At Firetop we own two dedicated Linux servers in separately managed data centers. We have a UK server utilising UK IP addresses with ‘Rackspace’, and a US based server with ‘The Planet’. There are some search engine optimisation (SEO) advantages in splitting our hosting locations between the UK and US, although in recent times these only reinforce Google Webmaster Tools options. All of our Web development is done using Open Source code – PHP, MYSQL, AJAX and JavaScript so this is the main driver behind our server platform choice.

Both Firetop servers are currently running at 100% up-time (they haven’t crashed in over 11 months since installed) and were upgraded for speed and capacity in mid-2008. All Website content is backed up daily – both front-end Website code and database held information, and stored for seven days should a data restore be necessary (it never has been in all our company history).

Between our Systems Administrator Pete Smith (author of ‘Linux Network Security‘) and Managing Director Matt Peskett we have  monitoring services that run in addition to those that are provided by staff at Rackspace and The Planet. Our servers are automatically contacted every 15 minutes to ensure that things are running smoothly, in the event of any problems an SMS message and email alert is dispatched to Matt and Pete so that they can investigate in the middle of the night should the folks in our Data Centers not already be on the case (they usually are).

Unlike the larger Web hosting companies that offer bog-standard cheap hosting and self-support we manage all Websites and associated email/webmail accounts on behalf of our clients. We can naturally provide FTP or PHPmyadmin access if required, but on the whole clients have us make the majority of changes to the Websites and servers ourselves.

Our Web hosting costs vary based on the volume of Web traffic being received (or projected) and the likely overheads expected on any related databases, but we have clients paying as little as £99.99+VAT a year through to £499+VAT a year for higher volume Websites with multiple email accounts.

Contact our Managing Director Matt Peskett to discuss your Web hosting needs and see if our friendly, personal and professional service makes your life easier than the horror story that cheap, inflexible packages can be elsewhere!

In our experience, when it comes to Web hosting you really do get what you pay for…