Host for Social Networking Site & Video/Picture issues.

Alex Knight · #1 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 07:49 AM

Hi all

Wonder if you can help please. I am building (design) with the help of a developer (back-end) a social networking site.

It will contain like most profiles with user photo and video clips.

We hope to build from 100 to 1,000 and 10,000 users within the first six to nine months. And then up to 15,000 and more by the end of our first year. If all works well maybe more.

I have never done anything on this scale before an welcome advice on bandwidth, space, even suggested hosts.

For some reason my developer has also said that hosting the video clips will slow the site down and that running them via YouTube would be better and cause less issues. Again help and advise is very, very welcome

Kind regards

Alex

sequencehosting · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 08:40 AM

Sounds like you have it all planed out.

I agree with the YouTube videos. I have seen allot of sites doing this and it works well.

As for slowing your site down, many skateboarding sites I visit have high quality videos and their sites are soo slow.

As for bandwidth and disk space it would be impossible to tell but im certain you will need a dedicated server or at least a VPS. Im not to sure on a host but you could check out the dedicated server plans with HostGator.

KrackerJap · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2009, 08:59 AM

Good question my site is a social networking site for Mixed Martial Arts I'm currently using Cirtex they are my second company I'm on a semi dedicated plan and from what I can tell it should be more than enough.. BUT its not we have a every to week problem of the site slowing down or giving what i call rolling brown outs to the users people in great britain get on but in Canada they don't... Have to complain every time and do tracerts to prove its on they're end

Site is not to big yet we are 3months old have 300 registered members and get about 1000-2000 unique visits a day depending on the news cycle...

To some it up dedicated is the way to go if you have the money

Does any one know of a affordable dedicated server?

sequencehosting · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrackerJap

Good question my site is a social networking site for Mixed Martial Arts I'm currently using Cirtex they are my second company I'm on a semi dedicated plan and from what I can tell it should be more than enough.. BUT its not we have a every to week problem of the site slowing down or giving what i call rolling brown outs to the users people in great britain get on but in Canada they don't... Have to complain every time and do tracerts to prove its on they're end

Site is not to big yet we are 3months old have 300 registered members and get about 1000-2000 unique visits a day depending on the news cycle...

To some it up dedicated is the way to go if you have the money

Does any one know of a affordable dedicated server?

Im a big fan of MMA and your site. (Chung Lee is my favorite MMA fighter of all time, his kicks are just too scarey

)

I would have thought that any dedicated server would be able to handle that traffic.

My suggestion would be to pay a little more for a better company. Have you looked at HostGators dedicated servers?

ultimate · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2009, 11:07 AM

If you are expecting that many users, then a dedicated server is the way to go. The reason your friend said that video will slow your site is because it takes a lot of bandwidth. If you do decide to get a dedicated server, try to get a 100mbps upload link, a 10mbps connection will not suffice.

My suggestion is to try a vps until you feel the need for upgrade (i.e. the server is slow because of all the users).

WebHostingTalk.com has good offers on both vps and dedicated (scroll down a bit).

Good luck,
ultimate

Alex Knight · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2009, 11:52 AM

Hi I have done search's and so far I have found GoDaddy to be the best and recommended by a few people I trust so to speak

ultimate · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2009, 01:13 PM

GoDaddy does NOT have a good reputation for dedicated/vps/shared hosting, i dont know where you got your recommendations from... They are usually for beginners, since they sign up for hosting when they buy the domain name... Do a bit more research.

http://www.singlehop.com/
http://softlayer.com/
http://www.theplanet.com/
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=36

Make sure you know what you're doing when it comes to a vps/dedicated server, because if you don't you're wasting a lot of money.

Good luck,
ultimate

sequencehosting · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ultimate

GoDaddy does NOT have a good reputation for dedicated/vps/shared hosting, i dont know where you got your recommendations from... They are usually for beginners, since they sign up for hosting when they buy the domain name... Do a bit more research.

http://www.singlehop.com/
http://softlayer.com/
http://www.theplanet.com/
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=36

Make sure you know what you're doing when it comes to a vps/dedicated server, because if you don't you're wasting a lot of money.

Good luck,
ultimate

I was going to say the same thing. I have heard their servers are slow and their support is useless.

Alex Knight · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 08:57 AM

Hi

You are correct lol. I am very new to this and in the past have only design and researched/sorted hosting for small static sites in relation to the project Im working on now.

Information from someone that has a small social networking site of 10,000 members, suggested that, I go the route of shared hosting with unlimited space and bandwidth to start. He then said, I will have statistics after a while, on what our usage and growth is after a few months and can estimate then what our requirements will be and when we need to switch to a dedicated server and how much space and bandwidth we will need etc.

I have had two people who suggested GoDaddy, not recommended them. So apologies if my wording said to site users that they are best. I do not know this. All I know is that finding a company is not easy! :-(

I feel like someone who is choosing a new bank. They all "seem" to do similar things. However, one person says, one is good and another with the same account at the same place says they are rubbish. Hope its not a bad analogy?

Really appreciate all the comments from people on this site. Its the best! And I will be careful also how I post my suggestions too :-)

So lol help! Who should I look at and how do I compare. (could be a marker for Uswitch here lol)

Kind regards

AK

ultimate · #10 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Information from someone that has a small social networking site of 10,000 members, suggested that, I go the route of shared hosting with unlimited space and bandwidth to start. He then said, I will have statistics after a while, on what our usage and growth is after a few months and can estimate then what our requirements will be and when we need to switch to a dedicated server and how much space and bandwidth we will need etc.

Its all up to you, but if you decide to go this route, HostGator, BlueHost, or any other shared hosting provider should be fine. The developer should know how to manage a vps/dedicated server, so an upgrade should not be difficult.

If you decide for a vps/dedicated server, you will have to look at a few companies and choose one that is right. If your stuck between companies, i can help you out.

Good luck,
ultimate

Garry · #11 (**permalink**) 07-24-2009, 04:54 PM

Well, as you are looking forward to have a social networking website which will have videos, images and good amount of users, I would suggest you to go for a Dedicated server only

It is always better to opt for a Dedicated server from a hosting provider who provides fully managed dedicated servers with 24x7 support.

The performance of a Dedicated server is always better than any other hosting package and when you host videos and images with a good amount of visitors, performance will certainly make a difference

HostColor · #12 (**permalink**) 07-26-2009, 02:01 AM

There is a software application called "PHP Melody". It allows you to create a video library that uses embed videos from different social networks and saves the resources of your web hosting account. If you use it you can stay on shared hosting. Otherwise it will be much better to get a Virtual Private Server.

cactus39 · #13 (**permalink**) 07-31-2009, 02:37 PM

Hi Host Color, in Cirtex, which option did you use for hosting? Im planning a site where I would have members, but not sure which option would suit my site. Note: I'm not planning on having video.
Thanks!

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