Info about a dedicated server Options

[phpdev75]

Hi all,
i want to buy a dedicated server (minimal) and i have some questions:
1) the servers are managed or unmanaged?
2) if i buy a "ready to run" server can i switch,in future, to a 100mbits connection?
3) The server have mysql version 4 or 5 and php engine > 4.3?
I know these questions are really stupids but i have changed several hosting services in the past 5 months.
GoDaddy->have a really very bad support team.
HostGator->very good support->servers are down a day yes and the next day too.
4) what are the differences between the control panels? I have 7 sites.What is the best choise for me?
I don't think to install software.
I only want a server with php/mysql. A server running without problems.
Thanks for the support.

[AaronC]

Hello there phpdev75,

1) the servers are managed or unmanaged?

The servers are self-managed by default.

2) if i buy a "ready to run" server can i switch,in future, to a 100mbits connection?

Our Ready-To-Go servers can be upgraded per normal ordering procedures, via Orbit, the customer portal.

3) The server have mysql version 4 or 5 and php engine > 4.3?

I believe the default is one of the 4.x versions, though you should be able to upgrade and configure your software after you purchase your server.

4) what are the differences between the control panels? I have 7 sites.What is the best choise for me?
I don't think to install software.
I only want a server with php/mysql. A server running without problems.

I'll have to leave this one up to others on these forums. Its been my experience that the choice of control panel normally comes down to personal preference.

[Jeff]

I'd recommend cpanel after using cpanel, ensim, and plesk. I like cpanel the best for reasons too long to post here, but basically it's the most easily configurable for me, has nice dns cluster support built in, and has the most features I use.

But if you get a server, you either need to hire a server admin / management or plan to spend time configuring, installing, updating, and maintaining software yourself on an ongoing basis. It's just the way it is. Software is continually changing with both new features and patches for security and stability issues as they are discovered, documented, and fixed.

What you get here is a rock-solid amazing network and solid datacenters. Server hardware good. But unless you also purchase advanced management or contract a server admin company, it's up to you to stay on top of your server, software and to the extent it's visible to the OS, hardware.

[phpdev75]

Thanks for yours replies.I think cpanel will be perfect for me.
But I have another question.
In the ready to go servers, i don't have to change nothing?
In the default configuration the ready to go server is ready to host a small network. For manage sites,mails,ftp etc, i can use cpanel. It is true?

[Jeff]

As I understand "ready to go" servers the hardware and basic software with the generic off-the-shelf configuration is ready for you within an hour or two with no 24-48 hour setup time to custom configure the hardware and install the basic software as with the normal servers.

With any of the servers that you buy with a control panel (cpanel, ensim, plesk, etc.) you could start hosting your sites right off the bat if your needs are typical.

But I would strongly advise you to spend 2-5 days getting comfortable with the server before you move any live content over to it, if this is your first dedicated server. Things like installing a firewall for the first time you want to do before the server is serving live content.

Also the "one size fits all" apache configuration for example will include default options that may or may not be right for your particular needs. As a general rule of thumb for performance, cost (the alternative is throwing twice as much hardware at a given problem with the wrong configuration) stability and security you want to remove any services, users, or configuration options that you will never use, and lock down all ports, software, etc. as far as possible without impacting what you will actually be using the server for.

I don't mean to scare you that it's a lot of work, but you'll be far happier budgeting a week to play with things and learn the way all the software works going in, and putting a few unimportant sites on the server for that week while you are configuring things and testing (and hopefully not, but possibly) breaking something and fixing it than if you jump in thinking you don't have to change anything at all and then having the added pressure of fixing it while the server is serving important content.

[phpdev75]

But I would strongly advise you to spend 2-5 days getting comfortable with the server before you move any live content over to it, if this is your first dedicated server.

I know that your words are true. Yes, this is the first dedicated server and i am confused about it, but for the first week i will learn about software and how to config the server. Thank.