can get your own shared of dedicated resources and private IP. Zero risk of having your site penalized by google or blacklisted at major anti-spam sites.
Of course, you have to pay alittle more but it is still worth it.
-joseph
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| Posted by spike7x65x, 01-18-2009, 03:55 AM |
| Yes I agree dedicated for each domain is silly.
I've just got a VPS with Knownhost and will review them in a few weeks.
Bit annoyed with hostgator though cos the service is great but why permit adult sites on the same server. Why not set up dedicated adult packages if they are willing to accept it under their TOS?
So now I'm just trying to balance the risk of keeping some customers on hostgator and they may have spam or ip issues, or go through the hassle of moving everyone to a single VPS
The other issue, is I work in a small competitive community. It's maybe being a little paranoid but whats to stop a competitor doing a reverse DNS then going to some of my customers, a couple of which are churches and saying to them "Do you know you are on the same computer as a porn website!"
Shared hosting, whatever goes, but I really expected a bit more in terms of care from hostgator with their reseller packages.
They do SEO hosting so why not just do an adult reseller hosting package!
Not clever...
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| Posted by MikeDVB, 01-18-2009, 04:05 AM |
| Yes I agree dedicated for each domain is silly.I'm glad you feel this way, and I am sure the dwindling amount of available IPv4's left also thanks you.
I've just got a VPS with Knownhost and will review them in a few weeks.Excellent, which package did you purchase out of curiosity?
Bit annoyed with hostgator though cos the service is great but why permit adult sites on the same server.Why not? If you had read their Terms of Service completely before signing up like you should have you would have seen adult sites were allowed and you could have asked about this before you signed up and used their services. This is when a little bit of due diligence would have paid off.
Why not set up dedicated adult packages if they are willing to accept it under their TOSWhy should they? Most hosts allow adult content and most don't have dedicated packages for adult content.
So now I'm just trying to balance the risk of keeping some customers on hostgator and they may have spam or ip issues, or go through the hassle of moving everyone to a single VPSI think you're slightly over-dramatizing this "issue" personally... If it concerns you as much as it seems to why not just find another reseller you can use that does not allow adult web sites?
The other issue, is I work in a small competitive community. It's maybe being a little paranoid but whats to stop a competitor doing a reverse DNS then going to some of my customers, a couple of which are churches and saying to them "Do you know you are on the same computer as a porn website!"So do research on any provider before you sign up and see if they allow adult sites on their shared or reseller servers before you sign up and you can avoid this altogether. That or you can get a VPS or Dedicated server of your own and go that route.
Shared hosting, whatever goes, but I really expected a bit more in terms of care from hostgator with their reseller packages.
They do SEO hosting so why not just do an adult reseller hosting package!
Not clever...If I run a coffee shop should I feel obligated to *NOT* sell Tea because it's not labeled as a "Tea shop" as well? Same idea - just because it's not *labeled* as adult hosting doesn't mean it can't be used for adult hosting. They don't call it "WordPress Hosting" either but I don't see you complaining that people are using WordPress on HostGator's servers...
If you don't want to be on the same server as a certain type of content you need to find out from the provider if they allow the content before you sign up and then bash them publicly on a forum for doing absolutely nothing wrong.
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| Posted by spike7x65x, 01-18-2009, 04:22 AM |
| I did say hostgator have been excellent and yes I should have done more due diligence on the TOS. Just in a rush as usual!
It's not a dig against hostgator as I said excellent service, just a note of caution for others to make sure they check this out, as I forgot to, so they dont make the same mistake.
Some providers do specifically advertise adult hosting, I agree this is a business decision, so my fault for not reading TOS properly.
For 99% hostgator make an excellent choice, but for resellers who instead of reselling direct may be cultivating their own clients, it may affect their business if any spam or ip issues arise.
Think that is fair comment and gets across my intention to get others to check out the TOS, not bashing hostgator!
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| Posted by MikeDVB, 01-18-2009, 04:26 AM |
| I did say hostgator have been excellent and yes I should have done more due diligence on the TOS. Just in a rush as usual!
It's not a dig against hostgator as I said excellent service, just a note of caution for others to make sure they check this out, as I forgot to, so they dont make the same mistake.
Some providers do specifically advertise adult hosting, I agree this is a business decision, so my fault for not reading TOS properly.
For 99% hostgator make an excellent choice, but for resellers who instead of reselling direct may be cultivating their own clients, it may affect their business if any spam or ip issues arise.
Think that is fair comment and gets across my intention to get others to check out the TOS, not bashing hostgator!
No problem, I wasn't trying to bash your or your views, but just make it clear that HostGator didn't do anything wrong in this certain case
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| Posted by hosting guru, 01-18-2009, 04:28 AM |
| I would assume If a sever move is not possible then you should look at targeting getting a dedicated Internet protocol address for your website.
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| Posted by spike7x65x, 01-18-2009, 04:39 AM |
| I'm not going to get dedicated IPs, as it further decreased the IPv4 pool and for 10 websites thats not great I think!
Just like to reiterate hostgator absolutely excellent service.
Just make sure you do read the TOS to make sure any host is suitable for your certain business needs, unlike speedy me!
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| Posted by rv_irl, 01-18-2009, 10:47 AM |
| I'm not going to get dedicated IPs, as it further decreased the IPv4 pool and for 10 websites thats not great I think!
Just like to reiterate hostgator absolutely excellent service.
Just make sure you do read the TOS to make sure any host is suitable for your certain business needs, unlike speedy me!
You only needed 1 dedicated IP, not one for each site. 1 dedicated IP and move all sites to be on that IP..
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| Posted by ThePrimeHost, 01-18-2009, 03:16 PM |
| You only needed 1 dedicated IP, not one for each site. 1 dedicated IP and move all sites to be on that IP..
Bingo. If being on the main shared server IP concerns you, have your host assign a dedicated shared IP to your WHM account. Easy.
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| Posted by Cirtex, 01-18-2009, 03:17 PM |
| It should be no problem getting a dedicated IP for your entire reseller accounts and that should take care of the issue. You can also look into a VPS setup to allow more control/customization of needs.
Good luck
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| Posted by trustedurl.com, 01-18-2009, 08:16 PM |
| Just make sure you do read the TOS to make sure any host is suitable for your certain business needs, unlike speedy me!
Out of curiosity, were they able to accommodate you with your own shared ip separate from the rest?
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| Posted by darkeden, 01-18-2009, 08:58 PM |
| Well. I would get a dedicated instead of a reseller limestone comes with whm cpanel etc etc.
hostgator is known for overselling there servers. If you are not having site slowdowns give it a month or 2 and the ywill
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| Posted by foobic, 01-18-2009, 09:35 PM |
| hostgator is known for overselling there servers. If you are not having site slowdowns give it a month or 2 and the ywillHave you had this experience with HG? If so, please submit the domain you're hosting there to the mods for verification.
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| Posted by larwilliams, 01-18-2009, 10:59 PM |
| Have you had this experience with HG? If so, please submit the domain you're hosting there to the mods for verification.
I have not heard such a thing. HG is one of the better oversellers, from what I've been told.
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| Posted by gallerysites, 01-19-2009, 01:12 PM |
| Interesting topic.
I'm currently a gator member, but never even thought
about shared sites and how they could affect others.
Also, the gator reseller seems much more expensive
then others I'm researching. Thanks for tne news!
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| Posted by darkeden, 01-19-2009, 05:25 PM |
| Have you had this experience with HG? If so, please submit the domain you're hosting there to the mods for verification.
I am no longer hosting with them. If i thought they where so bad i wouldnt continue to pay for there service lol
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| Posted by LCCEnterprise, 01-21-2009, 02:12 AM |
| In my eyes, You should purchase a Dedicated Ip Block, or move.
I wouldn't worry about being blacklisted unless there was something illegal about the adult web site.
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| Posted by AquariusStorage, 01-21-2009, 03:21 AM |
| In my eyes, You should purchase a Dedicated Ip Block, or move.
I wouldn't worry about being blacklisted unless there was something illegal about the adult web site.
And if there was something Illegal, I'm sure Hostgator would take notice that their main shared IP is blacklisted and take the proper steps to getting it un-blacklisted.... I mean come on. A big provider like HostGator can't afford to have a shared IP blacklisted for long, I doubt you would even notice if it ever did happen .
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| Posted by ldcdc, 01-21-2009, 08:43 AM |
| I doubt you would even notice if it ever did happen If we'd be talking about RBLs, it would be one thing. But how can a host determine that a search engine is blacklisting/penalizing the IP?
Then again, do we even know that search engines do this kind of thing? Why would it even make sense for them to do so?
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