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Web Hosting using FreeBSD Virtual Private Servers |
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1) What do you mean by a Virtual Private Server? A Virtual Private Server is a system in which a single machine will resolve multiple IP addresses. This allows a single machine to act as many separate systems. The design of WebServers International's Virtual Private Server System is to maximize customer's use, control, and design of their own site. This is quite unlike "Virtual Hosting", such as Apache and others, which merely spoofs the domain name of a company to point to a subdirectory of a server controlled by someone else. 2) What kind of hit volume can a WebServers International virtual private server support? The Virtual Private Server System is designed to handle a small to medium hit load (under 30,000 hits a day). If a site begins to receive over 30,000 hits a day web page response will begin to be effected. For web sites expecting large number of hits they should consider purchasing a dedicated server. Dedicated servers can accommodate well over 1 million hits a day. 3) At what speed will my server be connected to the Internet? Your server will be connected to the Internet with multiple high speed full DS3 connections, OC3, and OC12 connections. A DS3 is about 27 times faster than a T1 (1.5 Mbits/sec). Each server is connected to the hub by a 10 Mbits/sec Ethernet connection. 4) How long does it take to register a domain name? The time taken to process a domain names varies greatly from day to day. Currently new ".com" names are taking about 1-2 days. 5) Is there a support manual or online support resources? Yes. See technical questions section below. 1) How do I order? Order the server at the online order form at our web site. You can pay with your credit card on the order form itself, or you may print the order form and mail it in. 2) How do I switch my site from another ISP to WebServers International? The first step in switching an existing web site is to order the virtual server. The order form is available directly at the WebServers International home page. Once the server has been ordered you will receive from WebServers International a DNS modification request form. This form should be forwarded on to InterNIC. A change of request for an existing DNS name MUST be done by the customer. WebServers International can only process NEW DNS request forms without the aid of the customer. You can use the time during which InterNIC is processing the DNS modification to transfer your web page to your new virtual server. 1) What are the costs and when do they start? All virtual private servers have a $65 setup fee. When paying by credit card the setup fee will be charged to your card when the server is first ordered. When paying by check order processing begins on receipt of the setup fee and a deposit equivalent to one month of service. With both payment options, there is a 5 day processing period from receipt of the setup fee before monthly charges will begin. After the 5 day period, you will be charged for the remainder of that month or remaining months of the billing period. The monthly charge varies for each type of server. All future billings will be made at the first of the month or billing period. Prices are subject to changes in our costs, but are guaranteed through your paid billing period. 2) How can I pay for my virtual private server? WebServers International STRONGLY recommends that you pay for your virtual server with a credit card. Payment with a credit card will ensure that your account is never accidentally deactivated due to lost mail or other problems. The reactivation charge is $35. Accounts paid by credit card are charged monthly. WebServers International currently accepts MasterCard and Visa, bank drafts (on US accounts only). Discover and American Express will soon be available. For accounts paying by check the $65 setup fee and equivalent one month service deposit must be received at our office before the order will be processed. All invoices are emailed quarterly or semi-annually at the beginning of the payment period. Payments are due no later than 5 days from the date of the invoice at the first of the billing period. Accounts paying by check (through the postal mail) are subject to a $5 per month processing fee (we discourage paying by check). 3) What if I cancel my account? The $65 setup fee is non-refundable. If a customer cancels within the 5 day processing period there will be no other charges. If a customer cancels after the 5 day processing period they will be charged for the full month ($65 + 1 month fee). 4) What if I want to upgrade/downgrade to another server? This is no problem just send an e-mail to billing@webserversintl.com stating your name, domain name, and the server you are on along with your preference to upgrade or downgrade and the change will be made. You will also be charged $65 for the change. 1) What is SSL and "Netscape" encryption? As an add-on feature, WebServers International offers secure socket layer (SSL), frequently referred to as "Netscape" encryption. This allows a Netscape browser to communicate with your virtual server in a secure SSL encrypted session. It is often used to securely transfer credit card numbers and other sensitive information. 2) What is the cost for this feature? There is a one time $65 setup fee for installing SSL on a virtual server. This is in addition to the regular $65 initial server setup cost. The monthly fee for the encryption is $10. In addition you should consider purchasing from Verisign a digital certificate (see questions 6-9). The cost for the digital certificate is $349 for the first year and $249 for each year thereafter. 3) Can I order encryption after my server has been setup? SSL can be added at any time to a virtual or dedicated server. 4) How long does it take to setup encryption? SSL can be added to the server the same day it is ordered. Until a new digital certificate is ordered Internet Server's certificate will be used as the default certificate. Until a new certificate arrives a warning message will appear on the client's machine warning them that the certificate does not match the web pages URL. Technically, if you do not mind the warning message you do not need to purchase a new certificate. 5) What additional information will WebServers International need to setup encryption? To add encryption WebServers International only needs to know the DNS name associated with the virtual server. You will need to provide directly to Verisign additional documentation for ordering the digital certificate. 6) What does a digital certificate do? A server uses a digital certificate to prove it's authenticity. The digital certificate established a legal relationship between a legitimate company and their web site. For example, if I go to Novell's web page and decrypt their digital certificate it legally proves that this web site is authorized by Novell (or whoever's name is actually in the igital certificate). 7) What information will I need to provide to Verisign to get a certificate? In order to purchase a certificate you must provide to Verisign a signed copy of either a business license or articles of incorporation. You must also supply a signed copy of the Verisign web masters form letter. The cost for a certificate is $349 for the first year and $249 for each year afterwards. More information on digital certificates is available at URL http://www.verisign.com. 8) What if I want additional licenses/certificates for other web sites I support? Only if the domain name is registered to your company may the same license be used for multiple sites. In this case, each additional certificate is only an additional 249/year. 9) How do I order a digital certificate? In order to avoid potential problems it is best to coordinate ordering certificates with WebServers International. Currently WebServers International is working on an online certificate order form. Until this form is complete requests for certificates should be sent to sales@webserversintl.com for processing. Certificate processing takes about 7-10 days. 10) How do I activate SSL? In order to activate SSL you simply change the URL to read https instead of http. Please see the "Netscape" encryption key on the WebServers International home page for an example. Please note that most technical questions are answered by an online technical support FAQ located on our web site. See page (http://webserversintl.com/support). Any other specific technical questions should be submitted through our support form or directed to support@webserversintl.com. 1) How is the server maintained? Maintenance of the server is done completely by the client. We give you full Telnet and FTP access to your server and access to an online WebServers International administrator's handbook beginning with notification by E-mail of your processed order. This 60+ page manual describes the configuration of your virtual server. You will later receive a hardcopy manual by mail with each order. 2) Do I have Shell privileges? Yes. Maintenance of the server is done via both Telnet and FTP. The login name and password for the shell is supplied in your server configuration information contained within your E-mail notification of your processed order. 3) How do I get my web page stats? Each virtual server comes with a program called GETSTATS which will provide a detailed description of the log files. This program can be run automatically anytime from midnight to 6:00 am Mountain Time. 4) Are CGI scripts provided with the server? Each server comes with it's own unique CGI bin directory. Access to the directory is through Telnet or FTP. We also have many other CGI that you may add by simply copying into your own cgi-bin directory. 5) Can perl be used? The servers come with Perl5. The servers also come with TCL/Tk, csh, sh, ond other popular UNIX scripting languages. |
