Website hosting - basics and bandwidth questions

[Jonny69]

I've exceeded my bandwidth quota on jonny69.co.uk again so it's time to do something about it. I'm a complete noob on stuff like this so I've got some really basic questions.

The domain name and hosting are both with 123-reg.co.uk at the moment and I think I'll be wanting to move from them to a host that allows more bandwidth. 123-reg are fine for starter packages but they get expensive when you need traffic and I am going to need about 6Gb or more per month because of hosting images on various forums. Any recommendations? Alternatively are there any online file hosters like dropfile.net that allow ftp access from FireFTP etc?

I've still got a year subscription with the domain name at 123-reg, how do you point a domain at a seperate web host?

[Mark]

http://www.vidahost.com/

£30 per year starter package sounds like it'll do for you. Bargain. As for the domain, once you're all set you just need to go into the 123-reg control panel for the domain and change the 'name servers' to whatever your hosting company tells you to use (ns1.vidahost.com and ns2.vidahost.com if you go with them).

[Joe 90]

you can register with anyone and simply login to your 123-reg CP and change the DNS nameservers to point at where ever you choose to host. really simple to do :)

i'm hosted with streamline.net (www.streamline.net)
and due to fantastic support i've recieved in the past recommend them to anyone :)
reacently had a letter (and chocolate bar) from their CEO asking for some feedback and suggestions regarding some issues i'd been having because he'd seen my case and wanted to hear from me.

[Desmo]

Yeah, I use Vidahost (as run by Beansprout) and never had a problem :)

[Mark]

i'm hosted with streamline.net (www.streamline.net)
To me, their business model seems flawed, but I guess that's their business, not mine. Plus, they've jumped on the unlimited bandwagon (if you read the small print they do clearly have a FUP, and if you break the unstated limit you're kicked out - though to their credit they do offer a refund when that happens).

[Joe 90]

aye, nothing in computing can ever be unlimited - there will always be a limit to disk space/bandwidth etc (just an insanely big one in these cases)

[Daz]

Been with vidahost for a couple of years now, great service :)

[Haly]

I also use Vidahost for two domains and have never had a problem with them. :) Always fast to help.

[Jonny69]

Cool, so that's load of recommendations to Vidahost. I might switch the domain name over to them as well so it's all on one control panel. I hate 123-reg's control panel, it's got to be one of the worst layouts ever. Ever. So Vidahost is run by Beansprout eh?

[Mark]

Yeah, but he's a slacker and never visits here unless someone goes and pokes him lots, so we should be safe from his head exploding with all these favourable comments. :)

[Wossi]

I'm with 3dpixelnet, been with them for years and never had a problem. When I went over my limit the owner popped onto msn and told me, I ended up upgrading so I now get 1000MB Disk Space and 10000MB Monthly Transfer. I chat to the owner on msn every now and again and apart from him playing silly jokes on me like telling me a bunch of lawyers are after my name and address (the bastard) he's a sound guy.

[Jonny69]

Having a fiddle with Vidahost who claim a free domain transfer but I can't seem to get it to not charge me £5, then I can't continue past the page where it asks me for the authorisation code. 123-reg don't have anywhere to ask for one, they ask you to put in an IPS tag when the new provider gives it to you. Huh? What am I supposed to do?

N00b. Put in TEST as the code and it's let me through. Free transfer...

Edit: N00b. Put in TEST as the code and it's let me through. Free transfer...

[LeperousDust]

A lot of recommendations of vidahost because we shamelessly pimp each other on this forum :p But that definitely doesn't make beany bad, and i'm sure you'll be more than impressed with the service and having him close at hand here has its advantages i guess too :p

[Beansprout]

Thanks guys :)

Saw Jonny's post on ocuk and added him to MSN but didn't think to check here until Mark poked me!

Looks like I need to sort out the wording on that orde form though, since .uk domains don't have transfer secrets - it's just a tag change that happens. Whoopsie :)

[Jonny69]

All sorted then :)

Edit I'll get the MSN wotsit tonight if I log in :)

[Garp]

Jonny, just a warning, 123-reg can be a complete PITA about transferring domains, going from what other folks in the industry report, you may need to kick them a few times to get it done. If you do have problems Nominet can force it, I'll dig up the forms if needs be.

[Mark]

I transferred one out from 123-reg last November. Just shoved in the IPS tag and off it went, no trouble at all. :dunno:

[Jonny69]

That's what I've done, just waiting for that to complete and ftp details so I can upload the files and should be good to go :)

Only problem is where are my most up to date website files?... :huh:

[Desmo]

;D

Grab them from your current hosting before they disappear :)

[Beansprout]

That's what I've done, just waiting for that to complete and ftp details so I can upload the files and should be good to go :)
Should've got your login details from me shortly after signing up - probably got filtered as junk - login to http://billing.vidahost.com and see the email histoy on the bottom right :)

Transfer has also gone through so just yell when you're good to have the domain pointed over to us :) (transfers don't automatically change the nameservers)