Moodle Hosting Sites

Moodle Hosting Sites

由Steve Wu發表於
Number of replies: 19

Hello -

We are currently hosting (on a trial basis) our Moodle site on Siteground.com. Siteground does not let you install any additional software that they do not have a script for. So, installing ClamAV to scan uploaded files can't be done.

I also checked bluehost.com and they also will not allow you to unpack a rpm package like ClamAV.

For those who are using a hosting site for your Moodle, does your host allow you to install other software? Do they have ClamAV available already?

Do most of you "Moodlers" (hosted or not) scan your uploads with the ClamAV option in Moodle?

Thx!

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In reply to Steve Wu

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Just H發表於
Hi Steve

Depending on how much support you think you will need might be worth looking at a Moodle partner in your area. Any problems you run into they would fix up very quickly and a % of the cost comes back to Moodle for further development.

On the other hand, if cost is an issue and you don't think you'll have any problems running your site yourself I recommend Site5 for reliable, value for money and helpfull hosting (I have no connection with Site5 other than being a client of theirs). Basically you can do whatever you want on their servers within reason and if something isn't installed they will either install it for you or you can install it yourself (they give shell access). ClamAV is, I believe, installed on all their servers.

Only potential issue, and I'm waiting to hear back from them, is they are running MySQL 4.1.14 and if you need full UTF8 when 1.6 comes out you need MySQL 4.1.16.

At the moment I don't use ClamAV mainly as I haven't had time to look into it and my site is a closed site.

Hope that helps.

Regards
H
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In reply to Just H

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Michael Farris發表於

Yes, the issue of upgrading to 1.6 IS important to consider since it requires MySQL 4.1.16 or better.  I am running into Moodle hosts (essentially resellers) who cannot handle this request due to restrictions by their providers.

It will winnow out a lot of Moodle hosts when 1.6 is released to production unless they begin now to get the DB upgrades lined up now.

Specifically I need a host where I can test 1.6 before release and would appreciate recommendations.

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In reply to Michael Farris

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Jonathan Moore發表於
Remote Learner will provide this type of access. And probably any of the other actual moodle partners that are hosting.
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In reply to Michael Farris

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Art Lader發表於
I think that Jonathan is right. You might want to consider using a Moodle partner.

Not only will you receive top-notch hosting, but part of the money you pay to the partner help support Moodle development.

-- Art
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In reply to Michael Farris

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由John Maselli發表於
I may be able to help you we are in the process of bringing up our new hosting services we use a tier 1 datacenter on Long Island and I presently run my dedicated server inhouse using MySQL 5.0.15 with no problems. I have not upgraded to 1.6 yet but I am going to run this on the next server I build. My company is Learnmyworld.com we are building a company to support Moodle and develop content for Moodle Sites. In addition we are computer professionals who are knowledgable in Linux, database apps, and servers and "Learning Moodle" as fast as I can. I can keep you informed of our progress if you like.  
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In reply to Steve Wu

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Stan Paluch發表於
Good is not cheap, cheap is not good. Because I must have 30 students log into my Moodle site every day the number of concurrent users is a key issue.
After many inquiries, SiteGround finally admitted that they limit their concurrent users to 15. 
I'm new to Moodling and having my site hosted by Moodlerooms. Their service is great, and no problem with concurrent users. At $12/month their price is fair.

There are some limitations that concern me. I will clarify my concerns with them.


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In reply to Stan Paluch

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由RF Stewart發表於
I have had issues with Siteground, too. When my class all come together in the lab and enter my moodle classroom, they shut it down. Their tech support gives me a different story each time. Their sales agent claims that I should be able to log in with my whole class simultaneously. Sometimes the tech person tells me they can identify my computer lab ip address and override the shut down. But the next day the problem comes back. They finally admitted that 15 is the threshold for my plan. They recommend that I jump from the $5.95/month plan to the $89.95/month plan. That won't happen on a teacher's salary.
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In reply to RF Stewart

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Anthony Borrow發表於
Core developers的相片 Plugin developers的相片 Testers的相片
Thanks for sharing your experience. Another issue to keep in mind with some of these cheap hosts is the version of PHP they are running. I was looking at hostmonster.com which has an automated install for Moodle (1.8) and advertises being able to run a Moodle site; however, they do not have the xmlrpc extension installed for php so users cannot take advantage of the Moodle Networking features. Other than using a Moodle partner, I've become convinced that if you want a Moodle site hosted you really need a dedicated server. Peace - Anthony
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In reply to Stan Paluch

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Claude Whitmyer發表於

We had a course running on Siteground with two instructors and 27 students, back in 2006-2007. We solved the simultaneous access problem by upgrading to a virtual private server. It was costing us under $10 a month for the shared hosting, and the VPS cost $80 a month. But it was so much faster!

The problems we were having disappeared and it was a lot easier to do course building. The students were faculty, actually. And  each of them was required to build their own course. So the VPS really helped make thing quick and trouble free.

Claude Whitmyer
The University of the Future
www.futureu.com

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In reply to Claude Whitmyer

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Claude Whitmyer發表於

I forgot to mention: Siteground is month to month. So we only had to pay the extra $70/month for the three months duration of the course. That meant that while the course was experiencing heavy usage, we had a hosting service that easily handled that. Before and after, when there was low levels of activity and only the occasional visitor for archival purposes, we paid the lower fee.

Sitegrounds flexibility was a great help and we passed the extra cost on to the client.

Claude Whitmyer
The University of the Future
www.futureu.com

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In reply to Steve Wu

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由ian lake發表於
i too am testing moodle with siteground, if you go to the support pages and install script - not via fantastico - and use the drop-down boxes at the bottom of the drop-down on the second screen is a listing 'script not on list' select this confirm the location of the script and request an install. i have tried this and although for some unknown reason the install failed - siteground said incompatible with their system, which is interesting since it was moodle 153! - but they did try. what's the worst that can happen?

ian
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In reply to Steve Wu

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Randy Obert發表於

We run ClamAV as a root service as well as allowing clients their own scan controls.  You can force scans on new uploads etc.  ClamAV updates daily and does prove to be a load issue at times but I have found that it is worth the load to our clients.

I however do not load servers to 600 accounts. We maintain less that 60% disk capacity and limit to around 300 accounts per server.  I host Moodle for a couple clients (one is a community college) and so far, it has not been all that hard on the servers.  As far as other script installs, so far this has not been an issue. I suppose as time goes on with this software we will find the limits on a shared environment.  So we are still learning about this

 

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In reply to Steve Wu

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Keith Burnett發表於

Hello All

Has anyone come accross a Web hosting provider that actually provides MySQL 4.1.16 as required by Moodle 1.6? None of the hosting providers I deal with have any plans to upgrade their MySQL installations any time soon.

UK based would be really nice, but anywhere will do

Cheers

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In reply to Keith Burnett

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Randy Obert發表於

There are issues with that version and if a company is running 4.1.XX, it it likely 4.1.19.

My clients have had no issues with this version (4.1.19) and some were installed on 4.0.XX originally.

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In reply to Keith Burnett

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由elearning edu發表於

I offer the hosting service for moodle 1.6 I attach the screen shot showing the PHP and MySQL versions.

Nagarajan

附件 screen2.jpg
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In reply to Keith Burnett

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由N Hansen發表於
Try opensourcehost.com. They have servers running 4.1.19. I've been with them 2 years and have been happy with the support they provide.
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In reply to N Hansen

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Randy Obert發表於

Kind of cute signup page they have, promote open source software, zen cart and run a retail version of ModenBill for their own stuff. 

In reality, there are so many places that run Fantastico (us included) that have current software loaded that it really is not an issue.

Pick a place that

1. Offers a money back promise
2. Offers month to month
3. Even willing to give you the first month free (you may need to just ask) we do not openly promote a free month but do it all the time.
4. Stay away from the insanely cheap or expensive. A decent starter account is typically around $5 a month and will let you run the system to check response times and server loads (the later is pretty important, many host's seriously over sell their servers).

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In reply to Randy Obert

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由N Hansen發表於
Fantastico doesn't allow one to take full advantage of Moodle because you are stuck with the standard version and can't customize it. I've been happy with opensourcehost.com because a real human will install an upgrade to my Moodle site for free whenever I need it upgraded, and if I do something stupid they will restore backups and the like for me too. And 300 sites on a single server is still quite a lot.
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In reply to N Hansen

Re: Moodle Hosting Sites

由Randy Obert發表於

Depending on the type of sites and the type of content, 300 sites can bring a server to a standstill or it can zing along without any load. It is only a partial indicator of what is going on.  A really good indicator however can be disk loading and cpu usage. Cpanel hosts "can" make this information available to all the users.  Typically an over sold server will run from 85 to 98% disk usage and CPU loads will run at similar levels. But the fact is you typically get what you pay for. Without getting to specific a server needs to generate $800 per month to be viable for the owner. You can do this with 50 sites or 500, and it does matter to the users which business model you use.

Many (and I mean a lot of hosts) will go way out of the way for clients.  Where this does not happen is for some of the largest  of company's. They really have no need to cater to a small faction of users such as this. In the years I have been at this, I have found "new" users are the normal trouble ticket and after about 30 days, we do not hear from them again for a year or more.

We as well as a lot of smaller company's (less than 2500 users) do a lot of custom work for clients (we had to learn all about Zope a couple years back and it like Moodle, has a very defined group of users. Very often a user has a coding error and needs help fixing it. As faulty code can genuinly disrupt a server, it is to our advantage to help them get it fixed.   

It does pay off to use a host that others can vouch for after at least a year of service.  As I posted earlier, just ask them for what you need and see what happens.  Having attended a number of symposiums and seminars for the hosting industry, I can say without a doubt that there are hundreds of capable and willing companies that will bend over backwards to help a single user. 

I agree about Fantastico lagging behind a bit in versions but the guys at Netenburg do a pretty decent job of keeping current and secure versions up to date. I personally have no idea the differences between the versions of Moodle, I only got involved with this because the Community College here needed it installed and they could not do it in-house. 

Moodle install is pretty much a no-brainer anyway, the Fantastico however allows "Anyone" to do the install. It may be possible to update the Fantastico version to 1.6 and in the next day or 2 I will see about this.

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