I see a lot of webhosts overselling now adays. Is it really safe to go with a webhost that does that? I have seen some webhosts giving away more than a server for less than $10. I would never trust a webhost like that.

Originally Posted by trighost

I see a lot of webhosts overselling now adays. Is it really safe to go with a webhost that does that? I have seen some webhosts giving away more than a server for less than $10. I would never trust a webhost like that.

1and1 does it and they have roughly 5 million customers currently and they are profitable. So many of them do it to gain some market share but are often not successful. Also, a lot of what they offer you isn't really worth what they say it is. They just try and make it sound better than it really is.

Yes that is true there is always something hidden that you dont know until it happens.

I think it's perfectly fine to go with a host that oversells, you just have to be VERY careful with load overages. Especially when a server has a TON of small accounts, and then you put one rather larger account onthere that gets lots of traffic... the CPU goes really high. But just be careful, and you can always ask them how many accounts the put on their servers on average.

Overselling is a good thing when it is monitored and done correctly. As long as the company monitors their servers, and take action when necessary it is perfectly fine.

I don't have anything against overselling but when it becomes incredibly unbelievable like giving away more than a server for $10 I think that is when it becomes too much.

Originally Posted by trighost

I see a lot of webhosts overselling now adays. Is it really safe to go with a webhost that does that? I have seen some webhosts giving away more than a server for less than $10. I would never trust a webhost like that.

This is a real problem, and people fall for it I think.
I would never use a host that promises Unlimited bandwidth and such.

//Andreas

Originally Posted by Gareth

Overselling is a good thing when it is monitored and done correctly. As long as the company monitors their servers, and take action when necessary it is perfectly fine.

I agree, but not to many do this in my experience.

//Andreas

Many hosts I have seen oversell, I don't think its a problem really. Just remember if a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

Well, many are probably not actually overselling. They usually include some kind of limit on server resources like CPU cycles and RAM usage. In all reality you would run up against these constraints before reaching or getting anywhere cose to the limits on disk space or data transfer.

Also, there is such things as 10/100/1000MBit/s bandwidth that allows for xx terabytes of bandwidth - the large hosts aren't overselling - they are spending tons on their servers.

personally i "oversell" but i have the servers to back up all the "overselling" i do.. if it is a necessity I buy more ram and upgrade the CPU of the servers.. all my servers are currently equipped with:

Dual Core Pentium 3.2 Ghz
2 GB RAM
2 x 500 GB HDD

Unless you have your own dedicated it's a very high probability that any shared host you go to will be overselling. The numbers just make sense for it. Majority of people do not use that many resources

A lot of hosts oversell greatly to try to entice people who haven't had much experience with web hosting to go with them. It is basic human nature to go with the cheapest plan offering the most space. If you don't really know much about hosting, or haven't researched the company, you are more likely to use an overselling host.
However, as has been said before, overselling can be good if done correctly. Most hosts that oversell space and bandwidth ridiculously I would suggest avoiding, as they will have other limitations, such as only allowing you to use 0.1% of the server's CPU time, or all your files must be directly incorporated with your site, or other such things that you are unable to check but they can use to suspend your account.

Since I host for myself, I am quiet well aware that the general majority of hosts oversell greatly, I won't ever do this to my customers even if it means a loss to me.

I think paying good money for a reputable host is the best solution, with oversold hosts, there's more chance you get bad service or low quality bandwidth/servers.

I personally use PowerVPS. Not cheap, but incredible!

Jerome.

I think we need to clarify this a bit. There are two kinds of overselling.

1. Overselling Bandwidth. This involves offering your customers more bandwidth in a month than what you actually pay for. The key here is to keep a decent ratio and to make sure that while you may buy X amount of bandwidth, you have the capability to burst to X times Y bandwidth if needed.

In the past, I oversold bandwidth. I have no problems with this.

2. Overselling Diskspace. This involves giving the customer more diskspace than you actually can provide should all the hosts on a box decide to use all the space they are allotted.

I do not oversell diskspace. In my opinion, if you have 500+ customers on a box, you are running to great a risk if you can't provide all the space you promised.

Part of the reason I am getting out of the web hosting business is because of the larger hosts who are giving away the farm for next to nothing. The average Joe buys into it and it's much harder to compete than it use to be. The truth is most people never come close to using that much space, but I don't care for it personally.

I think the key to being successful or finding the right host in these situations is finding a host that really understands server utilization and has a great system in place to make sure a server does not crash due to being over extended.

Originally Posted by Dr. Domaining

1and1 does it and they have roughly 5 million customers currently and they are profitable. So many of them do it to gain some market share but are often not successful. Also, a lot of what they offer you isn't really worth what they say it is. They just try and make it sound better than it really is.

They also hire morons to do their Customer Service work. :taz:

I can't stand that company... I've had 5 of my 5 worst experiences with online business with them.

On another note... I have a reseller account with a company who claims they "never oversell", yet I seen them on EBay the last 2 months practically GIVING away hosting. :thumbdown: