Re: [cobalt-users] Starting a web hosting company.

["Chris \"Oger\" Gebhardt" <oger@xxxxxxxxx>]

> I'm wondering about the feasibility of starting with one RaQ 550 on a
> 1.1Mbit SDSL line, and then adding more RaQs and bandwidth as needed.

Shaun -  You may want to consider a colocation alternative to having the Raq
onsite on a SDSL line.  There are so many companies offering hosting at
bargain-basement prices, but with a heavier-duty infrastructure, I would
dare say that having the DSL is likely to blow you out of the water for
anybody shopping the competition.

The company I work for, for instance, offers shared hosting on a Raq server
starting at $48 / annual.  We have T1's and a DSL backup coming into the
office.  We go up from there, depending on bandwidth & space requirements.

> How many low bandwidth sites can be hosted on a RaQ 550?

Hundreds.

> How many low bandwidth sites could a 1.1Mbit SDSL line support, without
> the customers screaming access is too slow?

That depends on a lot of factors.  How busy are the sites?  Are they all
busy at the same time, or at different times?  How otherwise saturated is
your line?  What is your CIR (committed information rate) from the DSL
provider?  (You are aware that many providers say "1.1Mbit speed" but only
guarantee a speed much lower than that, right?)

> What else should I be asking that I'm not? Is what I propose feasible
> and at all realistic?

Is it feasible?  Sure!  You can do it, and I'm not here to talk you out of
it.  However, I would encourage you to explore colo options from one of the
many reputable companies on this list before you decide to roll your own.
Your Raq will be offsite, yes.  But likely in a more bulletproof facility.