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General Questions
• Does Open Source Host offer a 30-day money back guarantee?
• Which payment methods do you accept?
• What hours is phone support available from Open Source Host?
• Do you set limitations on the number of emails that can be sent from my hosting account?
• Will my visitors see advertisements or pop-ups on my pages hosted with OpenSourceHost.com?
• If my needs change in the future, is it easy to upgrade hosting plans?
• Does Open Source Host offer an eCommerce solution?
• Do you offer Windows-based servers?
Answers
Does Open Source Host offer a 30-day money back guarantee?
We offer a 30-day money back guarantee when you purchase your first Open Source Host hosting account. If during your first 30 days you decide to terminate your hosting account, Open Source Host will refund all fees paid towards your base hosting product (including setup fee), with the exception of optional add-ons. Annual hosting commitments are excluded from this offer.
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Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit cards, as well as online checks and physical checks.
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What hours is phone support available from Open Source Host?
Open Source Host offers US-based telephone support between 9am and 9pm (EST) Monday through Friday; technicians are always available 24/7/365 to answer support tickets submitted via the Customer Manager.
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Do you set limitations on the number of emails that can be sent from my hosting account?
You may send up to 1000 messages per day. Please do not use your hosting account to send unsolicited advertisements. If you have questions about the usage of our services regarding email limits, please refer to our Acceptable Use Policy.
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Will my visitors see advertisements or pop-ups on my pages hosted with OpenSourceHost.com?
No; we do not modify or insert anything into your website content so your viewers will never see an unwanted advertisement or pop-up.
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If my needs change in the future, is it easy to upgrade hosting plans?
Yes; simply request an upgrade from your customer manager. You will only need to pay the pro-rated difference between your current plan and the higher plan that you are changing to.
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Does Open Source Host offer an eCommerce solution?
We offer the popular osCommerce shopping cart software on the Basic Hosting Plan and above. OsCommerce connects with your existing payment provider or credit card processing company to allow your customers to order products directly from your store.
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Do you offer Windows-based servers?
No; Open Source Host provides secure Red Hat Linux-based servers only at this time.
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Domain Name Package Questions
• Why should I register a domain name?
• What do I get with my Domain Name Package?
• Why does OpenSourceHost.com only let me sign-up for one year?
• Will OpenSourceHost.com automatically renew my Domain Name Package?
• What will it cost to renew my Domain Name Package?
• How long does it take before I can use my Domain Name Package?
• I already own a domain name, can I transfer it to OpenSourceHost.com?
• Will my information be public if I purchase a Domain Name Package through OpenSourceHost.com?
• How do I use the included email accounts?
• How do the email forwarders work?
• Does OpenSourceHost.com offer spam and virus protection for my email accounts?
• Can I build multiple websites with my Site Builder?
• If I upgrade to a VDS Web Hosting plan later, can I keep the website I made in Site Builder?
Answers
Why should I register a domain name?
Owning a domain name is the first step to beginning your web presence and establishing a website. Without registering a domain name, there is no way for your potential customers or visitors to find your website. Domain names are unique, so it is important to register your domain name (and any variations of the name) as soon as possible to prevent someone else from using the same name.
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What do I get with my Domain Name Package?
When you purchase your Domain Name Package with OpenSourceHost.com you will be provided with an easy to use Customer Manager to completely manage all aspects of your domain name. Using the Customer Manager, you can point your website at OpenSourceHost.com web hosting service, set up a temporary home page, use the Site Builder tool to create your website and setup your 5 included POP3 email accounts.
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Why does OpenSourceHost.com only let me sign-up for one year?
Currently, our Domain Name Packages include a 1-year registration at a discounted price. You can login to your Customer Manager and renew the domain name for up to 10 years at any time after the initial registration.
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Will OpenSourceHost.com automatically renew my Domain Name Package?
Yes, we will attempt all Domain Name Package's registered through Open Source Host unless the Domain Name Package is set to ‘Let Expire’ through the Customer Manager. A notification will be sent to you 60 days prior to the actual expiration date of the Domain Name Package, and we will attempt to renew the domain name 30 days prior to the actual expiration date. We renew Domain Name Package's on this schedule to ensure that there is never any downtime related to expired domain names. Once renewed, the domain name will be extended for one year from the actual domain name expiration date.
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What will it cost to renew my Domain Name Package?
Once your Domain Name Package is registered, you can renew it at any time for $35 per year. This renewal time will be added on to the end of the existing renewal period
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How long does it take before I can use my Domain Name Package?
Once a new Domain Name Package is registered, it can take up to 24-48 hours for the domain to become active for visitors worldwide due to the way that Internet providers automatically check for new domain registration information.
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I already own a domain name, can I transfer it to OpenSourceHost.com?
Yes; you can transfer your existing domain name to OpenSourceHost.com. Once transferred to OpenSourceHost.com, your domain name registration will be extended for one year from the current renewal expiration date. Before submitting a transfer, be sure that the domain name is unlocked and that your email address is up to date with your current registrar as the admin.
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Will my information be public if I purchase a Domain Name Package through OpenSourceHost.com?
OpenSourceHost.com will protect your personal information from the public WHOIS database preventing unwanted spam, direct mail and more. You still retain ownership and complete control of your domain name and can update the information at any time.
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How do I use the included email accounts?
You can use any standard desktop email client, such as Microsoft Outlook, to send and receive email messages using the included POP3 email service, or you can use your web browser to access the easy to use WebMail interface. We even offer email forwarding so that you can forward your email messages to your mobile phone or Blackberry.
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How do the email forwarders work?
Email forwarders allow you to forward the email you receive through your Domain Name Package to another existing email address. For example, if you regularly use the email address provided by your internet service, you can set up email forwarders at your domain name to forward over to your existing email address. That way, no changes are required on your computer and you can still give your clients your personalized address.
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Does OpenSourceHost.com offer spam and virus protection for my email accounts?
Yes, we do offer Email Defense, which filters spam and viruses sent to your email address. The Email Defense service can be added to one or all of your users and is $1.99/month each. With Email Defense, your mail is filtered before it reaches your mailbox, saving you time; you do not miss any important messages, as a daily report of filtered mail is sent to you which allows you to request that blocked messages be released to you.
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Can I build multiple websites with my Site Builder?
While it is possible to create a website, publish it, and then create a new website, we do not recommend doing so. Once a website is published, the published copy cannot be loaded back in to Site Builder to be edited, which means that your previously published sites would not be editable.
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If I upgrade to a VDS Web Hosting plan later, can I keep the website I made in Site Builder?
Yes, we will assist you in moving your existing website over to the VDS Web Hosting plan you choose. Just submit a support ticket via your Customer Manager and our support team would be happy to transfer your Site Builder contents for you.
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Shared Web Hosting Questions
• Can I run a chat or game server on a Open Source Host Hosting account?
• Are applications that require PHP and MySQL supported?
• Can I connect to the MySQL database from my computer using software like NaviCat?
• Can I use ASP .Net applications in a Open Source Host Hosting account?
• Can I use Mambo or other CMS software inside my Web Hosting account?
• Do I need to install system updates in my Hosting Account?
• Do you offer Windows-based servers?
• Does Open Source Host offer an alternate port for sending email in the event that my ISP blocks outgoing mail access?
• Does Open Source Host offer IMAP email support?
• How often are your servers backed up?
• Is FrontPage 2003 compatable with the Open Source Host Web Hosting service?
• Do you set limitations on the number of emails that can be sent from my hosting account?
• What statistics packages are included with Open Source Host Web Hosting service?
• What version of PHP and MySQL does Open Source Host offer?
• Can I add cron jobs for automatic scheduled maintenance tasks?
• If I already own my own SSL certificate, can I use it with my Open Source Host Web Hosting account?
• Can I add multiple SSL certificates to my Open Source Host Web Hosting account for use on additional domains?
• Can I remotely access my hosting account using SSH?
• I need to compile a program from C/C++ source code. Can I do so with Open Source Host?
• Can I install RPM packages into my Web Hosting Account?
• Can I install a different operating system into my Hosting Account?
• Is mod_rewrite included with a Open Source Host Web Hosting account for setting up redirections and hiding long URLs?
• Can I add my own configuration to .htaccess files?
• Can I install applications that are not listed in the Application Vault?
• Do you offer ColdFusion with your hosting plans?
Answers
Can I run a chat or game server on a Open Source Host Hosting account?
No; you may not run any software that runs as a daemon or service on your account, including chat and game servers. However, you are welcome to install PHP or MySQL based scripts that allow your web visitors to post comments or messages to each other.
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Are applications that require PHP and MySQL supported?
Yes; we offer PHP 5 and MySQL 5 on all of our plans. Any application or script that uses these popular technologies will work with Open Source Host hosting plans.
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Can I connect to the MySQL database from my computer using software like NaviCat?
Yes; any desktop MySQL management software which supports secure SSH connections (or "SSH Tunnels") such as NaviCat will work.
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Can I use ASP .Net applications in a Open Source Host Hosting account?
No; ASP .Net requires a Windows-based server, which Open Source Host does not currently offer.
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Can I use Mambo or other CMS software inside my Web Hosting account?
Yes; Open Source Host provides Mambo as an easily-installed Application on the Advanced Hosting Plan. You are welcome to install your own copy of Mambo or other content manager software on lower plans; you must be sure to keep this software up to date and be familiar with the maintenance of it to prevent future problems with your site that may result from running an older version of the software.
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Do I need to install system updates in my Hosting Account?
No; the system here at Open Source Host allows our engineers to keep pre-installed software like PHP and Apache up-to-date without requiring you to modify your website. You will want to be sure that you are keeping any third party software that you may have installed up to date to prevent any security problems in the future.
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Do you offer Windows-based servers?
No; Open Source Host provides secure Red Hat Linux-based servers only at this time.
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Does Open Source Host offer an alternate port for sending email in the event that my ISP blocks outgoing mail access?
Yes; you may use port 587 when sending mail as an alternative if your internet provider does not allow for outgoing email access on the standard port 25.
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Does Open Source Host offer IMAP email support?
Yes; IMAP mail access is supported. POP3 mail access is also allowed for all email users, so you are welcome to use any email client such as Outlook to download and access your email messages.
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How often are your servers backed up?
Each server is backed up daily and stored for 15 days, allowing you to request that files from up to 15 days ago be restored to your account. Additionally, each server is frequently mirrored so that a "hot spare" is available in case of a hardware failure.
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Is FrontPage 2003 compatable with the Open Source Host Web Hosting service?
Yes; the FrontPage Extensions provided on all of our hosting plans support FrontPage versions 98 to 2003. The version of the FrontPage Extensions in use is 2002, which is the latest version available from Microsoft.
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Do you set limitations on the number of emails that can be sent from my hosting account?
You may send up to 1000 messages per day. Please do not use your Hosting account to send unsolicited advertisements. If you have questions about the usage of our services regarding email limits, please refer to our Acceptable Use Policy.
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What statistics packages are included with Open Source Host Web Hosting service?
Open Source Host provides AWstats for tracking website visits, but you are welcome to install additional software or use third-party statistical services if you so choose.
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What version of PHP and MySQL does Open Source Host offer?
We offer both PHP 4 & PHP 5 along with MySQL 4 and MySQL 5
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Can I add cron jobs for automatic scheduled maintenance tasks?
Yes; the Open Source Host control panel allows you to easily add and edit scheduled tasks.
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If I already own my own SSL certificate, can I use it with my Open Source Host Web Hosting account?
Yes; as long as you have the certificiate and private key that the certificate was generated against you may install it into your web hosting account. You can additionally generate your own certificate request for use when ordering an SSL certificate.
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Can I add multiple SSL certificates to my Open Source Host Web Hosting account for use on additional domains?
No; due to limitations in the way that SSL certificates are bound to an IP address, it is not possible to install more than one SSL certificate.
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Can I remotely access my hosting account using SSH?
Gemstream provides secure command line access via SSH on our Advanced shared hosting for users to manage their account.
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I need to compile a program from C/C++ source code. Can I do so with Open Source Host?
We do not currently offer compilers on our shared hosting plans, however we do offer this feature on our VDS hosting plans.
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Can I install RPM packages into my Web Hosting Account?
No; RPM files cannot be used with Open Source Host Web Hosting accounts at this time.
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Can I install a different operating system into my Hosting Account?
No; for the security of our customer accounts, Open Source Host maintains the custom Linux OS that is used for all of our Web Hosting accounts.
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Is mod_rewrite included with a Open Source Host Web Hosting account for setting up redirections and hiding long URLs?
Yes; mod_rewrite as well as all of the popular Apache 2.x modules are included with every Web Hosting account.
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Can I add my own configuration to .htaccess files?
Yes; you are welcome to customize your web site with a .htaccess file.
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Can I install applications that are not listed in the Application Vault?
You are welcome to install any web-based application that you wish, even if it is not already provided in the Application Vault. The Application Vault apps are provided for easy one-click installation but you are welcome to manually install programs and scripts if you wish.
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Do you offer ColdFusion with your hosting plans?
We do not currently offer ColdFusion MX for any of our hosting plans.
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VDS Web Hosting Questions
• Can I run a chat or game server on a VDS Hosting account?
• Does OpenSourceHost.com offer an eCommerce solution?
• Can I modify the php.ini and httpd.conf files to customize my web server setup?
• Are ValueApps supported on virtual hosts?
• Can I resell the additional virtual hosts in my VDS?
• Are applications that require PHP and MySQL supported?
• Can I connect to the MySQL database from my computer using software like NaviCat?
• Can I use ASP .Net applications in a VDS Hosting account?
• Can I use Joomla or other CMS software inside my VDS?
• Can I use live streaming video or audio from a VDS?
• Do I have root access to my hosting account?
• Do I need to install system updates in my VDS?
• Do you offer Windows-based servers?
• Does OpenSourceHost.com offer an alternate port for sending email in the event that my ISP blocks outgoing mail access?
• Does OpenSourceHost.com offer IMAP email support?
• How often are your servers backed up?
• Is FrontPage 2003 compatable with the OpenSourceHost.com VDS Web Hosting service?
• Do you set limitations on the number of emails that can be sent from my VDS hosting account?
• What statistics packages are included with the VDS Web Hosting service?
• What version of Miva Merchant does OpenSourceHost.com offer?
• What version of PHP and MySQL does OpenSourceHost.com offer?
• Can I add cron jobs for automatic scheduled maintenance tasks?
• If I already own my own SSL certificate, can I use it with my VDS Web Hosting account?
• Can I add multiple SSL certificates to my VDS Web Hosting account for use on additional domains?
• Can I remotely access my hosting account using SSH?
• I need to compile a program from C/C++ source code. Can I do so with OpenSourceHost.com?
• Can I install RPM packages into my VDS?
• Can I install a different operating system into my VDS?
• Is mod_rewrite included with the VDS Web Hosting account for setting up redirections and hiding long URLs?
• Can I add my own configuration to .htaccess files?
• Can I install applications that are not listed as ValueApps?
• If my needs change in the future, is it easy to upgrade hosting plans?
• Do visitors to my additional websites get redirected to or see my main website name?
• Do you offer ColdFusion with your VDS hosting plans?
Answers
Can I run a chat or game server on a VDS Hosting account?
No; you may not run any software that runs as a daemon or service on your account, including chat and game servers. However, you are welcome to install PHP or MySQL based scripts that allow your web visitors to post comments or messages to each other.
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Can I modify the php.ini and httpd.conf files to customize my web server setup?
OpenSourceHost.com allows you to create and manage multiple configuration files, which allows you to modify any setting from the php.ini or httpd.conf file independantly of our system.
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Are ValueApps supported on virtual hosts?
No; ValueApps are provided for use on the main domain only.
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Can I resell the additional virtual hosts in my VDS?
You can resell your virtual hosting accounts, however these accounts are not full featured VDS plans, nor will they have their own VDS Manager. While adding virtual hosts to your VDS Web Hosting account allows you to host multiple websites at once, if you would like to set up web hosting accounts for resale, our Gemstream VDS Reseller Plan offers VDS Manager control panels for each customer site.
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Are applications that require PHP and MySQL supported?
Yes; we offer PHP 4.4.6 and 5.2.1 on all of our plans, and MySQL 5.0.24 on each of our VDS hosting plans. Any application or script that uses these popular technologies will work with Gemstream.com.
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Can I connect to the MySQL database from my computer using software like NaviCat?
Yes; any desktop MySQL management software which supports secure SSH connections (or "SSH Tunnels") such as NaviCat will work with the J2-VDS service and above.
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Can I use ASP .Net applications in a VDS Hosting account?
No; ASP .Net requires a Windows-based server, which OpenSourceHost.com does not currently offer.
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Can I use Joomla or other CMS software inside my VDS?
Yes; Gemstream.com provides Joomla as an easily-installed ValueApp on the Plus IP VDS plan. You are welcome to install your own copy of Joomla or other content manager software on lower plans; you must be sure to keep this software up to date and be familiar with the maintenance of it to prevent future problems with your site that may result from running an older version of the software.
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Can I use live streaming video or audio from a VDS?
The Standard IP VDS hosting plan and above offer Helix for streaming of pre-recorded video and audio files that have been uploaded to your hosting account. By streaming pre-recorded media, your visitors do not need to wait for the entire file to download before beginning to watch or listen to the file. Live streams are not supported at this time.
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Do I have root access to my hosting account?
The OpenSourceHost.com VDS allows you to upload and run scripts and programs that relate to the maintenance and use of your website; you have access to modify system configuration files and customize the environment to your websites needs. Access to the "root" user is not needed, as all of these settings are available by simply using SSH or FTP.
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Do I need to install system updates in my VDS?
No; the OpenSourceHost.com VDS Hosting system allows our engineers to keep pre-installed software like PHP and Apache up-to-date without requiring you to modify your website. You will want to be sure that you are keeping any third party software that you may have installed up to date to prevent any security problems in the future.
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Do you offer Windows-based servers?
No; OpenSourceHost.com provides secure Red Hat Linux-based servers only at this time.
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Does OpenSourceHost.com offer an alternate port for sending email in the event that my ISP blocks outgoing mail access?
Yes; you may use port 587 when sending mail as an alternative if your internet provider does not allow for outgoing email access on the standard port 25.
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Does OpenSourceHost.com offer IMAP email support?
No; at this time, IMAP mail access is not supported. POP3 mail access is allowed for all email users, so you are welcome to use any email client such as Outlook to download and access your email messages.
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How often are your servers backed up?
Each server is backed up daily, and you can request that items from up to 30 days ago be restored to your account. Additionally, each server is frequently mirrored so that a "hot spare" is available in case of a hardware failure.
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Is FrontPage 2003 compatable with the OpenSourceHost.com VDS Web Hosting service?
Yes; the FrontPage Extensions provided on all VDS hosting plan and above support FrontPage versions 98 to 2003. The version of the FrontPage Extensions in use is 2002, which is the latest version available from Microsoft.
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Do you set limitations on the number of emails that can be sent from my VDS hosting account?
You may send up to 1000 messages per day. Please do not use your VDS Hosting account to send unsolicited advertisements. If you have questions about the usage of our services regarding email limits, please refer to our Acceptable Use Policy.
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What statistics packages are included with the VDS Web Hosting service?
OpenSourceHost.com provides both the popular Webalizer and AWstats packages for tracking website visits, but you are welcome to install additional software or use third-party statistical services if you so choose.
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What version of PHP and MySQL does OpenSourceHost.com offer?
We offer the option to install either PHP 4.4.6 or PHP 5.2.1 on all plans, and MySQL 5.0.24 on the IP Standard plan and above.
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Can I add cron jobs for automatic scheduled maintenance tasks?
Yes; cron access is available on the IP Standard hosting plan and above for advanced users who wish to run scheduled tasks.
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If I already own my own SSL certificate, can I use it with my VDS Web Hosting account?
Yes; as long as you have the certificiate and private key that the certificate was generated against you may install it into your web hosting account. You can additionally generate your own certificate request for use when ordering an SSL certificate.
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Can I add multiple SSL certificates to my VDS Web Hosting account for use on additional domains?
No; due to limitations in the way that SSL certificates are bound to an IP address, it is not possible to install more than one SSL certificate into a VDS Web Hosting account.
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Can I remotely access my hosting account using SSH?
Yes; OpenSourceHost.com provides secure command line access via SSH on the IP STANDARD hosting plan and above for advance users to manage their account.
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I need to compile a program from C/C++ source code. Can I do so with OpenSourceHost.com?
Yes; our IP PLUS hosting plan and above include the GCC compiler for building C and C++ applications, Perl modules, and other code from source.
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Can I install RPM packages into my VDS?
No; RPM files cannot be used with VDS Web Hosting accounts at this time.
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Can I install a different operating system into my VDS?
No; for the security of our customer accounts, OpenSourceHost.com maintains the custom Linux OS that is used for all VDS Web Hosting accounts.
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Is mod_rewrite included with the VDS Web Hosting account for setting up redirections and hiding long URLs?
Yes; mod_rewrite as well as all of the popular Apache 2.x modules are included with every VDS Web Hosting account.
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Can I add my own configuration to .htaccess files?
Yes; in addition to .htaccess files you are welcome to create your own Apache and PHP configuration files to customize your VDS Web Hosting environment.
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Can I install applications that are not listed as ValueApps?
You are welcome to install any web-based application that you wish, even if it is not already provided as a ValueApp. The ValueApps are provided for easy one-click installation but you are welcome to manually install programs and scripts if you wish.
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If my needs change in the future, is it easy to upgrade hosting plans?
Yes; simply request an upgrade from your customer manager. You will only need to pay the pro-rated difference between your current plan and the higher plan that you are changing to.
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Do visitors to my additional websites get redirected to or see my main website name?
When an additional domain is added to a VDS Web Hosting account, it does not reflect the main domain in any way, allowing you to run multiple independent websites under one hosting account.
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Do you offer ColdFusion with your VDS hosting plans?
We currently offer ColdFusion MX for our IP PLUS hosting plan and above.
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VPS Web Hosting Questions
• What comes installed on a new server?
• Can I reboot my own VPS?
• Can I send unsolicited commercial email (UCE) or spam from my server?
• Do you require a set contract term with your VPS plans?
• What can I do with a VPS?
• Does my VPS support SSL?
• Does OpenSourceHost.com provide backup services?
• What are the advantages of VPS hosting?
• What management utilities are available with my VPS?
• What is RAID?
• Does OpenSourceHost.com manage my VPS for me?
• Can I resell hosting services on my VPS?
• Can I upgrade my VPS later if my requirements change?
• Can I purchase additional IP addresses for my VPS?
Answers
What comes installed on a new server?
All OpenSourceHost.com virtual private servers include CentOS 5, Parallels® Virtuozzo Containers and a single Parallels® Plesk Panel 9.2 user control panel.
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Can I reboot my own VPS?
Yes, you do have this capability through your VPS Power Panel.
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Can I send unsolicited commercial email (UCE) or spam from my server?
No; OpenSourceHost.com does not allow unsolicited mail to be sent from any of our hosting products.
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Do you require a set contract term with your VPS plans?
No contract is required to use our virtual private servers.
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What can I do with a VPS?
You are welcome to use your virtual private server for any purpose; you have total control of the server and only your files and data reside on the server. You can provide service to web hosting customers, run a high-traffic website, host applications or even run a multi-player game server if you wish.
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Does my VPS support SSL?
You can install SSL certificates on your virtual private server for your website customers to use. Due to the way that SSL certificates work, each customer or website with an SSL certificate must be assigned their own IP address.
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Does OpenSourceHost.com provide backup services
Yes; we will automatically backup your virtual private server weekly, and also offer additional backup options that can be added at your request.
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What are the advantages of VPS hosting?
With a virtual private server, you have full root access meaning you can control every aspect of your VPS. This allows you to run any software that you wish and to utilize your server to meet your business needs. You also have guaranteed RAM and CPU usage to ensure higher performance levels for your websites and applications.
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What management utilities are available with my VPS?
OpenSourceHost.com virtual private servers are powered by Parallels® Virtuozzo Containers and come with a single Parallels® Plesk Panel 9.2 control panel license. Additionally, with each of our VPS plans, you have the option of upgrading the number of Parallels® Plesk Panel licenses or adding cPanel 11, each providing additional add-on options.
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What is RAID?
RAID is a hard disk configuration that allows multiple drives to be combined into one larger or more reliable logical volume. Through the implementation of Raid 10, virtual private servers benefit from significant performance and parity increases, further ensuring the high availability of your websites and applications.
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Does OpenSourceHost.com manage my VPS for me?
When you purchase a virtual private server, we will fully support the hardware and installation of Parallels® Virtuozzo Containers. Because of the amount of user control afforded through the VPS, we are limited in how far we can go to support any other aspects of the VPS, however we will assist in the resolution of any issues related to the use of our additional add-on products.
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Can I resell hosting services on my VPS?
Yes, you are more than welcome to resell hosting services inside of your virtual private server.
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Can I upgrade my VPS later if my requirements change?
Yes, you can upgrade your virtual private server at anytime by submitting your request through your customer manager.
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Can I purchase additional IP addresses for my VPS?
Yes, you can add IP addresses at any time through your customer manager.
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Dedicated Services Questions
• Can I send unsolicited commercial email (UCE) or spam from my server?
• What is the difference between getting a dedicated server and co-location?
• When should I consider getting a dedicated server?
• Do you require a set contract term with your dedicated servers?
• What can I do with a dedicated server?
• What comes installed on a new server?
• Does my server support SSL?
• How do I request a reboot?
• Does OpenSourceHost.com provide backup services?
• Does OpenSourceHost.com monitor my servers?
• Can my hardware be upgraded after I order?
• Can I offer shell accounts to my customers?
• Can I operate a game server on my dedicated server?
• What are the advantages of dedicated server hosting?
• How is bandwidth measured?
• What if my machine is compromised or attacked?
• What technical support is available and what is the cost?
• How long does it take to get my server setup?
• What management utilities are available with my dedicated servers?
• What is RAID?
• Can I provide hardware to be installed in my dedicated server?
• Do I have to pay for the entire year upfront if I sign a one year contract for my Dedicated Server?
Answers
Can I send unsolicited commercial email (UCE) or spam from my server?
No; OpenSourceHost.com does not allow unsolicited mail to be sent from any dedicated server or hosting account
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What is the difference between getting a dedicated server and co-location?
With a co-located server, you must purchase your own server and have it shipped to a data center, which can take time and be extremely costly. With a dedicated server from OpenSourceHost.com, the cost of the up-to-date server hardware is included in your monthly price, reducing your costs and time to get your server online.
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When should I consider getting a dedicated server?
If your website traffic is increasing and your site response time is decreasing, a dedicated server will give you the additional power to keep your site running quickly even with hundreds of simultaneous visitors. Design firms or small businesses that wish to offer web hosting to their customers can also benefit from multiple hosting add-on options.
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Do you require a set contract term with your dedicated servers?
No contract is required to use our dedicated servers, and our servers are available on a monthly payment basis for your convenience. However, by signing an annual agreement for your dedicated server you will receive discounted pricing on your normal monthly payments.
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What can I do with a dedicated server?
You are welcome to use your dedicated server for any purposes; you have total control of the server and only your files and data reside on the server. You can provide service to web hosting customers, run a high-traffic website, or even run a multi-player game server if you wish.
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What comes installed on a new server?
All OpenSourceHost.com dedicated servers include Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system; and offer multiple hosting add-on options, including: Parallels® Virtuozzo Containers, Parallels® Plesk Panel, cPanel and Parallels® Sphera.
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Does my server support SSL?
You can install SSL certificates on your dedicated server for your website customers to use. Due to the way that SSL certificates work, each customer or website with an SSL certificate must be assigned their own IP address.
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How do I request a reboot?
If your dedicated server needs to be physically rebooted, please submit a support ticket via the customer manager at https://my.OpenSourceHost.com. If you require frequent reboots, OpenSourceHost.com offers custom solutions such as remote KVM access so that you can access the server console remotely, as well as remote power management.
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Does OpenSourceHost.com provide backup services?
Yes; we offer the option of automatically copying your data to a second drive inside of your server, or we can connect your dedicated server to our backup storage network. Using our backup network, your server will be automatically backed up to an off-site location every day, giving you extremely reliable backups in the event of an unforseen emergency.
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Does OpenSourceHost.com monitor my servers?
Yes; each OpenSourceHost.com dedicated server is added to the same monitoring system used by our engineers for our world class hosting network. Our engineers will track the performance and availability of your server 24/7, and immediately respond to any problems that they detect.
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Can my hardware be upgraded after I order?
Yes; you can use the customer manager to order server upgrades at any time as your business needs and your server requirements grow. Most hardware upgrades can be installed quickly at the time that you specify, which helps to prevent unwanted downtime.
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Can I offer shell accounts to my customers?
Yes; you have full control of your server and can offer any services to your customers that you wish.
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Can I operate a game server on my dedicated server?
Yes; you have full control of your server and can offer any services to your customers that you wish. The entire physical server is available for your use.
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What are the advantages of dedicated server hosting?
With a dedicated server, you have full access to a physical server that has been reserved entirely for your use. This allows you to run any software that you wish and to utilize your server to meet your business needs. Other hosting solutions may not allow the installation of complex applications, and you may share hardware with other customers which could lead to unwanted performance decreases.
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How is bandwidth measured?
Bandwidth usage is calculated monthly, and includes all incoming and outgoing traffic to your server. The bandwidth calculations reset on morning the first day of the calendar month.
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What if my machine is compromised or attacked?
OpenSourceHost.com system engineers have training and experience dealing with DDoS attacks, compromised web servers and applications, and remote server intrusion. If you suspect that your server has been compromised or attacked, contact our support team immediately for assistance.
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What technical support is available and what is the cost?
OpenSourceHost.com offers toll-free phone support from 9am to 9pm, Monday through Friday, as well as 24/7/365 rapid response support tickets online. Our trained support engineers can assist you with all aspects of setting up and maintaining your dedicated server, as well as respond to problems and resolve network and hardware issues.
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How long does it take to get my server setup?
Once you have submitted your request for a dedicated server, our sales team will contact you within one business day to finalize the server specifications and create your customer account. Dedicated servers can normally be activated within one business week, but if you have more urgent needs we will work with you to deliver on your schedule.
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What management utilities are available with my dedicated servers?
Each OpenSourceHost.com dedicated server includes several options for web hosting automation package, including: Parallels® Virtuozzo Containers, Parallels® Plesk Panel, cPanel and Parallels® Sphera.
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What is RAID?
RAID is a hard disk configuration that allows multiple drives to be combined into one larger or more reliable logical volume. For example, using RAID you can combine two 160gb drives into a 320gb drive, or combine three drives into a 320gb drive with a spare drive to garuntee data reliability. RAID configuration is available on OpenSourceHost.com dedicated servers to insure the most space for your applications and to prevent data loss.
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Can I provide hardware to be installed in my dedicated server?
At this time, we cannot accept customer supplied hardware for inclusion in our dedicated servers. Our sales team would be happy to create a custom configuration to meet your needs; if you require additional features or hardware that is not currently listed.
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Do I have to pay for the entire year upfront if I sign a one year contract for my Dedicated Server?
No, if you sign a one-year agreement for your dedicated server you will still be billed on a monthly basis.
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