erik Posted June 25, 2005 Posted June 25, 2005 Hi, I've been thinking about signing up with TCH, but I got a couple of questions. I'm all new to this, so excuse me if I ask questions of which the answer I should know. A few things I'd like to know, or get more clear : The only reason for me to rent webspace is to run a forum. - Is the IPB software use still for free even when it's the sole intention to have a forum, or do I have to buy my own license for it ? - are posts and uploaded pictures by boardmembers counted as used webspace ? - can I make fully and complete back ups from the (free) messageboard, or do I loose a lot of material if I ever would decide to move the forum to another host ? It's not completely clear to me if I can buy a domain name just anywhere and have it pointed to my forum, or if I can only make use of domain names that I bought at totalchoice.? If I buy a domain name at totalchoice, can I "take it with me" to another registar if I decide to host elsewhere ? Quote
TCH-Thomas Posted June 25, 2005 Posted June 25, 2005 Hi and welcome to the forum, erik. - Is the IPB software use still for free even when it's the sole intention to have a forum, or do I have to buy my own license for it ? The "free" license ended with version 1.3.1 I believe. In cpanel that comes with your TCH-account are 2 forum scripts, Invision Powerboard (IPB) and Phpbb. The IPB in cpanel is several versions earlier than the newest and you are always recommended to use the latest, if not for anything else, so for security reasons. However, the phpbb forum is still free to use, so you could install and use it for free. Same here though, always use the latest version is recommended. - are posts and uploaded pictures by boardmembers counted as used webspace ? Anything that happens on your account are counted in the webspace and bandwidth. - can I make fully and complete back ups from the (free) messageboard, or do I loose a lot of material if I ever would decide to move the forum to another host ? This I am not sure of, but I would think that as long you have a current back up of the mysql database, it should be fine. It's not completely clear to me if I can buy a domain name just anywhere and have it pointed to my forum, or if I can only make use of domain names that I bought at totalchoice.? You can register your domain anywhere you want and ask the registrar to point your domain to the nameservers listed in the welcome email from TCH. If I buy a domain name at totalchoice, can I "take it with me" to another registar if I decide to host elsewhere ? Yes. Hope this helps and if you have anymore questions, feel free to ask. Quote
stevevan Posted June 25, 2005 Posted June 25, 2005 Welcome to the forums. Thomas answered most of your questions, but I just wanted to chime in to tell you that, while TCH does make backups, it is ultimately the responsibility of the end user (you) to have current backups in the rare and unforseen event something happens. (Plus it's just good practice! ) If you wanted to leave TCH (why you would want to do that, I don't know!), as long as the host has MySql support and you have a current backup of your board, it shouldn't be a problem. Quote
TCH-Don Posted June 25, 2005 Posted June 25, 2005 Welcome to the forums, erik You can back up your databases in cpanel > backup or in mysql > export. Quote
erik Posted June 25, 2005 Author Posted June 25, 2005 Thanks for the welcomes a few other questions : - is there a difference in the speed of the website between starter, sliver or deluxe plans ? - does it matter that I don't live in the US myself ? (for the hosting agreement) I won't be running the board all by myself, but with a co-admin. All stuff and payments will be in my name, not the co-admin. - what do I have to arrange that incase I get seriously ill, (or die) so the co-admin gets full power over everything regarding the hosting, domainname and the board ? Stuff happens and I don't want to loose our url cause I got hit by a car. Quote
TCH-Rob Posted June 25, 2005 Posted June 25, 2005 No difference that I am aware of. All of the servers are lightning fast. No, we have a large number of overseas clients I have no answer for the last one. We migt want to wait a few for that answer. Quote
erik Posted June 25, 2005 Author Posted June 25, 2005 Thanks for answering my questions so far but I understand my last question is not easy to answer and probably not one that's often asked Quote
erik Posted June 28, 2005 Author Posted June 28, 2005 I can understand that TCH is not really willing to host spammers, but I wonder how this would work out for our forum ? If we have 50 people on the forum that use notification of new posts or PM's by email...... then the board software could easily put out more notification emails then the max number TCH sets ? (at certain peak times) Maybe it's good to mention we'll be using Invision PowerBoard So how fast will TCH block the boardsofware from sending mail to users ? Or are boar emails seen different from mailinglist emails ? Edit: TCH-Bruce - removed limits -- please don't post server limits in the forums Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted June 28, 2005 Posted June 28, 2005 Forums are subject to the same constraints as mailing lists. So it's possible not all members will get their message. Quote
erik Posted June 29, 2005 Author Posted June 29, 2005 The limit of emails per five minutes goes for all the hosting plans ? If it is that way, that will take TCH of the list of possible hosts Quote
TCH-Rob Posted June 29, 2005 Posted June 29, 2005 Erik, Please understand that it is not done to hinder our users but to protect them. If anything happens because one user is affecting the resources or email sending capabilities on that server it causes issues for all of the other users on that server. For that reason we must put limits in place. Quote
ictus Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 That's an interesting question, is there any way of stacking emails sent this way, as I have a board with 200 members heading this way and PM/Email alerts are used for our newsletter. So the first 50 members get the mail, the rest don't. So options? Can the server send 50, hold the others and send another 50 5 minutes later? Can the IPB forums be set to send 50 at a time? Or would you have to manually send 50 at a time? I'm signed up and this wont make the biggest difference in the world to me, but it would be nice to know my options Quote
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