Recommendation for Web Hosting service

[s219]

The fact that my process had been work for years was relevant. Something changed and it wasn't anything I was doing. NS had me change FTP programs, do multiple traces and spend hours and days on this. I am not the bad guy here. And I will ask the policy of the new provider.

That is a real pain in the butt, especially since they couldn't at least reset something to let you try a new upload interval.

Might be better to use sftp; not that you're transmitting any data that is super sensitive, but at least that seems to be more secure in the eyes of IT security folks.

 

[MikePA]

And I am telling you I know what DoS monitoring software looks for. It does look at frequency. It does look for patterns, e.g., every 5 minutes, or any other repeating pattern. Why would you believe what NS told you, i.e., 'Tech support said they didn't think so.' when they are the same people who took hours of your time and ended up leaving you in the lurch? It wouldn't surprise me if they knew exactly why you were blocked and for security reasons did not tell you. I am not accusing you of being a hacker nor defending NS. But an ftp upload, of a small amount of information, every 5 minutes is going to be flagged as a potential DoS attack. That is unusual activity for a website and it is clearly not activity generated by a human, it's a script. And they are not about to reveal to anyone what they need to change in order to not get flagged. The fact you're a long term customer wouldn't matter.

I am not busting on you. I am trying to warn you that you may run into the same problem with another hosting service, if not now, then in the future because of what DoS monitoring software looks for.

 

[Mendonsy]

Network Solutions seems to have developed a real attitude problem over the last year or two. At one point they were a decent hosting service but certainly are not now!

 

[/pine]

Currently using Network Solutions, a company I have been with for years. Two weeks ago, they started blocking my IP when I used FTP to update my weather station page. After a dozen calls and 4 hours on the phone, they finally told me that my updating my weather station data every 5 minutes was marking me as a threat. I've been doing this for years and never a problem. Network Solutions won't unblock my IP either. This was the worst technical support I've ever encountered. Period.

So I'm looking for a new hosting service. Anyone have a service to recommend?

Thanks,

There are a lot of ways to update a web site/page that does not use FTP etc...PM me if you're interested...I'd be happy to help...
Even if you are not a coder and rely on the FTP client integrated into a weather station...it should not difficult...

Just curious...is your weather station connected directly to the net or does it go through a PC ?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I've used Bluehost for several years now, so far so good.

 

[lhfarm]

There are a lot of ways to update a web site/page that does not use FTP etc...PM me if you're interested...I'd be happy to help...
Even if you are not a coder and rely on the FTP client integrated into a weather station...it should not difficult...

Just curious...is your weather station connected directly to the net or does it go through a PC ?

PM sent. It is a Davis weather station. Using Weather Display (302 Found) for one of the FTP uploads.

Thanks

 

[lhfarm]

And I am telling you I know what DoS monitoring software looks for. It does look at frequency. It does look for patterns, e.g., every 5 minutes, or any other repeating pattern. Why would you believe what NS told you, i.e., 'Tech support said they didn't think so.' when they are the same people who took hours of your time and ended up leaving you in the lurch? It wouldn't surprise me if they knew exactly why you were blocked and for security reasons did not tell you. I am not accusing you of being a hacker nor defending NS. But an ftp upload, of a small amount of information, every 5 minutes is going to be flagged as a potential DoS attack. That is unusual activity for a website and it is clearly not activity generated by a human, it's a script. And they are not about to reveal to anyone what they need to change in order to not get flagged. The fact you're a long term customer wouldn't matter.

I am not busting on you. I am trying to warn you that you may run into the same problem with another hosting service, if not now, then in the future because of what DoS monitoring software looks for.

I GET your message. Exactly what am I supposed to do now? Do you have suggestions for how to solve my problem? Or should I just quit doing the automatic updates?

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I've been using ICDSOFT.com for the last five years, updating data from a Davis Vantage VUE at the highest rate to WeatherUnderground for the last 18 months, and so far no problems. Before that I lived in a major metro area and ran my web site off a laptop using DYNDNS.com to handle the IP address translation. Worked great and no issues with anything. But five years ago I moved out into the sticks and am stuck with satellite service whose terms of use specifically forbid such an arrangement. I'm not real happy with ICDSOFT from a web site hosting standpoint, as I now have no access to error logs, a real PITA when it comes to debugging scripts and such.

I'm also going to be installing some security cameras and will be moving images up to the web site via SFTP on a regular basis, so I may run into the same issue as you. I really appreciate the insights other TBNers have shared!:thumbsup:

 

[/pine]

...as I now have no access to error logs,...

If your host allows SSH service (which they should, possibly at a minimal extra cost)...you should be able to tunnel into the server and access all the server logs...?

here is one of the best SSH clients around: Download PuTTY - a free SSH and telnet client for Windows

 

[RedNeckGeek]

If your host allows SSH service (which they should, possibly at a minimal extra cost)...you should be able to tunnel into the server and access all the server logs...?

the permissions on the error log directories are set such that mere subscribers to their service have no access, and when specifically asked about the practice, tech support responded that it was due to security concerns.