New windows server? Specs and control panel? Options

[m00n]

Hi! I'm going to get a windows server 2003. It's my first windows server. I'll be adding +- 20 small sites per month.

Which server should I choose? Super Server 2.4? 1024MB RAM?

And which control panel? Helm or Plesk? I want to offer JSP and ASP. I'm researching. Checking Helm's and Plesk's sites. But I also want to get community feedback.

The MSSQL shared server: imagine I get a server and 2 weeks later I want to add 100mb data file? It's $30 monthly. Do setup fees apply? And how much? Each time I order 100mb data file do I just have to pay additional $30 per month? Or do I also have to pay setup fees?

It will not be a production box for a while. I have to learn how to admin windows. In the Linux world, you can get great resources for free. Should I expect to pay for a firewall and other admin resources for my Windows Server?

Thank you!

[fplath]

As far as the control panel, I can only recommend Plesk, which has been running great for me. I also enjoy it's Application Vault.

[rabbit994]

2.4 will do fine. Number of sites per box is not a hard number. You just have to watch CPU and Disk and when it gets full, get another box. As for Helm vs Plesk, I recommend Plesk, it's harder to set up, but it has some cool features over Plesk and way plesk work just causes me to go ewwww. Plesk is great for those hosters who are cross windows/linux but if your all Windows, I can only recommend Helm. Be aware though Helm is harder to set up so it turns at bunch hosters off who don't want to learn the ins and outs of it's operation. Helm has a test license you can get and a Windows 2003 has an eval copy you can get so if you have a local test box to play with at home, your set. That's what I did. I sent you a PM also.

[alex042]

I'd recommend Plesk over Helm at this point. We had our Helm server reformated and reloaded with Plesk. I wasted a lot of time trying to figure out Helm and come to find out it's missing some things I wanted whereas Plesk has been easier to work with so far and has the options Helm was missing and more. The old version of Plesk wasn't very pretty and lacking several things, but the most current version has made a lot of improvements.

[m00n]

Thanks for the info.

Windows Server 2003 has a firewall. Is it any good? Do you know of any third party firewall that has a good reputation and is free and open source? And what's the best firewall (software) for Windows Server 2003 that money can buy?

Can anyone from Servermatrix inform me about MSSQL shared server. After ordering a server, if a client wants to add 100 mb data file MSSQL will he only pay the monthly fee or do setup fees apply? Thank you.

[eddy2099]

The built-in Firewall is really a personal firewall for 1 IP and thus would not meet your needs for web hosting. You can use the built-in IPSecs and RRAS to secure your server.

If you opt for the MSSQL space after you got the server, you will need to pay a setup charge, it goes with everything you want to add later.

[m00n]

Thanks for the info!

[fplath]

Here is a nice tutorial on how to use RRAS as a firewall:

http://www.bganet.org/rras/rrassetup.htm

[m00n]

Easy to follow tutorial. Thanks.

Can anyone from Servermatrix sales explain what setup fees apply when you order space in the MySQL shared server, after ordering the server?

Thank you.

I guess I'm goint to miss shell. I was looking at the tutorial and it was weird! Very weird. Nice structured windows that open and give you 5 or 6 options to check.

[SM Rep]

Sorry, it is actually for MSSQL not MYSQL. If you are interested in the shared MSSQL there is a $25 install fee. With MYSQL there is no monthly fee. You can install it yourself or we can for an hourly admin fee. It is $75 an hour with a one hour minimum.

[m00n]

Thanks Stephanie!

I was thinking MSSQL. I did write MySQL.

[m00n]

Only one last question before submitting order. Could you confirm if Plesk includes all of the following:

Microsoft IIS 6.0
Microsoft ASP 6.0.3790.0
Microsoft ASP.NET 1.1.4322.0
SSI 6.0.3790.0
Perl v5.8.0 built for MSWin32-x86-multi-thread
Python 2.3
PHP 4.3.3 (cgi-fcgi)
Microsoft FrontPage 5.0.2.5012
MySQL 4.0.16-nt
Mail Enable 1.703
JDK 1.4
Tomcat 4.1
Webalizer V2.01-10 (CYGWIN_NT-5.2 1.3.10(0.51/3/2))
BIND 9.2.2
Webmail 3.2.2

And does it include the Web Site builder and anti-virus?

Thank you.

[SM Rep]

Here is a link to their website. It will have a complete list of everything that comes with Plesk. If you have any additional questions please email Sales.


http://www.sw-soft.com/