Need Server Advice

[bbbradk]

Hello all.

New here but from what it looks like this is a great place for advice.

Since November I have been hosting a sort of chat forum for myself and a large group of friends.
I am up to 150 members and most days there are 20-30 members browsing and posting on the sie.
The setup is very basic, yet my server (Westhost) keeps sending me emails telling me that I am using 13 to 25% of their high load server (this is giberish to me?) when I ask them to dumb down the answer for me the answer is pretty much that too many people are browsing and posting on my forum.
Their first suggestion was that I ban some of the busier ip adresses, I told them that was not an option as the success of my site counts on it having members doing a lot of interacting.
So now they are encouraging me to upgrade to a dedicated server (increasing my monthy payment from $13.00 to $150.00)

A friend who ran a very similar forum suggested I try VPSLand as he had never had server or CPU issues.

Just wondering if anyone here can offer any suggestions.

Sorry I have written so much, just kind of confused

[bbbradk]

Just to add a bit, I'm not making a dime from this site, and have (foolishly) prepaid a year back in November.
But if I can find a new server that can better handle my site I would walk away from those months.

[~ServerPoint~]

How much do you need for CPU? And how much are you going to spend on it?

[ASP-Hosting.ca]

What forum software do you use? Maybe the problem is in performance issues with this software?

[grimlins]

Have you contacted youк host's tech staff?

[bbbradk]

How much do you need for CPU? And how much are you going to spend on it?



thats the thing, I have no clue what any of that means?

As for cost, I'd want to keep it under $20.00 a month

[bbbradk]

What forum software do you use? Maybe the problem is in performance issues with this software?

Simple Machines

[bbbradk]

Have you contacted youк host's tech staff?


it was them who contacted me, about too much cpu being used and trying to upsell me

[egenial]

Ask your host for stats on the resources your site consumes, this will let you see the real amount of CPU you need, then while choosing a host try to research his resource abuse policy to see how much CPU and simultaneous MYSQL comnnections he allows on the shared plans.
If your budget is about $20, you will be able to get a vps package to avoid shared environment and beeing affected by neighbouring sites. I know that the cheapest deal from Serverpoint.com is around $19.

[Bobby]

Read their legal documents very attentively.

[~ServerPoint~]

I think that you need give a try to the VPS. In your budget range that will be possible to find something that helps you.
Good luck

[alemcherry]

A decent VPS must cost you atleast $30+. The basic VPS will most probably wont take too much load than a shared account.

I guess with the kind of traffic you have, a good shared account must be enough. You may checkout a good shared host that offers a bigger shared account for $10-20 range.

[Upload Spot]

I would look to optimize your website, or go with a decent VPS as alemcherry said.