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Thread ID: 108003	2010-03-10 08:51:00	Web host - reliable and capable: recommendations	johcar (6283)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
865720	2010-03-10 08:51:00	Can I get some recommendations please. Looking into the possiblility of getting a commercial website hosted in New Zealand with the potential for hundreds of transactions per hour, seven days a week. I need a local (NZ) host who is reliable (good fail-over strategies in place), has cost-effective hosting plans and capable of high volumes. It's a JSP application... Suggestions?	johcar (6283)
865721	2010-03-10 09:03:00	Are you able to give some idea of the kind of loads we're talking about? I assume you're wanting apache + tomcat?	Erayd (23)
865722	2010-03-10 09:11:00	Not sure exactly what the technical details of our requirements will be. The application is currently running on a US-based server and is capable of thousands of transactions a minute (it's a BUSY application, used all around the US, 24x7). However our volume requirements will be much more modest since the NZ market is quite a bit smaller. :) Still trying to find out whether it's currently on a Windows server or a Linux one... If I told you any more, I'd either have to marry you or kill you. Neither option appeals, for a multitude of reasons!! :D	johcar (6283)
865723	2010-03-10 09:13:00	Hundreds of transactions an hour? Where do I invest in this venture?	Metla (12)
865724	2010-03-10 09:15:00	Back off big boy! This is supposed to allow me to retire in the manner to which I want to become accustomed! Note: "the potential for hundreds of transactions per hour"	johcar (6283)
865725	2010-03-10 10:01:00	Not sure exactly what the technical details of our requirements will be. The application is currently running on a US-based server and is capable of thousands of transactions a minute (it's a BUSY application, used all around the US, 24x7). <snip> If I told you any more, I'd either have to marry you or kill you. Neither option appeals, for a multitude of reasons!! :D The problem is, 'several hundred transactions per hour' tells us exactly nothing. It could mean any of the following, or something else entirely: A few hundred simple SELECT queries and some negligible processing to format the output. A few hundred very resource-intensive multi-query transactions requiring an exclusive lock on parts or all of several tables, followed by additional processing via a remote API, followed by a raytracing operation that will bring a $50k dedicated server to its knees for several minutes. A few hundred credit-card transactions per hours using a simple remote API. A few hundred realtime compressions of a large aggregate archive per hour. A few hundred simple SELECT statements with a massive output, followed by some very resource-intensive processing in Java because the original app programmer didn't understand how to properly use a real RDBMS.Then you need to take into account whether you need a managed platform, if you require a decent SLA with downtime compensation, what kind of failover capacity you need, whether you need any kinky hardware, etc etc... I could go on, but you get my point here - you haven't really told us anything about what you actually need, other than that you require something that can run JSP applications. To be able to figure out whether we're looking at a simple shared hosting account with apache & tomcat, or several RU of dedicated high-end blades, depends entirely on the real load that those several hundred transactions produce. Because we don't actually know what you're after, it's quite hard to recommend a good host - different providers excel in different areas.	Erayd (23)
865726	2010-03-10 10:17:00	Cheers Erayd - I will do some more digging with the application provider . I believe it is a well-written program and fairly light on resources (I'm assuming they don't run a couple of paralleled supercomputers to do the processing) . A typical transaction will take several user inputs and do a select on five or six tables (none of which would be particularly large in the NZ-hosted version of the app) and return a series of ranked results, from which the user can take further action . I wouldn't imagine there to be any exclusive locks on any tables, due to the transactional volumes they currently experience in the States . PDF generation (not emailed currently, but available for the user to save or print) confirming the user's choice and a credit card transaction (hosted elsewhere) is at the end of the process . We are now officially engaged . . . . :D	johcar (6283)
865727	2010-03-10 15:51:00	no really sure on that one.	Adam (7474)
865728	2010-03-10 19:13:00	I use Webbase and don't have any issues with them. When I have contacted them they respond straight away. They have a range of hosting options.	pctek (84)
865729	2010-03-10 20:44:00	Cheers Erayd - I will do some more digging with the application provider . I believe it is a well-written program and fairly light on resources (I'm assuming they don't run a couple of paralleled supercomputers to do the processing) . A typical transaction will take several user inputs and do a select on five or six tables (none of which would be particularly large in the NZ-hosted version of the app) and return a series of ranked results, from which the user can take further action . I wouldn't imagine there to be any exclusive locks on any tables, due to the transactional volumes they currently experience in the States . PDF generation (not emailed currently, but available for the user to save or print) confirming the user's choice and a credit card transaction (hosted elsewhere) is at the end of the process . OK - that's much more like it :D . If the above is correct, then a decent shared hosting platform will most likely be fine, as will a small VPS . Pctek - Webbase are good, however they don't support JSP at all - and neither do any of their subsidiary companies . At this point, I'd recommend checking out Rimu Hosting ( . com/javahosting . jsp" target="_blank">rimuhosting . com) and see what they can sort out for you . They don't provide a fully managed platform, but they are happy to help with setup & admin as needed, you just have to ask them . Their support is outstanding . We are now officially engaged . . . . :DWhat? No ring? I feel so unappreciated . . . :rolleyes:	Erayd (23)
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