Can anyone recommend a cheap web hosting provider suitable for this site? I need cpanel and it currently runs on a linux server. I need a full service, including setting up the site from a backup.

The last full website backup was 18GB. I think the number of files (inodes) may be an issue with the yabb forum, but I am still trying to figure out how many there are.

I am currently with hostgator on a VPS with 4 cores, 8GB of RAM, 240 GB SSD. I could probably scale that back a bit, but not much.

The advertising has not been covering the cost of hosting for a long time, so I am paying for most of this myself. I am also looking into alternative advertising options, but they are not easy to assess.

I have no idea Freediver, but don't go "cheap", it would be better to pay a bit extra for something trouble free and with some quality about it

Ask for donations, I'm willing to chip in

Here's a link for the sake of posting a link, I don't know if it's any good to you or not...

https://www.sitecentre.com.au/blog/best-hosting-providers-in-australia

Again, I suggest HostPapa, significantly cheaper than PacificData.

Jovial Monk wrote on Jan 18^th, 2024 at 1:09pm:

Again, I suggest HostPapa, significantly cheaper than PacificData.

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/hostpapa

It only gets 1 star out of 5.



Another review  -  1.39 stars out of  5.

https://au.sitejabber.com/reviews/hostpapa.com


Overview

Hostpapa has a rating of 1.39 stars from 33 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Hostpapa most frequently mention credit card problems. Hostpapa ranks 139th among Web Hosting sites.

I just had to cancel my credit card because of hostgator.

They sent me an email in December saying they did not have valid credit card details for me and I needed to update my information. I did not give them new details as I do not want them automatically charging me anything.

Then on Monday they notified me that they had made a failed attempt to charge my credit card. I did not notice this one at the time.

Then this afternoon my bank's fraud hotline called me because someone had made multiple attempts to charge just under $10,000 to my credit card.

So I got onto a "live" chat with hostgator. This went for over 2 hours, because the chat system was laggy. Sometimes it took 5 minutes for my own post to appear, and a lot of them appeared out of order. The responses from the other end were also quite delayed - not sure if due to technical issues or the person wandering off for a coffee.

Hostgator initially denied trying to charge my credit card, several times. Then I eventually dug up their email from Monday and gave them a copy, at which point they admitted to that attempt. So I called the bank back for more details and they said there had been six more attempts today, spaced in roughly one hour intervals, all for the same amount - slightly more than the attempt on Monday. All charges had the name hostgator attached to them. Hostgator is still denying the 6 attempts made today. They only admit to one on Monday and one from December, which they did not notify me about, other than telling me they need updated credit card details.

The weird thing is the bank said some of the attempts were made on the details from an expired card, and some on the current card, but I have no idea how hostgator got the details for the current card - perhaps they guessed the new expiry date. I think the 16 digit number is the same.

Hi FD,
are you worried that hostgator will shut down this website
claiming non payment?

They will eventually, but I am looking into alternatives.

There might be some interruptions next week if I move to a new host then.

freediver wrote on Jan 19^th, 2024 at 7:17pm:

They will eventually, but I am looking into alternatives. There might be some interruptions next week if I move to a new host then.

OK - HostPapa?   

No. They don't have a plan with enough disk space for this site.

freediver wrote on Jan 19^th, 2024 at 9:25pm:

No. They don't have a plan with enough disk space for this site.

May I suggest that you use Google to find hosting sites and then go to
the review sites in my Reply #3  to check them out?

Thanks Bobby. That's an excellent idea.

Ozpolitic is back online -  yippee.

it was down for about 10 hours with the upgrade to a new host.

It's much faster now

John Smith wrote on Jan 25^th, 2024 at 2:55pm:

It's much faster now

Yeah, i noticed that.

Unfortunately I don't really have records of how fast it was before.

Does anyone else notice a speed improvement?

No. You all come across even slower than before.  ;)

freediver wrote on Jan 25^th, 2024 at 3:25pm:

Unfortunately I don't really have records of how fast it was before. Does anyone else notice a speed improvement?

It seems faster now but maybe they give you honeymoon speeds?

freediver wrote on Jan 18^th, 2024 at 7:01am:

Can anyone recommend a cheap web hosting provider suitable for this site? I need cpanel and it currently runs on a linux server. I need a full service, including setting up the site from a backup. The last full website backup was 18GB. I think the number of files (inodes) may be an issue with the yabb forum, but I am still trying to figure out how many there are. I am currently with hostgator on a VPS with 4 cores, 8GB of RAM, 240 GB SSD. I could probably scale that back a bit, but not much. The advertising has not been covering the cost of hosting for a long time, so I am paying for most of this myself. I am also looking into alternative advertising options, but they are not easy to assess.

Why are you scunging around for cheapies, Effendi? Pay for a decent host, get decent software like the Yank Forum has....and hold you hand out for financial assistance (like the Yank Forum does.)

Yep, you can bet if anyone coughs money, they'll want a quid pro quo, but why not at least give it a go?

There is no need for this crappy IT here.

Aussie,
in all fairness - you're not the one paying the bill. 

he who pays the piper calls the tune.     ::)

Aussie wrote on Jan 25^th, 2024 at 4:06pm:

freediver wrote on Jan 18th, 2024 at 7:01am: Can anyone recommend a cheap web hosting provider suitable for this site? I need cpanel and it currently runs on a linux server. I need a full service, including setting up the site from a backup. The last full website backup was 18GB. I think the number of files (inodes) may be an issue with the yabb forum, but I am still trying to figure out how many there are. I am currently with hostgator on a VPS with 4 cores, 8GB of RAM, 240 GB SSD. I could probably scale that back a bit, but not much. The advertising has not been covering the cost of hosting for a long time, so I am paying for most of this myself. I am also looking into alternative advertising options, but they are not easy to assess. Why are you scunging around for cheapies, Effendi? Pay for a decent host, get decent software like the Yank Forum has....and hold you hand out for financial assistance (like the Yank Forum does.) Yep, you can bet if anyone coughs money, they'll want a quid pro quo, but why not at least give it a go? There is no need for this crappy IT here.

I was paying a lot more for hostgator. They look like a far more professional service. But the website was slower and the technical support was terrible, even when it was something on their end that went wrong.

What American forum?

I can pay you in Cake FD.  ;)

Jasin wrote on Jan 25^th, 2024 at 5:15pm:

I can pay you in Cake FD.  ;)

Only Monk pays with cakes.

Jasin wrote on Jan 25^th, 2024 at 5:15pm:

I can pay you in Cake FD.  ;)

Have you seen the peanut butter falcon?

Current host seems faster than Hostgator.

I was with Hostgator for a while but not all that happy with them.

Be nice if we can move to a more modern BBS tho, phpBB3 or XenForo or {whatever}


But let this migration settle down.

freediver wrote on Jan 25^th, 2024 at 4:50pm:

Aussie wrote on Jan 25th, 2024 at 4:06pm: freediver wrote on Jan 18th, 2024 at 7:01am: Can anyone recommend a cheap web hosting provider suitable for this site? I need cpanel and it currently runs on a linux server. I need a full service, including setting up the site from a backup. The last full website backup was 18GB. I think the number of files (inodes) may be an issue with the yabb forum, but I am still trying to figure out how many there are. I am currently with hostgator on a VPS with 4 cores, 8GB of RAM, 240 GB SSD. I could probably scale that back a bit, but not much. The advertising has not been covering the cost of hosting for a long time, so I am paying for most of this myself. I am also looking into alternative advertising options, but they are not easy to assess. Why are you scunging around for cheapies, Effendi? Pay for a decent host, get decent software like the Yank Forum has....and hold you hand out for financial assistance (like the Yank Forum does.) Yep, you can bet if anyone coughs money, they'll want a quid pro quo, but why not at least give it a go? There is no need for this crappy IT here. I was paying a lot more for hostgator. They look like a far more professional service. But the website was slower and the technical support was terrible, even when it was something on their end that went wrong. What American forum?

This bastard.

Link.

YankForum is Visually all over the place it's an eyesore.
This Forum style you can see a lot in just a glance, without having to flick your iris's to all four corners of the screen.

You have title of Topic far to the left and then you have to look to the far right for those who post, etc.

Here, everything is more centralised and easier to read and take in at a quick glance, rather than having to 'look all around'.

Jasin wrote on Jan 25^th, 2024 at 6:58pm:

YankForum is Visually all over the place it's an eyesore. This Forum style you can see a lot in just a glance, without having to flick your iris's to all four corners of the screen. You have title of Topic far to the left and then you have to look to the far right for those who post, etc. Here, everything is more centralised and easier to read and take in at a quick glance, rather than having to 'look all around'.

It's the software, numpty.  You can do all sorts of cool stuff with it.

Posting links and photos is a breeze, for example.  And there is lots more.

Aussie wrote on Jan 25^th, 2024 at 7:03pm:

Jasin wrote on Jan 25th, 2024 at 6:58pm: YankForum is Visually all over the place it's an eyesore. This Forum style you can see a lot in just a glance, without having to flick your iris's to all four corners of the screen. You have title of Topic far to the left and then you have to look to the far right for those who post, etc. Here, everything is more centralised and easier to read and take in at a quick glance, rather than having to 'look all around'. It's the software, numpty.  You can do all sorts of cool stuff with it. Posting links and photos is a breeze, for example.  And there is lots more.

Look Aussie. I hate change.  >:(
If the world stuck with Tsars and Caesars - it would be a better place.

Yank forum needs to do something about robots—update its robots.txt file.

Good robots follow the instructions in that file—HM time it can spend on the site.

108 robots there now! 1600 guests—HM of them are spambots?

Layout sucks. No security certificate.

I reckon just start a new board on ProBoards. Totally free.

Easy to post visuals from X (formerly Twitter) and the best bit?

No more crazy fiefdoms with member run boards driven by egotistical warlords fighting each other all the time.  ;D

All equal under the one roof.  8-)

Captain Nemo wrote on Jan 26^th, 2024 at 7:26am:

I reckon just start a new board on ProBoards. Totally free. Easy to post visuals from X (formerly Twitter) and the best bit? No more crazy fiefdoms with member run boards driven by egotistical warlords fighting each other all the time.  ;D All equal under the one roof.  8-)

Meh!  ::)
Inequality is more stimulating.
Like when Victoria and Melbourne were like another country.
Equality is like Pauline's Boring One Nation. Breeds stagnation.
Just ban the Feudal Lords for 2 weeks if they post a Topic that does not reflect the Theme of the Boards they Moderate.
Bannings are like Executions !!!  8-) :D

Just out of interest, I did a server speed test using the forum home page, comparing the two servers. The old hostgator server is still online and accessible using the IP address. It might be a bit of an unfair comparison, seeing as the namecheap server is online. In any case, hostgator came out slightly better.

https://tools.pingdom.com/

Test from: Sydney
https://50.116.118.28/forum/YaBB.pl (forum on hostgator server - 0 members, 5 guests and 0 search engines active on the forum)
5.15s, score: 77
4.56s, 77
4.56s, 77
4.56s, 77
4.56s, 77
4.56s, 77

Test from: Sydney
https://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl (new namecheap server - 9 members, 127 guests and 64 search engines active on the forum)
5.01s, score: 73
5.01s, score: 73
5.30s, score: 73
4.76s, score: 73
4.76s, score: 73
4.77s, score: 73

Hi FD,
check it again in one month.

Sometimes the hosts give you faster times for a one month honeymoon period.  ;)

They are pretty sneaky.

freediver wrote on Jan 28^th, 2024 at 9:49am:

Just out of interest, I did a server speed test using the forum home page, comparing the two servers. The old hostgator server is still online and accessible using the IP address. It might be a bit of an unfair comparison, seeing as the namecheap server is online. In any case, hostgator came out slightly better. https://tools.pingdom.com/ Test from: Sydney https://50.116.118.28/forum/YaBB.pl (forum on hostgator server - 0 members, 5 guests and 0 search engines active on the forum) 5.15s, score: 77 4.56s, 77 4.56s, 77 4.56s, 77 4.56s, 77 4.56s, 77 Test from: Sydney https://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl (new namecheap server - 9 members, 127 guests and 64 search engines active on the forum) 5.01s, score: 73 5.01s, score: 73 5.30s, score: 73 4.76s, score: 73 4.76s, score: 73 4.77s, score: 73

What sort of host and Forum software do you get for $10,000 annually, freediver?  I did ask you that via PM after you sent me a PM first........but you did not reply.

So, I ask again....what do you get for $10,000.00 annually?

That's what you would have to pay someone to answer your questions, Aussie.

freediver wrote on Jan 28^th, 2024 at 3:39pm:

That's what you would have to pay someone to answer your questions, Aussie.

And that's why you get bugger all support from your members.  You are an arrogant cock head who sends a bloke, me, an unsolicited PM, and when I reply asking what you need to get decent hosting and IT software, you reply.......

Then, I ask you what $10,000,00 annually buys you, and I get no answer.

I can only assume you were trying to scam me.

Monk managed to get $60.00 out of me, you will not.

May I post the entire PM exchange freediver, or will you plead the 5th?

I'm happy to take FreeDiver's PA Forum off your hands Aussie, if you're not happy with your Boss.  ;)

I don't have a Boss.

It seems I do have a bloke who may have tried to scam $10,000.00 annually out of me.

Aussie wrote on Jan 28^th, 2024 at 7:24pm:

I don't have a Boss. It seems I do have a bloke who may have tried to scam $10,000.00 annually out of me.

Did he promise to bake you a cake? :-?

Jesus Christ.

Make it $20,000.

https://www.namecheap.com/hosting/shared/

'Stellar business" price:

US$ 5 per month = US $60 per year.


50 GB SSD.

freediver wrote on Jan 28^th, 2024 at 8:29pm:

Jesus Christ. Make it $20,000.

"Jesus Christ" as much as you like.  How about giving me permission to publish the whole PM exchange especially yours to me.

Aussie. You always hark on about all the evidence needed on PM's sent to you, etc. Knowing full well, that PM's won't be posted by you or anyone. Personally, I think the majority of the times you base your cause on PM's containing the 'evidence' and proof - you're full of shyte.

Jasin wrote on Jan 29^th, 2024 at 5:35pm:

Aussie. You always hark on about all the evidence needed on PM's sent to you, etc. Knowing full well, that PM's won't be posted by you or anyone. Personally, I think the majority of the times you base your cause on PM's containing the 'evidence' and proof - you're full of shyte.

As soon as FD gives his permission, we will see who is full of poo.

You should know by now that if I say I have the goods, I have the goods.

Aussie wrote on Jan 29^th, 2024 at 6:04pm:

Jasin wrote on Jan 29th, 2024 at 5:35pm: Aussie. You always hark on about all the evidence needed on PM's sent to you, etc. Knowing full well, that PM's won't be posted by you or anyone. Personally, I think the majority of the times you base your cause on PM's containing the 'evidence' and proof - you're full of shyte. As soon as FD gives his permission, we will see who is full of poo. You should know by now that if I say I have the goods, I have the goods.

Not really Aussie,
you said you had the goods on Aggy and Monk about scheming to use the same account here
but you posted no evidence.    :-/

Bobby. wrote on Jan 29^th, 2024 at 6:26pm:

Aussie wrote on Jan 29th, 2024 at 6:04pm: Jasin wrote on Jan 29th, 2024 at 5:35pm: Aussie. You always hark on about all the evidence needed on PM's sent to you, etc. Knowing full well, that PM's won't be posted by you or anyone. Personally, I think the majority of the times you base your cause on PM's containing the 'evidence' and proof - you're full of shyte. As soon as FD gives his permission, we will see who is full of poo. You should know by now that if I say I have the goods, I have the goods. Not really Aussie, you said you had the goods on Aggy and Monk about scheming to use the same account here but you posted no evidence.    :-/

True, but the evidence is right there, if needed.  So far...not needed because neither Agnes nor Monk have denied it.  They can't because they both know the evidence exists. 

Aussie wrote on Jan 29^th, 2024 at 7:00pm:

Bobby. wrote on Jan 29th, 2024 at 6:26pm: Aussie wrote on Jan 29th, 2024 at 6:04pm: Jasin wrote on Jan 29th, 2024 at 5:35pm: Aussie. You always hark on about all the evidence needed on PM's sent to you, etc. Knowing full well, that PM's won't be posted by you or anyone. Personally, I think the majority of the times you base your cause on PM's containing the 'evidence' and proof - you're full of shyte. As soon as FD gives his permission, we will see who is full of poo. You should know by now that if I say I have the goods, I have the goods. Not really Aussie, you said you had the goods on Aggy and Monk about scheming to use the same account here but you posted no evidence.    :-/ True, but the evidence is right there, if needed.  So far...not needed because neither Agnes nor Monk have denied it.  They can't because they both know the evidence exists.

Really? -
I thought they challenged you to post it?
It was in the public domain - posted at Monk's dump.

Neither have denied it, they can't, because they both know it is 100% true.

Look Aussie. You do it all the time. Magic PM's with Magic Evidence - none of which see the light of day, so why hark on about em all the time?
You know FD won't give permission to anything of the sort, so again - why hark on about it?
It's never happened and never will. But over the years you still go on about them 'as if' they matter in the argument.
You're basically sounding off on a Clayton's card in your hand that's going to win it for you. But there's nothing on the card, because it never materialises.
Until you can 'actually' post the PM, its probably best you just say nothing of the sort. It makes you look 'desperate' to convince everyone, when you know you can't.
C'mon Aussie - what sort of Lawyer were you? :-?

The usual kind......never appreciating what looked like an attempt to scam.

Aussie wrote on Jan 29^th, 2024 at 7:55pm:

The usual kind......never appreciating what looked like an attempt to scam.

Didn't you think he was pulling your leg?   ::)

Hey FD. Let Aussie post the PM.
....

....

See Aussie. No answer.

Jasin wrote on Jan 29^th, 2024 at 8:24pm:

Hey FD. Let Aussie post the PM. .... .... See Aussie. No answer.

FD was just having a lend of Aussie and
Aussie took the bait.   ;D

And I would have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for those darn kids.

freediver wrote on Jan 29^th, 2024 at 9:04pm:

And I would have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for those darn kids.

;D

Bobby. wrote on Jan 29^th, 2024 at 8:01pm:

Aussie wrote on Jan 29th, 2024 at 7:55pm: The usual kind......never appreciating what looked like an attempt to scam. Didn't you think he was pulling your leg?   ::)

No, and if we all get to see the PMs, you know why.

Aussie wrote on Jan 29^th, 2024 at 9:38pm:

Bobby. wrote on Jan 29th, 2024 at 8:01pm: Aussie wrote on Jan 29th, 2024 at 7:55pm: The usual kind......never appreciating what looked like an attempt to scam. Didn't you think he was pulling your leg?   ::) No, and if we all get to see the PMs, you know why.

You know -
sometimes when people ask me personal questions that they have no right to ask me
I tell them a bullshit story too -
rather than tell them that they shouldn't ask that.

Indeed, but I did not ask the first PM question.  FD opened the PM exchange, not me.  Get it....he approached me.

Prove it Aussie! Post the PM's.