Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by John Rambo -
Number of replies: 13

Hi there

I was actually happily developing a site, which is supposed to be used for online lessons for a new & very small business, until I hit some alarming statements from the webhost.

On the server configuration page, the test site meets all conditions except the first 2 , ie php_setting opcache.enable & php_extension intl as well as "unsupported_db_table_row_format".

I contacted the intended shared webhost & asked whether those php settings/extensions can be provided and wanted to know if it is possible to be able to do that conversion to barracuda via the Cpanel or at least if THEY can do the conversion because of server access restrictions do it on my behalf.

The response is that, it is unfortunately not possible & they recommend a VPS server & what they offer is:

VPS M
2 CPU Kernel
6 GB RAM (garantiert)
500 GB HDD
100 Mbps switch port
Unlimited Traffic
Only 7,99 EUR / Monat

+ WHM/cPanel License 11.99 EUR /mon
That is definitely too expensive for the client.

My question is: are ALL the 3 features by all means required?
php_extension intl should be installed and enabled for best results

Intl extension is used to improve internationalization support, such as locale aware sorting.

The site is basically in German, which I guess is already supported. What would be missed here???

php_setting opcache.enable PHP setting should be changed.

PHP opcode caching improves performance and lowers memory requirements, OPcache extension is recommended and fully supported.

Is this ALL indispensable?

Is there any chance or possibility of converting Barracuda file format away from this server, like locally on a PC & then importing or the server state to allow this must exist on the server, ruling out shared hosting?

My questions might be a bit naive, as I am not an expert. The response, though will help determine the viability of this venture.

Your response & advice will very much be appreciated.

Kind regards
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In reply to John Rambo

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by Emma Richardson -
Picture of Documentation writers Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Plugin developers

They can be overlooked.  As they mention, opcache is just for caching pages.  Improves the speed of the site but the site will run just fine without it.  The intl plugin is not necessary either. 

The unsupported row format however might cause you issues.  You should be able to get up and running but might run into problems later.  Some sites run just fine without. 

You might look at this forum post for the location of a script to fix it....https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=314802


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In reply to Emma Richardson

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by John Rambo -

Hi there

Thank you for your quick response yesterday, which i could not respond to yet ... and letting me know that at least the first 2 recommendations are dispensable. I am trying to look at the link you provided and see what I can do, though I might come up with a question or 2 more.

Kind regards

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In reply to John Rambo

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by Usman Asar -
Picture of Plugin developers Picture of Testers

There are  plenty of shared hosting providers that do support both intl and opcache extensions and wont even break the bank, later as when you need you can always jump to a VPS package.

The prices you showed are bad for a VPS as well, I believe they are out of contabo's offerings, you dont have to have a CPanel to run moodle, but CPanel only facilitates the management of the webhost, else everything you can do by yourself.

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In reply to Usman Asar

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by John Rambo -

Hi Usman


It is good to know that those php extensions are not limited to VPS packages.

I do intend to write a couple of Webhosts, preferably German to see if they provide them.

The recommended VPS package price is definitely too high. You are are quite right about the Cpanel addition.

I am conversant with the version provided for customers on shared hosts & would prefer it, but the package also offers other options:

ccPanel/WHM

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11,99 €

PPlesk 12 Web Host Edition

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8,99 €

PPlesk 12 Web Pro Edition

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4,99 €

PPlesk 12 Web App Edition

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3,99 €

PPlesk 12 Web Admin Edition

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2,99 €

Webmin

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0,00 €

  --------------- 0,00
LLAMP








m
öam not conversant with Webmin, which I gather is quite spartan & requires some experience to set up, which I do not have, but could learn ... or Plesk 12 Web Admin Edition, etc. If one signed up for such a package, are they not too hard to set up & get the necessary services, including security, etc running?
This is not necessarily for this particular Moodle project, since I have ever turned away from VPS before. Shared hosting comes up with some limitations.

In this case though, this Moodle instance is for a small one-person business that has limited capital & so needs an affordable hosting option.

Thank you & kind regards
I

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In reply to John Rambo

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Translators
Hi

As others have pointed out, the answer to your original question is: "Yes. But not all." The reasons are, a) some shared hosting do not allow/provide certain software components which are required by Moodle or are good to have. b) they may lack the horse power needed to run Moodle or at least during certain demanding operations. (Before you ask what they are, I must say in advance that there is no simple answer. See the documentation to the Hardware and performance forum https://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=596 for details.)

About the new topic, CPanel, Webmin, etc. I guess the class of hosting you are talking about do not provide command line access, those things are different "packagings" for "click-type" server administration. Which means they come in packages. If you need to do more you have to have Unix/Linux command line.
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In reply to John Rambo

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by Rick Jerz -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Testers
John, in my limited experience with running moodle over the last 7 years, I have found that one can find hosted servers that can run the latest version of Moodle, but not all hosted servers.  For example, in the last year, I have had success running Moodle 2.9 on a GoDaddy hosted server, a Bluehost hosted server, and a TMDHosting hosted server.  The key is to compare Moodle's requirements with what is provided from the hosted server.


You have to appreciate that for the low cost of hosted servers, you don't always get the kind of support you need to successfully install Moodle.  But what I have found is that if you are good at probing, these hosted servers really can run Moodle.  For example, on my GoDaddy hosted server, I had to find the place to turn on these php extensions.  I found these settings using cPanel.

Personally, I like to use some of the user-friendly (often hiding) tools like cPanel, phpMyAdmin, mySQL tools, etc.  for some tasks, but then I also like to use the Linux command line for other tasks.  I sometimes use FTP too.  I run my on server and Moodle so I often find myself trying to find the easiest way (ways that do not require years of study) get the job done.

Although I have run Moodle on a hosted server, about four years ago I switched to a VPS (right now, GoDaddy). I needed a little better performance and the ability to have a larger database, so I had to switch to a VPS.  Some hosted servers have (hidden) restrictions that will force one away from them.  In my moodle, I run about 20 courses each year, around 300-400 students each year.  Right now, the cost of my GoDaddy VPS is affordable and around $30US/month (if you go this route, GoDaddy provides discounts from what they advertise on their website, sometime up to 40% discounts.  This is, well, GoDaddy.)  Incidentally, you get even less support with a GoDaddy VPS.

I am not connected with any of these companies, and there are a number of these companies that folks here on Moodle.org are successfully using.

If you decide to run your own Moodle, make sure that you are willing and interested in learning about servers and moodle.  As with most learning, there is often some frustration along the way.  Also, one cannot expect to learn everything overnight.


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In reply to Rick Jerz

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Translators
Talking of GoDaddy, "Go Daddy! (Where to?)" https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=193106.

(@Rick, my apologies. ;)
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In reply to Visvanath Ratnaweera

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by Rick Jerz -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Testers

Visvanath, no need to apologize.  I have been accustomed to seeing your perspectives on this topic of "GD".  I always welcome your views, and I hope that all of our comments can help new moodlers. smile

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In reply to John Rambo

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by Usman Asar -
Picture of Plugin developers Picture of Testers

Sorry my bad, what I meant to say was the prices for the VPS AREN'T Bad for a VPS (Instead mistakenly typed ARE bad), as I know they are from Contabo's offering and so far they have the best prices and they are German as well, but with CPanel addition just for managing server and not the moodle will not be useful.

If you are looking at other German hosting providers in list, do let  me know as well for I will be moving all my site(s) to Contabo in future, but other offers can't be overlooked.

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In reply to Usman Asar

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by John Rambo -

Hi

Most likely to get this site hosted with Contabo shared hosting for the beginning.

Actually, I am otherwise satisfied with them and do manage some sites using their M & XXL plans. I personally prefer them to other German web hosts, including Strato (not sure why they ALWAYS get good test results in PC & Internet magazines - had some appalling experiences with their support, slow & arrogant), 1&1, Webhost-germany.de, etc and also prefer their cPanel to solutions offered by others. Their support is also OK.

Regards

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In reply to John Rambo

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by John Rambo -

Hi all

Thank you all for your input, addressing the different raised issues.

It has been decided to begin with what shared hosting allows, since in any case this is a small venture and later on, if it grows & need be move on to a VPS server. 

If I have further questions, I will request for advice here.

Once again, thank you & kind regards

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In reply to John Rambo

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by Fahad Rafiq -

I prefer you o go for Dedicated hosting. Because Moodle Provides you Educational Model so its much valuable that your Sites have not Bad Neighborhood Site in Shared Hosting. Also it effect SEO too. There are many Provider offers dedicated Moodle Hosting like: Cloudways.

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In reply to Fahad Rafiq

Re: Is running a Moodle site on shared hosting possible at all?

by Usman Asar -
Picture of Plugin developers Picture of Testers
There are many shared hosting providers as well who provide dedicated IP as a part of the package, whilst others have it optional for like $2 a month, and its always IP address that isolates your hosting account with others, not the fact that you have to have dedicated server to be independent on the internet.
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