TCH-Blog

At TotalChoice Hosting, we’re proud to power everything from personal side projects to enterprise-grade platforms. Our dedicated servers are the quiet backbone behind thousands of websites, applications, and digital experiences — built by people who care about performance, reliability, and support that actually shows up when it matters. In this Client Showcase, we’re excited to feature Criticker — a smart, community-driven recommendation engine that helps people discover what to watch or play next. Whether you’re a film buff, TV junkie, or gamer, Criticker offers a personalized experience built on taste and trust. Behind the scenes, their entire platform runs on our high-performance Michigan Dedicated Servers, backed by over 15 years of partnership. Criticker is a film, TV, and video game recommendation platform that works a little differently than the typical streaming algorithm. Instead of guessing based on popularity, Criticker matches users with others who share their unique tastes and builds recommendations based on that network of similar preferences. We recently spoke with Mike Powell, Co-Founder of Criticker, about his experience with TotalChoice Hosting and what makes Criticker tick. Why Criticker Chose TotalChoice Hosting After facing reliability issues with a previous provider, Mike Powell and his team at Criticker were looking for more than just another server — they needed trust, performance, and real support! How Criticker Runs at Scale Criticker operates a server infrastructure designed to support the demands of a high-traffic, data-rich recommendation engine. Their platform runs entirely on a home-grown PHP framework, with MySQL and JavaScript powering the backend and frontend — all working in harmony to deliver personalized results in real time. With over 21 million ratings and counting, the platform is built to handle continuous load, dynamic content generation, and a growing global audience. Thanks to the flexibility and reliability of their dedicated hosting environment, Criticker can focus on refining its platform, not managing downtime. Performance That Speaks for Itself At TotalChoice Hosting, we don’t wait for problems to happen — we work proactively with our clients to identify opportunities for improvement before performance becomes an issue. That’s exactly what happened during a recent review of Criticker’s infrastructure. After coordinating a hardware upgrade to better support their growing workload, the results were immediate. By staying ahead of the curve with infrastructure planning and support, TotalChoice ensures Criticker’s platform runs at peak performance, no matter how much it grows. criticker.com Support That Shows Up When It Matters Most We asked Mike if there was a time when TotalChoice Hosting’s support really stood out. Without hesitation, he recalled a moment that perfectly captured what we aim to deliver: At TotalChoice Hosting, this is more than just a support ticket — it’s our standard. Real people. Real responses. And real solutions, even on weekends, when it matters most. Hosting That Helps You Grow As Criticker has grown, so has its infrastructure’s complexity. Today, its platform runs on bare metal dedicated servers, supporting a custom-built PHP framework, MySQL databases, and JavaScript-powered features. With TotalChoice Hosting, Criticker has built a scalable and dependable environment that keeps pace with its evolving demands. Mike Powell, Co-Founder of Criticker, said it best: This flexibility—backed by personal, responsive support—allows Criticker to scale confidently as its audience grows while keeping performance and reliability at the core of its user experience. Final Thoughts from Criticker For over 15 years, Criticker has relied on TotalChoice Hosting to deliver the stability, speed, uptime, and personal support needed to run a global recommendation platform. From server upgrades to weekend support requests, our team has been there to ensure their infrastructure stays invisible so their users can focus on discovering great entertainment without interruption. We’re proud to have earned that trust over so many years and even prouder to continue powering Criticker’s growth into the future. Partnerships like these define TotalChoice Hosting. View the full article

Running your own server at home feels like a power move. You’ve got full control, no monthly fees, and the satisfaction of running everything yourself — whether it’s Proxmox, Unraid, Plex, TrueNAS, or a custom Docker stack. But when your self-hosted setup starts handling real workloads — backups, VPNs, Plex libraries, even business data — it stops being a weekend project and becomes a risk. Colocation might be the move for you! Let’s talk about where self-hosting shines, where it fails, and why Michigan colocation just makes sense. The Real Benefits of Self-Hosting Self-hosting definitely has its place. For homelabbers, tech enthusiasts, and privacy-conscious power users, it offers: Pro Why It’s Great Full Control You own and manage the stack end-to-end — hardware, software, and services. No Monthly Fees Once you’ve bought the hardware, there’s no bill for rack space or bandwidth. Learning Experience Running your own Plex, Proxmox, TrueNAS, or Unraid box is a great education. Flexibility & Customization Total freedom to run your own stacks, images, and configs — no restrictions. Privacy No third parties touching your data. If you’re experimenting or running personal projects, self-hosting is a great place to start. But when the stakes get higher — when uptime and data integrity matter — it’s time to level up. Fire, Flood, Theft — Your Basement Isn’t a Data Center We’ve seen it all: A sump pump fails — and a TrueNAS box drowns. A lightning strike hits — and the entire Proxmox node gets fried. A break-in wipes out decades of files and backups. Even high-profile creators aren’t immune. Watch: LGR’s data loss after a hurricane! “I felt physically sick. Years of my life — gone in one surge. I never want to experience that again.” — LGR, Lazy Game Reviews Self-hosting is fragile. When your hardware is sitting on a shelf in the basement, it only takes one moment to lose everything. Your Power & Internet Aren’t Enough Here’s the reality of residential hosting: No redundant power No enterprise cooling No static IPs without extra cost No backup generator for your ISP Even if you’ve got a home generator, your residential ISP infrastructure doesn’t. Most street-side fiber nodes, pole amps, or coaxial cabinets are only backed by tiny batteries, not generators. The Harsh Reality of Residential Internet We hear this a lot: “I’ve got a backup generator — I’ll be fine.” But that only solves half the problem. Even if your server stays powered up, your internet won’t. Here’s why: Residential ISP hardware (like fiber nodes or cable amps) is usually powered by small battery units. These only last 2 to 4 hours during an outage. After that, your neighborhood’s internet is down, even if your lights are on. Restoration is not prioritized for residential zones. The bottom line is that bad weather means you’re offline, generator or not. Meanwhile, in a proper data center like ours: Power is redundant and conditioned Bandwidth is multi-homed and enterprise-class Infrastructure is monitored, maintained, and restored first Real-World Example: Plex Isn’t Pretty on a Weak Upload Self-hosting sounds great — until Grandpa in Texas tries to watch home videos of Johnny the grandson from your basement Plex server… and the stream keeps buffering. Or you’re trying to stream Johnny’s 4K high school football game to five family members at once — and your home upload speed chokes. Residential internet usually gives you fast download, but a weak upload. 5–10 Mbps upload just isn’t enough to push full-res video streams to multiple devices. Even if your Plex server is a beast, your home bandwidth becomes the bottleneck — and your family ends up watching a stuttering slideshow. Think Self-Hosting Is Cheaper? Think Again. Here’s what it actually costs to run a modest homelab 24/7 at home: Item Estimated Monthly Cost Power (24/7 operation) $23 Business-grade Internet $40 Cooling / ventilation $15 Total $78/month That’s $78/month, just to keep your server online — not including security, uptime, or support. Our Michigan colocation plans start at just $59/month, and include: Professional power and cooling Fast, redundant internet Secure facility access Remote hands and support Your Data Deserves Physical Security Our data center provides: 24/7 video surveillance Locked cabinets Entry logging Fire suppression systems Controlled access to authorized personnel only You don’t get that in a spare bedroom. Why Michigan Colocation Makes Sense Michigan ranks among the best locations in the country for data center reliability. Here’s why: Advantage Why It Matters Low Disaster Risk Safe from earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires. Cool Climate Naturally reduces cooling costs year-round. Resilient Power Infrastructure Multiple grids, clean energy mix, stable delivery. Strategic Location Midwestern hub with low-latency routes to the U.S. and Canada. Tech Ecosystem Proximity to top universities and engineering talent. Our Michigan-based data center gives your hardware the best of both worlds: local access and global-grade infrastructure. Check out our blog entry about Why Michigan Matters! You Built It — Bring It Got your stack dialed in? We’re ready for it. Colocate your: Unraid NAS Proxmox cluster TrueNAS backup system Docker swarm or Kubernetes lab Plex Server We support client-owned gear and offer free rack and stack help during your deployment. It’s Time to Protect What Matters Your data isn’t disposable. Whether it’s family photos, client files, offsite backups, or production services — your setup deserves more than a shelf in a basement. Check out our Michigan Colocation Plans View the full article

When you’re shopping for serious hosting power, it’s not just about how many cores your server has — it’s about where it lives, who’s supporting it, and whether it’s truly yours. That’s where a dedicated server comes into play. If you’re looking for a Michigan dedicated server, this guide is for you. At TotalChoice Hosting, we specialize in delivering high-performance bare metal servers from our Michigan data centers. Here are the top 10 questions clients ask us — and why Michigan dedicated servers are the smart choice. We’ve answered thousands of client questions over the years — and these are the top 10 we hear most often. 1. What is a dedicated server (aka bare metal)? A dedicated server, or bare metal server, is a physical machine exclusively allocated to a single client. Unlike shared or VPS hosting, you have full control over the server’s resources. If you’re looking for non-virtualized hosting in Michigan, bare metal servers are the answer. Explore our Michigan dedicated server plans. 2. Why choose a Michigan data center? Not all data centers are created equal. When you host your server with TotalChoice Hosting, your hardware lives inside our Southfield, Flint, and Grand Rapids facilities, engineered for enterprise-grade uptime and Detroit metro reliability. Tier III+ certification 99.99% uptime guarantee Redundant power and cooling systems Carrier-neutral connectivity with over 120 providers If you’re searching for dedicated server hosting in Southeast Michigan, this is where it happens. Take a look at our Michigan data centers. 3. How is a bare metal server different from VPS or cloud hosting? While VPS and cloud hosting involve shared resources, a bare metal server provides dedicated hardware, ensuring optimal performance and security. For a comprehensive comparison, visit our blog post: Shared Hosting vs. VPS vs. Dedicated Servers. 4. Do I need to be a sysadmin to manage a bare metal server? Not at all. We offer both Fully Managed and Unmanaged Dedicated Server plans. Our managed services include: OS installation and updates Security patches 24/7 monitoring Choose the plan that fits your technical expertise and business needs. 5. What operating systems can I run? Our servers support a variety of operating systems, including: Linux: Ubuntu, Alma, Rocky, RHEL, Debian, and many more! Windows Server: 2019, 2022, 2025, and many more! Custom ISOs: For specialized requirements Customize your server to match your project’s specific needs.. 6. What kind of hardware do you use for your Michigan dedicated servers? At TotalChoice Hosting, we don’t cut corners on hardware. Every one of our Michigan dedicated servers is built using enterprise-grade Dell PowerEdge equipment. We’ve chosen Dell PowerEdge for three simple reasons: Reliability: Dell’s server platforms are rock-solid under pressure. They’re built for 24/7 uptime in real production environments. Lifecycle Support: Dell provides reliable firmware updates, BIOS patches, and hardware replacement timelines that align with long-term client hosting needs. Component Quality: From memory modules to power supplies to RAID controllers, Dell’s internal components are enterprise-class! When you buy a bare metal server in Michigan from us, you’re getting proven Dell hardware, tested in-house, and deployed in a professionally managed data center. You’re not gambling on generic components, and that’s a big reason we have clients who have been with us for 20+ years. 7. What about bandwidth and networking? We are carrier-neutral with 120+ providers, multiple fiber entrances, and direct peering via DET-iX — providing low-latency reach across North America. Our servers come with generous bandwidth allocations and are connected to multiple Tier 1 providers, ensuring low latency and high-speed connectivity. Details are available on our Dedicated Servers page. 8. How fast is the network? All Michigan-based servers connect to a high-capacity Arista core network, offering: 1Gbps or 10Gbps ports Unmetered options available Direct peering with DET-iX U.S. & Canadian route optimization That’s why our network is trusted by hosting resellers, universities, and businesses nationwide. Check bandwidth specs on our Dedicated Servers. 9. How fast can I deploy? Our most popular bare metal servers in Michigan deploy in 24 to 48 hours, often faster. Custom builds are racked, burned in, and tested before delivery. And because we manage our own inventory and infrastructure, we don’t wait on vendors. 10. How do I get started? Visit our Michigan Dedicated Servers page to explore standard and customizable configurations. If you’re not sure what you need, our team can help you choose the best bare metal server for your specific use case. Need something custom? Contact us directly through our Sales Contact Form or call our Michigan-based team. We’ll walk you through hardware options, upgrades, and deployment timelines. Once your order is placed, we rack, burn-in, test, and provision your Dell enterprise server in one of our Southfield, Flint, or Grand Rapids data centers. Most setups are completed within 24–48 hours. Final Thoughts: Why Buy a Dedicated Server in Michigan?. If you’re serious about uptime, control, and real performance, skip the cloud fluff and go bare metal. With over 20 years of experience, TotalChoice Hosting is the go-to dedicated server provider in Michigan, trusted by clients across the U.S., Canada, and beyond. From Detroit enterprise deployments to Grand Rapids colocation, we offer real infrastructure, real support, and real results. Browse Dedicated Servers Buy a Detroit Dedicated Server Today View the full article

At TotalChoice Hosting, colocation isn’t just about renting space. It’s about delivering a premium, hands-on experience from the moment you place your order — and this Dell PowerEdge R440 is a perfect example. Step 1: The Web Order This journey started like many others—with a client ordering our 1U colocation package directly from the TotalChoice Hosting website. As soon as the order was placed, our sales team reached out personally to finalize the details: Sent client a guide on Michigan Colocation Rack and Stack Provided the client’s dedicated IPv4 allocation Confirmed technical specs (power, uplinks, IPMI, etc.) Asked if the server would be shipped or hand-delivered Step 2: Arrival via Client-Managed Shipping The client chose to ship the server directly to our Michigan data center and took advantage of our White Glove Receiving & Rack Service. While the client is responsible for arranging shipping, we provide clear guidance on packaging and delivery requirements: Use proper OEM-grade or better protective materials Include asset details inside the box Ensure signature-required delivery to our facility Send tracking info to our support team Once the Dell PowerEdge R440 landed at our loading dock, our technicians took over — unboxing, inspecting, and preparing it for rack deployment. Step 3: Honeymoon Service Begins All new colocation clients enjoy our 30-Day Honeymoon Service — Gold-Level Smart Hands, completely free during the first month. That includes: Free rack & stack Free cabling, power setup, and uplink testing Remote KVM/IPMI configuration Real-time setup assistance After the Honeymoon period, clients can choose from four Smart Hands service levels to fit their ongoing needs — from basic tasks to full technical management. Step 4: Inspection After arrival, our techs performed a full intake inspection: Verified hardware integrity (PSU, fans, RAM, drive trays) Patched into our staging VLAN to confirm network behavior Verify successful POST (Power on Self Test) and clean boot. Everything passed — the R440 was clean and stable and ready to rack. Step 5: Rack, Stack & Connect We mounted the server in Cabinet 19 – Slot 04, connected to dual redundant 120V PDUs, and patched it into our monitored blended bandwidth network on a fully monitored 1Gbps unmetered connection. Dual power feeds tested Neatly dressed and labeled cabling IPMI and KVM confirmed operational Switch port and MAC verified Logged into our internal DCIM inventory and added an inventory asset tag. Step 6: Client Handoff We sent the client: High-res photos of the rack installation IP and reverse DNS confirmations Uplink port info onboarding verification Access instructions and Smart Hands contact info All of it — zero hassle, no delays. Why It Matters This is how we do colocation at TotalChoice Hosting: Clear communication Free expert onboarding Hands-on hardware care Real transparency When your business depends on your server, we treat it like it’s ours. Want colocation done right? 1U, 2U, half rack, or full cabinet space available Don’t delay, order today! Colocation Services Smart Hands Service Options View the full article

Dear TCH Family, We are thrilled to announce a significant upgrade to our status monitoring system! At TotalChoice Hosting, we understand how crucial it is for you to stay informed about the status of your services and the overall health of our hosting platform. We have completely revamped our status pages to provide an even better experience. New Unified Status Page: Enhanced Features: Third-Party Uptime Stats Enhancement: TotalChoice has enhanced the third-party uptime statistics for all our services on the new pages. This enhancement verifies our service reliability independently, further strengthening our commitment to transparency and quality. All Services in One Place: Say goodbye to the hassle of searching for status updates on different TotalChoice Hosting services. Our unified status page consolidates service statuses into one convenient location. Comprehensive Details: Dive into reports about individual services and components, including historical data and performance metrics. Direct Updates from Technical Support Team: The new status pages will feature real-time updates directly from our technical support team about any incidents, disruptions, or planned maintenance, empowering you to stay promptly informed. Unified Status Reporting: Our new status page is automatically linked to our user forums and (soon) to TotalChoice Social Media outlets. This unified status reporting ensures clients receive timely and consistent information across various platforms, enhancing the overall experience. With our upgraded unified status page, you can now have better visibility over the services you rely on, all in one place, allowing you to stay informed promptly about any incidents, disruptions, or planned maintenance. This enhancement will significantly improve your experience with TotalChoice Hosting. To start benefiting from our new unified status page, visit https://status.totalchoicehosting.com and explore its features. We encourage you to update your bookmarks to ensure easy access to the most accurate and timely information. As always, your feedback is essential to us. If you have any suggestions or encounter any issues with the new status page, please don’t hesitate to contact our support team. We are committed to continually improving our services to meet your needs. Thank you for choosing TotalChoice Hosting as your hosting provider. We look forward to providing you an even more reliable and informative experience. I hope everyone enjoys the holidays! Happy Hosting Bill Kish

Dear TotalChoice Hosting Clients, The world of technology is continually evolving, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that we provide you with the latest and most efficient tools. With the End-Of-Life (EOL) of MySQL 5.7, we’re excited to introduce MySQL 8, a more advanced and powerful database management system. 1. 5.7 EOL: Time to Move On MySQL 5.7 will no longer receive updates, fixes, or support. Transitioning to MySQL 8 will be essential for continued robustness, security, and efficiency. Here’s what you can expect: 2. Key Differences from MySQL 5.7 – JSON Functions: Improved JSON handling for more complex data structures. – Character Sets: Default utf8mb4 character set for broader language support. – Security Improvements: Enhanced encryption and authentication methods. 3. Older Scripts: What You Need to Know Compatibility issues might arise with older scripts. Please test and, if necessary, update them. Our support team is here to assist with any concerns you may have. 4. Compatibility and Reserved Words MySQL 8 introduces some changes in syntax, and a few previously allowed words are now reserved. Reviewing and modifying code might be necessary, but these changes lead to cleaner, more efficient coding practices. 5. Being Default on cPanel and Newer OSes MySQL 8 aligns with the latest industry standards, becoming the default option in cPanel and many newer Operating Systems. This alignment ensures a smoother and more cohesive integration across platforms. 6. Improvements: Faster and More Robust – Data Dictionary: Centralized data dictionary for faster access. – Transaction Handling: Improved consistency and reliability. – Indexing: More efficient indexing for quicker queries. – Optimizer Improvements: Smart and resource-effective query planning. 7. Options for Clients: We’re Here for You We understand that transitions can be daunting. TotalChoice Hosting offers: – Guided Migration: Step-by-step support for a smooth transition. – Compatibility Assistance: Help in updating existing applications. – Custom Plans: Tailored solutions for unique needs. Embracing MySQL 8 is about staying ahead, ensuring robust performance, and optimizing security. We invite you to begin preparations for this change and to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or need assistance with your migration please contact our 24/7 friendly support team by submitting a ticket here: https://my.totalchoicehosting.com/ Thank you for being part of our journey towards excellence. Sincerely, The TotalChoice Hosting Team The post Embracing the Future with MySQL 8: An Important Update from TotalChoice Hosting first appeared on TotalChoice Hosting Blog. View the full article

Introduction Selecting the right hosting solution is critical for the success of your website. With several options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is the best fit for your needs. In this blog, we will discuss three popular hosting solutions offered by TotalChoice Hosting: Shared Hosting, Virtual Private Servers (VPS), and Dedicated Servers. We will outline the key differences between them and guide you in choosing the most suitable option for your website. Shared Hosting Shared hosting is the most affordable option and is ideal for smaller websites or those just starting out. In a shared hosting environment, multiple websites are hosted on a single server, sharing its resources such as CPU, RAM, and disk space. Pros: – Cost-effective: Shared hosting plans are typically the cheapest option, making them ideal for those with a limited budget. – Easy to manage: Shared hosting accounts often come with user-friendly control panels, such as cPanel, which makes managing your website and hosting account simple. – TotalChoice Hosting Support: TotalChoice Hosting offers 24/7 customer support to assist with any questions or issues you might encounter. Cons: – Limited resources: Since resources are shared, your website’s performance may be affected by other websites on the same server. – Less control: Shared hosting offers fewer customization options compared to VPS and dedicated servers. Virtual Private Server (VPS) A VPS is a virtualized environment where a physical server is divided into multiple virtual servers. Each VPS has its own dedicated resources, providing more control and better performance than shared hosting. Pros: – Scalability: VPS hosting allows for easy resource scaling as your website grows. – Improved performance: With dedicated resources, your website’s performance is less likely to be affected by other websites sharing the server. – More control: VPS hosting offers more customization options and greater control over the server environment. Cons: – Higher cost: VPS hosting is more expensive than shared hosting, although it is still more affordable than dedicated servers. – Requires more technical knowledge: Managing a VPS requires more technical knowledge compared to shared hosting. Dedicated Servers A dedicated server is a physical server dedicated entirely to your website. This option provides the highest level of performance, control, and security. Pros: – Unmatched performance: With all server resources dedicated to your website, you can expect excellent performance and fast loading times. – Maximum control: Dedicated servers offer complete control over the server environment, allowing for extensive customization and optimization. – Enhanced security: Dedicated servers provide a higher level of security compared to shared hosting and VPS. Cons: – High cost: Dedicated servers are the most expensive hosting option. – Requires advanced technical knowledge: Managing a dedicated server requires a high level of technical expertise. Conclusion Choosing the right hosting solution depends on your website’s requirements, budget, and technical expertise. For small websites or those just starting, shared hosting is a cost-effective and easy-to-manage option. As your website grows, you may consider upgrading to a VPS for improved performance and scalability. For websites with high traffic or specific security and customization needs, a dedicated server may be the best choice. At TotalChoice Hosting, we offer a variety of hosting solutions tailored to meet your needs. Our team of experts is always available to help you make the right decision and ensure your website’s success. To learn more about our hosting plans, visit our website or contact our support team. The post Shared Hosting vs. VPS vs. Dedicated Servers: Which One is Right for You? first appeared on TotalChoice Hosting Blog. View the full article

When it comes to web hosting, the location of a data center plays a crucial role in the overall performance and user experience of your website. While this may not be the first aspect people consider when choosing a hosting provider, it is essential to understand its impact. In this blog post, we will delve into the importance of data center location and discuss why TotalChoice Hosting selected Michigan as the home for its data center. The Importance of Data Center Location There are several factors to consider when assessing the impact of data center location on your website, including: Latency: The geographical distance between your website visitors and the data center can significantly impact the speed at which they access your website. A closer data center location generally translates to lower latency and faster load times, providing a better user experience. Local Regulations and Compliance: Data center location plays a crucial role in complying with local and international laws and regulations. TotalChoice Hosting chose Michigan for their data centers not only because of the strategic advantages it offers in terms of infrastructure and connectivity, but also due to the stable legal and regulatory environment in the state. This ensures a smooth and compliant hosting experience for their customers. Network Connectivity: A data center with robust network connectivity ensures that your website remains accessible and performs optimally. A well-connected data center location can minimize downtime and maintain a reliable connection for your site visitors. Disaster Recovery and Redundancy: The geographical location of a data center can influence its susceptibility to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or storms. A strategically located data center minimizes the risk of service disruptions due to environmental factors. Why TotalChoice Hosting Chose Michigan TotalChoice Hosting carefully considered these factors when selecting a location for its data center. Ultimately, Michigan emerged as the ideal choice for the following reasons: Central Location: Michigan’s central location within the United States provides a strategic advantage when it comes to latency. This positioning allows for lower latency and faster load times for visitors across the country, enhancing the user experience. Robust Infrastructure: Michigan boasts a robust and reliable infrastructure, including high-speed fiber-optic connectivity and stable power sources. This solid foundation ensures that TotalChoice Hosting can provide a reliable and high-performing hosting experience for its clients. Climate: Michigan’s cool climate reduces the need for energy-intensive cooling systems in the data center. This not only lowers operational costs but also contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly hosting solution. Disaster-Resilient Location: Michigan is relatively free from major natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, reducing the risk of service disruptions due to environmental factors. This stability provides peace of mind for TotalChoice Hosting customers, knowing their websites will remain accessible and secure. Economic Benefits: By choosing to locate its data center in Michigan, TotalChoice Hosting contributes to the local economy and supports job creation in the state. This commitment to the local community aligns with TotalChoice Hosting’s values as a family-owned business. Conclusion Data center location is a critical factor that can significantly influence your website’s performance, user experience, and compliance with local regulations. TotalChoice Hosting’s decision to establish its data center in Michigan reflects a commitment to providing customers with a reliable, high-performing, and sustainable hosting solution. If you have any questions about our data center or hosting services, our knowledgeable support team is always here to help. The post Understanding the Impact of Data Center Location on Your Website: Why TotalChoice Hosting Chose Michigan first appeared on TotalChoice Hosting Blog. View the full article

In the world of web hosting, managing your website and its associated services can be a complex task. One tool that has proven to be invaluable in simplifying this process is cPanel, a powerful web-based control panel. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of cPanel and discuss how TotalChoice Hosting seamlessly integrates it into their services, providing a user-friendly experience for customers. What is cPanel? cPanel is a popular web-based control panel designed to help website owners manage various aspects of their web hosting accounts, including email, domains, files, databases, and security. By providing a graphical interface and automation tools, cPanel simplifies the process of hosting and maintaining a website, making it accessible even for those with limited technical knowledge. The Benefits of cPanel User-friendly Interface: cPanel’s intuitive interface is designed for ease of use, allowing users to quickly navigate and manage various aspects of their hosting accounts without requiring advanced technical skills. One-Click Installations: TotalChoice Hosting enhances cPanel by installing Softaculous, an integrated application installer, for their customers. This addition allows users to install popular web applications such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal with just a few clicks, saving time and effort. Email Management: cPanel provides comprehensive email management tools, enabling users to create and manage email accounts, set up email forwarding, configure spam filters, and more. File Management: With cPanel’s built-in File Manager, users can easily upload, download, and manage files directly within their web hosting account, without needing separate FTP software. Database Management: cPanel includes tools for managing MySQL and PostgreSQL databases, allowing users to create, modify, and manage databases for their web applications with ease. Security Features: cPanel offers various security tools, including SSL certificate management, password-protected directories, IP address blocking, and hotlink protection. Resource Monitoring: cPanel provides users with information about their hosting account’s resource usage, including disk space, bandwidth, and CPU usage, helping them monitor and optimize their websites’ performance. Backup and Restore: cPanel allows users to create and manage backups of their hosting accounts, ensuring that their data is safe and secure in case of any unexpected issues. How TotalChoice Hosting Integrates cPanel into Their Services At TotalChoice Hosting, we understand the importance of providing a reliable and user-friendly web hosting experience. That’s why we have seamlessly integrated cPanel into our web hosting services, ensuring that our customers can easily manage their websites and hosting accounts. Easy Account Management: TotalChoice Hosting customers can access their cPanel directly from their hosting account dashboard, allowing for quick and convenient management of their website and hosting services. Log in to your account at my.totalchoicehosting.com to start experiencing the benefits of cPanel today. Customized cPanel Experience: We have customized the cPanel interface to provide a consistent experience for our customers, with TotalChoice Hosting branding and specific features tailored to our customers’ needs. Regular Updates and Maintenance: TotalChoice Hosting ensures that our customers’ cPanel installations are always up to date with the latest features and security patches, providing a secure and reliable hosting experience. Comprehensive Support: Our knowledgeable and friendly support team is well-versed in cPanel and can assist customers with any questions or issues they may encounter while using the control panel. Conclusion: cPanel has revolutionized the way website owners manage their hosting accounts, making it a vital tool in today’s web hosting landscape. By integrating cPanel into our services, TotalChoice Hosting is committed to providing our customers with an efficient, user-friendly experience that simplifies website management. If you have any questions about cPanel or our hosting services, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team, who are always happy to help. Log in to your account at my.totalchoicehosting.com! The post The Benefits of cPanel and How TotalChoice Hosting Integrates It into Our Web Hosting Services first appeared on TotalChoice Hosting Blog. View the full article

TCH Family, Please be advised of an upcoming Power Maintenance Window. You can always view TCH announcements by navigating to my.totalchoicehosting.com and clicking on “Announcements” in the top navigation bar. ============================================ Detroit Edison will be performing maintenance on 02/04/23 between the hours of 08:00-19:00 EST (8am-7pm). There is no downtime expected. Building power will be transitioned to generators at 07:45 and remain on until commercial power is restored. The facilities team will be onsite to monitor generators. Start of maintenance window: 2023-02-04 08:00:00 End of maintenance window: 2023-02-04 19:00:00 Expected downtime: None The post Power Maintenance Notice – Southfield, MI Data Center first appeared on TotalChoice Hosting Blog. View the full article

TCH Family – 2022 is finally in the books. What a year it was! The new year will mark TotalChoice’s 24th Anniversary in the Web Hosting Business. What a ride it has been. Over the years, we have seen many changes to the Web Hosting business. TotalChoice has always strived to provide our clients with the best hosting values. The new year will bring exciting updates to our product offerings, service levels, and more. Here are some of the plans we have in place for 2023. Updated and Improved Status Pages New and improved VPS services Improved Knowledge Base Additional Bare Metal Server options Web Site Improvements Forums Contests (Remember the old contests?) Additional Backup Options More Michigan Colocation Options These are just a few of the exciting plans for 2023. I hope that everyone enjoys this beautiful New Year. Thank you for supporting TotalChoice Hosting. The post Happy New Years first appeared on TotalChoice Hosting Blog. View the full article

TotalChoice will be performing maintenance on 01/07/2023 between the hours of 00:00-06:00 EST (12am-6am). Technicians will be slotting new line cards on Core switches. There is no scheduled downtime with this maintenance; however, it is considered high risk due to the nature of the work. Start of maintenance window: 2023-01-07 00:00:00 End of maintenance window: 2023-01-07 06:00:00 Expected downtime: None The discussion topic for this maintenance is located here. The post Network Maintenance Notice first appeared on TotalChoice Hosting Blog. View the full article

Dear TCH Family, Horde support will be removed from cPanel & WHM starting with Version 108. This is because Horde does not support PHP 8.x, and PHP 7.4 reaches its End of Life in November 2022. Horde relies on PHP 7.4, which reaches End of Life on November 28, 2022 and will no longer be available after this date. Because of this, cPanel will remove Horde. Roundcube will become the primary cPanel Webmail client. What does this mean for TotalChoice Customers that use Horde? cPanel Webmail offering will be focused on Roundcube going forward. Your email will be available in Roundcube just as it is in Horde today. What do I need to do to prepare for this? Nothing. All email and data will be moved from Horde to Roundcube. What about my calendars and contacts? When cPanel & WHM update to version 108, the system will automatically migrate all Horde data to Roundcube. If you require any assistance please just let us know and our technical support team will be more than happy to assist. The post Horde Email EOL first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

TCH Family – Did you know that TotalChoice was selected as one of the most influential Michigan Based web hosting companies for 2021? We are proud of who we are and are very lucky to be loved by such a loyal group of clients. Thank you for all the support we would not be here without our extended family of clients and friends. The post TotalChoice in the news… first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

Background of TotalChoice Hosting The journey of TotalChoice Hosting started back in 1999 as a family-owned company based in Michigan. Over the past 22 years, TotalChoice Hosting has been serving as a dedicated, reliable, and affordable web hosting platform for a wide range of customers. As TotalChoice Hosting is a family-owned business, it treats its clients as family members. It has been one of the traits of the company that made it possible for it to achieve success and growth in a competitive market. As of now, TotalChoice Hosting has five Tier III+ data centers in the US and Europe. The company is known for its affordability, customer-first approach, and top-notch data centers. Why you should choose TotalChoice Hosting? TotalChoice Hosting is an experienced company in the field of providing hosting solutions to customers. The company has been working in this field for the last 22 years. TotalChoice Hosting has successfully created value for its services by improving its plans and features based on the latest industry trends. Some of the best features offered by TotalChoice to its clients are an intuitive dashboard, lightning-quick web pages, a website builder, 24/7 support throughout the year, HawkEye Monitoring, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. TotalChoice is highly committed to making your online businesses successful. That is why we offer cost-effective and efficient web hosting services to a wide range of customers. It continuously integrates new technologies into its data center to make web hosting easier for you. By using the TotalChoice Hosting services, you will never face network downtime, unavailability of servers, and unreliability of data centers issues. As mentioned earlier, the company considers you as a family member. It knows how to take care of you to make you successful in your endeavor. Conclusion TotalChoice Hosting has come up a long way since its creation in 1999 in Michigan. During these 22 years, the company has seen a huge growth in terms of attracting clients and improving its hosting services. It has now become a one-stop shop for people looking for web hosting services. It has 5 state-of-the-art data centers in the US and Europe that are capable of hosting millions of websites. Last but not least, TotalChoice has earned special recognition in a highly competitive market. The customer-first approach of the company is one of the major reasons behind its success. The post TotalChoice Hosting 22 Years later first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

I am pleased to announce the addition of several new staff members to the TCH Family. Kris Sand is joining our team in the Techincal Support Services Department. Kris brings over 9 years of experience to TCH. Kris has a B.A. in Electronics and Communication Engineering with a large amount of experience in electrical engineering. Ethan James is joining our team in the Techincal Support Services Department. Ethan brings over 12 years of experience to TCH. Ethan is a Red Hat Certified Engineer and has a B.A. in Information Technology. Vikas Sonawane is joining our team in the Technical Documentation Department. Vikas brings a very large pool of talent along with his many certifications that are too long to list. Vikas has a B.A. in Information Technology. I wish the new team members the best of luck in their new endeavors here at TotalChoice Hosting. It is very exciting to watch our family grow. Happy Hosting The post TotalChoice is growing… first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

Hey TCH-Family, Today we’re going to talk about our Shared Hosting plans. Since TotalChoice Hosting was created nearly 20 years ago, we have always focused on offering amazing products at an affordable price with unbeatable customer service. No matter how big or small the customer, it’s our mission to surpass expectations. Even with an average network uptime of 99.9%, our staff makes it a goal to improve our web hosting products day after day. The most economical way to host your website is with one of our four shared hosting plans. With a shared hosting plan, you still get all the benefits of our industry-leading reliability and enterprise hosting software. You even have access to a free and easy to use mobile responsive website builder! Here’s a quick breakdown of our shared hosting plans. Starter Plan: 5GB of Disk Space 150GB of Monthly Bandwidth Transfer $3.95 Monthly Price or $44.00 Yearly Price Silver Plan: 10GB of Disk Space 300GB of Monthly Bandwidth Transfer $5.95 Monthly Price or $55.00 Yearly Price Deluxe Plan 20GB of Disk Space 400GB of Monthly Bandwidth Transfer $9.95 Monthly Price or $98.00 Yearly Price Gold Plan 30GB of Disk Space 500GB of Monthly Bandwidth Transfer $14.95 Monthly Price or $164.00 Yearly Price All of our shared hosting servers are maintained by our experienced data center technicians at our world-class data center in Troy Michigan. Regardless of which shared hosting plan you go with, your Shared Hosting Plans come with an easy WordPress installer, our website builder, FTP and email, PHP 5.X / PHP 7.X, and MySQL free of additional charge. If that’s not enough, contact our sales team for more information on our wide range of add ons from more Disk Space and Bandwidth to Dedicated IP Addresses. Until next time, thanks for reading and feel free to say hi on social media or the TCH-Forums! Instagram – @TotalChoiceHosting Twitter – @TotalChoiceHost Facebook – @TotalChoice The post TotalChoice Shared Hosting Options first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

Hey TCH-Family, Today we’re going to talk about the datacenter and network infrastructure behind all the amazing products we offer at TotalChoice Hosting. Ever since TCH founder and owner Bill Kish started TotalChoice Hosting as ProLogic Networks in his garage in 1999, Bill has dedicated his life to offering affordable hosting plans and custom-built hosting solutions with unbeatable customer service. A lot has changed since then but Bill kept TotalChoice local to Michigan and true to his founding principles. Our amazing web hosting products and average network uptime of 99.9% wouldn’t be possible without the robust infrastructure behind our servers. Located in the natural disaster-free zone of Troy, Michigan, there’s a lot that goes into our Tier III+ data center. From Multiple Diverse fiber connections to over 30 reliable carriers to always keep you connected. Our facility even has dual substation feeds with automated switching, multiple ups redundancies, and diesel generators with 72 hours of run time so you’ll never have to worry about losing power. Apart from physical infrastructure, there’s a lot more that goes into our infrastructure. An important part of that infrastructure is our Hawk-Eye 24/7 monitoring system. With Hawk-Eye monitoring, our staff can monitor each server and service we offer in real-time. If any problems should arise in one of our servers or services our 24/7 staff will be notified of the situation immediately via e-mail, SMS cell phone messages, and instant messages. Staff will be shown exactly where the problem is occurring so that it can be resolved quickly. Not only can we monitor in real-time but our Hawk-Eye service actively creates reports for our administrative team to review and perform preventative maintenance such as updates. We want you to know that you can have peace of mind that you’ll always be taken care of when you go with TotalChoice Hosting no matter how small the problem may be. Thanks for reading and feel free to say hi on social media or the TCH-Forums! Instagram – @TotalChoiceHosting Twitter – @TotalChoiceHost Facebook – @TotalChoice The post Infrastructure At TotalChoice Hosting first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

Hey TCH-Family, Today we’re going to be talking about some new tech again. Raspberry pi has released its new camera the “Raspberry Pi High-Quality Camera.” The 12.3 megapixel Sony IMX477 camera can be used for both photos and video and is compatible with Raspberry Pi’s single-board computers. The Sony IMX477 was originally made for camcorders and is a big upgrade from the older Raspberry Pi cameras that were cell phone cameras with a small lens built-in. Apart from being newer technology the biggest difference between this camera and Raspberry Pi’s previous camera is that it has an interchangeable lens system. While the previous model, the Camera Module V2 used an old smartphone camera with a built-in lens the new camera gives users the flexibility to use whatever lens they want by coming with an aluminum C-mount and C-mount to CS-mount adapter. By using C mount lenses you’re sure to get a better image and a lot of control over the look and quality of that image with all the possibilities to choose from. You can even get a C-mount to EF-mount adapter to use professional-level DSLR lenses if you’re inclined to go big or go home with your $50 sensor. This new camera has all the possibilities that come with Raspberry Pi Computers. You can do everything from taking photos, making time-lapse videos to even making your own motion sensor security camera. With Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections you can view your camera remotely or stick with USB and SD storage. No matter what you plan to do with it, now that you can swap lenses there really are no limits. Let us know if you’ve ever played with a Raspberry Pi camera and what you made with it below! Say hi on social media or the TCH-Forums! Instagram – @TotalChoiceHosting Twitter – @TotalChoiceHost Facebook – @TotalChoice The post Interesting New Tech: The Raspberry Pi High-Quality Camera first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

Hey TCH-Family, Today we’re going to change it up and talk about Starlink. Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite constellation that will use thousands of satellites in low orbit communicating with ground transceivers to bring low latency, high-speed broadband internet to customers throughout the world. SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites on February 22nd, 2018, and has worked up to 422 total satellites in orbit since then with the most recent being the 22nd of April, 2020. As SpaceX sent its latest batch of Starlink satellites into orbit on the 22nd, SpaceX CEO and Founder Elon Musk tweeted that a private beta of Starlink will be available around 3 months from the launch and a public beta about 6 months from the launch. Elon Musk also tweeted that these tests will be available in “high latitude” locations of Canada and the United States. With satellite launches still going out and the announcement of beta tests, it looks like the current state of coronavirus lockdowns aren’t slowing down Starlinks plan to provide service across the globe by early 2022. Not everyone has been excited about Starlink though. Once Starlink satellites started to orbit they caused a lot of concerns over the effect their bright reflection would have on space research. Because of their low orbit to earth and the link of satellites close together necessary to reduce latency the satellites leave a streak of light pollution interference nearly as bright as a meteor in research telescopes. Elon Musk also tweeted about SpaceX’s plan to reduce the light pollution caused by Starlink satellites by creating “sunshades” for future satellites being launched along with adjusting the angle of the satellite’s solar panel. We’re excited to see what’s to come from the private and public beta testing of Starlink this year and what’s next as SpaceX pushes the future of broadband internet connection on. Until next time, thanks for reading and feel free to say hi on social media or the TCH-Forums! Instagram – @TotalChoiceHosting Twitter – @TotalChoiceHost Facebook – @TotalChoice The post New Possibilities For Accessibility To The Internet first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

Hey TCH-Family, Today we’re going to change it up and talk about the new crowd-funded device, Glamos, that aims to make all of your technology as interactive as touch screen devices. Glamos uses LIDAR technology to detect a user’s hand movements to control whatever device it’s plugged into. The motion sensor can connect to everything from smart TVs to a tablet through Micro USB 5pin or even Bluetooth with the higher end option. With its small size of 1.5 by 1.3 inches it can be placed just about anywhere the user decides. Its design features a rotating mirror that scans for movements at 40Hz allowing it to detect hand movements within a 3-foot radius with very low latency. This radius is much larger than other similar devices on the market meaning it will be easier for users to adapt to whether it’s to control something as small as a smartphone or as large as a tv. Glamos motion controls will match those for devices with touch screens from tablets and smartphones to laptops. With its motion sensor it will be able to recreate touch screens in the air for users to swipe and “tap” the 3 ft motion range to control their device the same way they always have. What we at TCH think is cool is its ability to control devices that don’t have touch screens. Whether it’s for controlling a presentation with a swipe in the air to move to the next slide to “tapping” an invisible touch screen in the air to navigate smart tv menus. As motion sensors start to become popular the possibilities are sure to grow. Though this motion capture technology is still in its infancy when it comes to consumer products and Glamos is still in its crowdfunding phase we’re excited to see how this technology advances and if it becomes as incorporated into our daily lives as touch screens have. Until next time, thanks for reading and feel free to say hi on social media or the TCH-Forums! Instagram – @TotalChoiceHosting Twitter – @TotalChoiceHost Facebook – @TotalChoice The post Interesting New Tech: Glamos first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

TCH Family, The Network Infrastructure Upgrades that have been taking place over the past two months have been completed! The final phase being completed this weekend with the project being closed as of 5pm EST on 4.26.2020. We did not expect any outages during the final phase of the rollout, however due to a firmware bug, we did experience an outage to one rack of servers early Sunday Morning. The issue was corrected approximately two hours later and was actually very difficult to track down. After consulting with Arista’s 24/7/365 Technical Support Team (Switch Vendor) it was thought that there was a possible bug in the firmware version of the software running on Rack 22’s Top of Rack Switching Gear. A software downgrade was completed and the switching gear rebooted and this brought the switch back online and has been running without issue since. This upgrade brings additional transit carriers, more bandwidth, additional layers of redundancy and all new Routers, Aggregation and Top of Rack Switching Gear to our network! This was the largest network project that we have ever done. I am very pleased to announce that our network is now stronger then ever and will serve us for many years to come! Please feel free to test our network by downloading any of these test files : http://totalchoicehosting.com/speed/1gb.zip http://totalchoicehosting.com/speed/5gb.zip http://totalchoicehosting.com/speed/10gb.zip If you require any further explanations or assistance please feel free to reach out to our support staff here at anytime! Thank you for your continued business. The post TotalChoice Hosting Network Upgrade Project Complete! first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

Hey TCH-Family, Today we’re going to talk about 8K video on smartphones and if it’s worth it. As 4k is becoming the standard there’s been a lot of talk about 8K being the next big thing. 8K video has been around in Hollywood studios since 2016. However the final product from Hollywood is usually 4k at the most since 4K has only recently become the standard. While they are extremely expensive, 8K TVs are starting to be released bringing momentum to the idea of 8K replacing 4K in the near future. Samsung is pushing for 8K with recently released Samsung S20 being the first smartphone to shoot 8K video. The Samsung S20 can record up to 5 minutes of 8k video at 24fps with a data rate of 80 Mbps so it’s sure to use up a lot of data. At 4 times the resolution of Ultra HD 4K, 8K is a massive resolution of 7,680×4,320. One of the benefits of recording 8K on the S20 is the ability to take 33-megapixel stills from the 8k video. One downside is the S20 only records 8K at 24fps. Depending on what’s being recorded the 33-megapixel still is likely to have a lot of motion blur. Another benefit of shooting an 8K video is you’ll be able to crop in without losing too much image fidelity. Being 4 times the size of 4K you can technically zoom into and crop a video 4 times and still be left with 4k video quality. For most people there isn’t much of a need to crop into a phone that much but it would make a big difference for consumers who may need it. Apart from taking potentially blurry pictures while filming or cropping into videos, there doesn’t seem to be much use for 8K on smartphones at the time. Most smartphone videos are made to be viewed on other smartphones with 4K being the highest resolution display on the market. Even if they’re viewed on a computer or TV the chances of someone having an 8K display is rare. The Samsung S20 hasn’t been on the market for long so we’ll see if 8K video proves to be useful or if it’s just another marketing buzzword. Let us know what you think about the idea of shooting 8K videos on your smartphone or if you have the Samsung S20 what your experience with it is! Until next time, thanks for reading and feel free to say hi on social media or the TCH-Forums! Instagram – @TotalChoiceHosting Twitter – @TotalChoiceHost Facebook – @TotalChoice The post 8K Phone Camera Video Recording… Useful or Marketing Buzzwords? first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

UPDATE: Network Maintenance is complete. Thank you for your patience and understanding. TCH-Family, We are replacing a public switch on our NOC. This may create downtime and network outages. We do not expect any issues to arise from this replacement. However you can expect brief outages and network slow downs. We will update here with further information: TCH-FORUMS Thank you for your understanding and support. The post UPDATE: Network Maintenance Complete! first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article

Hey TCH-Family, Today we’re going to talk about smartphones again. More specifically gaming smartphones. Early last month Nubia announced their latest gaming phone, the Nubia RedMagic 5G. On top of two Bluetooth controllers that can be mounted to the phone resembling a Nintendo switch, the RedMagic 5G has separated itself from previous gaming phones with two features that stand out. The first being an internal cooling fan. That’s right, just like a laptop or desktop computer this phone will have air vents on both sides with an internal spinning fan to prevent thermal throttling. We’re not sure how comfortable it will be to use a phone with a vent pushing hot air out or how loud the fan will be but it’s an interesting choice to say the least. The next feature that sticks out is a 144Hz OLED display, beating the previous fastest smartphone display of 120Hz the display. The 144Hz display is a common and sought after refresh rate for PC gamers because it reduces motion blur making graphics look better. We’re not sure how much of a difference it will make with current mobile games but it’s sure to be a big selling point to gamers. However RedMagic 5G might not be the only phone with these features for long. Though no details have been announced yet, Lenovo released an ad for their own gaming phone the day after the RedMagic 5G was announced. Lenovo’s ad was a thermal image of their new phone indicating that it will run cooler than the RedMagic 5G. Taking a jab at its new internal cooling system has people speculating that Lenovo will compete with the RedMagics 144Hz display too. We’re not sure how Lenovo’s phone will cool itself but we’re interested to see what they’re going to do differently. Let us know your thoughts about cooling fans and 144Hz displays on smartphones. Do you think it will make a difference or is it just a marketing gimmick? Until next time, thanks for reading and feel free to say hi on social media or the TCH-Forums! Instagram – @TotalChoiceHosting Twitter – @TotalChoiceHost Facebook – @TotalChoice The post Meet The Nubia RedMagic 5G, A Gaming Phone With A Industry Leading Display first appeared on Web Hosting Blog. View the full article