Arvixe hosting and php.ini

Okay, I am having a heck of a time with Arvixe as a host.  Any one else have any experience with them? Reliability has become a huge concern.  Also, I asked if they would make the date modification to the php.ini so that our system time would try to display correctly (doesn't work) but mysteriously a php.ini appeared in the public_html folder where it was not before.

I am wondering if my new issue of database not connecting, etc., could be related to this.  Does Dolphin, upon installation, write to, modify or create a php.ini?  If they simply placed theirs into my main directory and over written something hidden by Dolphin that I couldn't see...that could be a disaster (as it is now)

Any help is GREATLY appreciated.  I have 132 direct mailing arriving any day now and we all know, if someone comes to your site and it is not working...good luck getting them back.  :(

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

I left Arvixe long ago, most new customers go with shared hosting to save.

Not sure what plan you have from them. Shared is not the way to go with them, or any company if you plan on having an active Dolphin site...

Spammers can overload your site, Arvixe sends out warning letters because your SQL database is using too "many" resources...

I think you get three before they shut you down.

I moved to VPS long ago. It's worth it!

Mscott is their liaison here on Boonex

Thank you so much Newton; being familiar with Arvixe; do you know if there is a way I can port my entire site and databases over?  Whatever I do, I have to move quickly..if people get the postcards tomorrow about the site and it is down while being moved or because of more screw ups on Arvixe's end.. than I am out several hundred dollars of marketing money.  Can you give me any tips or instruction?  I will move this thing tonight, immediately, if need be.

You can perform a full backup from the cPanel backup wizard.  This backs up your entire account, so it can be imported onto a new cPanel server.  Your account, password, stats, files, databases, and emails are all preserved this way.

Thank you, Nathan!

Not to appear to be spamming ( I have already backed up and downloaded the copy as Nathan suggested ) but these are just some of the errors I am now getting....   at such a great time!

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (111) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (111) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: Access denied for user 'mattamy'@'localhost' (using password: NO) in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() [function.mysql-real-escape-string]: A link to the server could not be established in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 244

Error

Database connect failed

Fatal error: Call to a member function getRow() on a non-object in /home/mattamy/public_html/inc/utils.inc.php on line 421

Internal Server Error

The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@tuscanyplaceresidents.com and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.

More information about this error may be available in the server error log.

Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

Hi Jasonvanhome,

Inside our control panel there is a way to create a custom php.ini file that applies to your whole site. Dolphin does not set up one on install. As newton27 mentioned a basic shared plan is not something you can run a Facebook size site on. Facebook currently employs thousands of servers and even they didn't start off on a shared plan. A basic shared plan at Arvixe is fine place to setup, design and start such a site, even with some users. Once the site starts becoming very active through, then a new plan is needed. Dolphin can be a heavy php application if you are using all of its functions: chat, video chat, forums, videos, etc... That is why Arvixe offers plans from the basic shared account to VPS and dedicated plans. This is so you can have a single team helping you with your hosting as you grow. If you have any questions about this feel free to contact me.

Regards,

Noah @ Arvixe.com

 This needs a follow up,

Jason has been "testing" his site, a few neighbors and I, maybe a few other friends.

As he stated, he is not public yet.

If your so called "shared" hosting cannot even handle a few of us testing, as you stated, without simple database connections failing, hmm

When I used your services, my one site was on a server with 500+ other "shared" sites.

New people here do not understand the concept or knowledge of what hosting companies call "Unlimited"

when all truth it is NOT, yes it is in the TOU, but how many really read down that far into a three page document? 

I do now though..

Jason, spend $27 a month and get a VPS from my recommendations I sent PM, as you have seen my sites.. they are all hosted on this inexpensive VPS I have..

I adjusted all the server side settings to match/exceed Andrew Boon's postings about site speed up's.. 

I can do the same for you.. no charge.

When are the postcards due in the mail?

Arvixe is fine place to setup, design and start such a site, even with some users. Once the site starts becoming very active through, then a new plan is needed.

Shouldn't this be on your "Unlimited shared" hosting plan page EUA/TOU for Dolphin users?

 Hi newton27,

Jasonvanhorne did not mention that his site was not public, all he said was that he was going to be doing a mailing campaign. There was no indication made to the size of the site. If he had specific issues with the service we would be happy to address those directly. The error messages posted were not attributed to his account at Arvixe and looking at the DNS of his domain (listed in mysql errors above) shows that the hosting is not with Arvixe.

The TOS/AUP is meant to explain what is allowed with Arvixe it is not meant how each plan works. Every tech at Arvixe knows how plans are setup and when asked through live chat, e-mail, or phone they will explain that a basic shared plan (named PersonalClass) is not meant to hold huge active sites. No where in our terms of service do we say we allow for unlimited resource usage (CPU/RAM/MySQL).

When you say "when all truth it is NOT, yes it is in the TOU, but how many really read down that far into a three page document? " I hope everyone would because you are agreeing to a contract and those documents let you know your rights as a user and what you can/can't use on the account.

That is why we also have 24/7 sales and support to answer any questions our customers may have about our plans.

Regards,

-Noah @ Arvixe.com

 quote from customer to me...

 but this damn host (Arvixe) has NOT gotten back to me and now their 24/7 support chat is pushing me to email (which means they are avoiding me....) grrrrrr

I've already emailed Noah and our Liaison manager to see where MScott is as he should have already been on this case.

jasonvanhorne - I'm sorry for your issues. What is your ticket ID? If you don't have a ticket ID, please email your issue to support@arvixe.com and then post the ticket ID here or simply email it to qa@arvixe.com where the most senior staff members will tend to your case with the utmost in priority. Our staff are here to help but we need your issues documented so we can assign the right people to them. I also strongly suggest to not take advice from individuals that don't actually work for us or have current services through us. Things change rapidly and those that have not used us in some time could possibly have outdated or improper information.

When it comes to scripting issues, it is not always possible to help on chat or on calls. So we do need you to submit a ticket if our chat staff have already determined it is a case they can not help with over chat.

newton27 - I've already posted stats of how many actual Dolphin sites run on our servers. unoboonex also has those numbers. I just have one request - Can you not comment on our current services if you are not a current customer? 

Is that not a fair request? 

We've done a lot to attempt to reduce the animosity on the boonex forum including hiring MScott and attempting to upgrade servers and setup policies around what is ok and not ok with Dolphin on our shared hosting. Whether you like it or not, we are growing and we have a lot of happy customers. Let's just help people instead of make this a battle ground.

It's cool Arvixe, he moved last night.. lol

 I just have one request - Can you not comment on our current services if you are not a current customer?

NO, not if it is helping them understand why your services are not working..

And I can post on ANY topic here except "Disputes" as per our rules.

I was a customer and you suck at customer service, period...

Sorry, I just saw this.

Newton, thanks for refering him to me.. I guess he didn't see that part of your post because he didn't send me anything. I wish he had, I could have helped.

Wow, what an active thread about my challenges and I wasn't even a part of the conversation! 

Unfortunately and perhaps this is not the case for ALL webmasters who pick Arvixe, but when I am running a site that has no more than three visitors at any random time and have been spending hours in preparation for a costly direct mailing campaign the sudden 'database cannot connect' errors and lack of service response (+12 hours) is unacceptable.  I do not care if I am paying $2.00/mo or $200.00/mo; regardless my level of commitment, I expect a service response that understands a mission critical operation.

I failed to get that from Arvixe and in less time than it took not to respond to my support ticket I was able to find a new host, upload my backup and have the site up and running (shared server, again) with no database connection issues, constant support feedback until the site was migrated and all settings in place to fit the backup/restore and at much faster response times.

More importantly, I understand the power of 'word of mouth advertising' and the concerns of Arvixe that people do not trash them publicly.  It is a known fact that unhappy customers tell, on average, five people about their experience compared to the one or two persons a happy customer informs.  However, if there is a concern for such free advertising than RESPOND to your customers needs.  At least in a reasonable amount of time.

I appreciate that here and perhaps well after the fact in email, there was a response -- however, too little too late.  While I may not have been an important factor to you in dollar amount, you are unaware of my future plans and need for additional dedicated hosting.  A valued customer should not be downgraded by a misconceived lack of worth to your company.

All in all, Newton proved to be a wealth of information.  Our experiences with Arvixe in sync and I was able to get the site up and running the same day the post cards arrived in all our mailboxes - thankfully.

I, personally, will not 'bad mouth' your company, but I certainly will not recommend them either.

Thanks!

Jason

I think someone expecting mission-critical response for $2.00/month may be out of their mind.  You shouldn't expect that kind of service on a cheap and "unlimited" shared account.

My issue with Arvixe is their shared - or how they advertise it, to be more specific.  I know their shared can run Dolphin and meets its requirements, but it's only an option for in-development sites or a developer's test site.  Folks who expect real usage from their sites should immediately look for a VPS or dedicated, and I'm sure Arvixe's VPS and dedicated are fine.  But Arvixe does not advertise their shared to developers - they offer it as the final solution for Dolphin and make no attempt to explain that real sites should steer clear.  This results in what's been described by other here as a bait-and-switch tactic.

But it's not only Arvixe who does this!  HostForWeb, TMD, and others all advertise their shared instead of VPS or dedicated.  Root Baron was also a culprit of this trend.  Since few accounts were on our shared, it's not like we needed to force accounts onto a VPS or dedicated.  I would have tried to avoid that, or make it clear somewhere on the site when it became clear Dolphin on shared could not function how I hoped it could.

Hosting makes us do some crazy things to turn a profit.

I'll take responsibility for this. If I had seen this sooner I could have sent his ticket to one of the techs and they would have looked into it immediately. In the past they've they fixed everyone up I've done this for up.

I am currently testing Dolphin 7.0.9 on a shared Arvixe plan.  While Arvixe has been very good to deal with and they do answer problems quickly; it is the number of problems lately that worries me.  Arvixe has an advert advertising Dolphin hosting for "as low as $4.00/month" http://www.arvixe.com/dolphin_hosting.  This would lead one to believe that one should be able to host a reasonable sized member base on that shared hosting.  I am seeing problems at times with only two to three test users on the site at a time and the test users are not adding that much content.  One day the site could not connect to the database and ALL the test sites could not connect.  So I went to the CPanel of the account, loaded up phpMyAdmin and it could not connect to the MySQL server.  When I contacted Arvixe, they told me there was NO problem with the MySQL server.  The next day the problem went away.  If there is one thing you can not have, and that is for the MySQL server to not allow connections.  Then there was the cron job reporting that "MySQL went away" when trying to process a video.  As I said, Arvixe; for my cases do appear to have good customer service as far as answering when you contact them by ticket or by online chat and they have corrected issues I have been seeing.  Lately it just seems that there are more issues than usual.

I will base my decision on upgrading based on my experiences on a shared host.  I have no problem switching if I need to.

If the database thing happens again shoot me a PM and I'll forward it to someone who can nail down what the problem was.