Accounts On Server

[PopRawkS]

Hello All,

This is my first post here, I came to this forum from WHT where i am also a new member. I have recently been exploring the possibilty of joining the webhosting business, and have been weighing my choices wisely. The business idea of free hosting seems like a more appropriate choice for me to make initially. I have been researching the steps that are suggested when getting into either field; comparing control panels, software, billing managers, payment processors, advertising, etc; Learning and familiarizing myself with the appropriate programs, OS's, etc; Comparing reseller accounts, vps, dedicated, and dedicated managed servers; and studying local laws, regulations, and taxes. And feel i have allot more to learn before taking the initialial plunge.

In that time I have been wondering about actual server load and the affects of speed because of server load. So i have decided to submit a hypothetical question to you guys.

If I had a a server with the following specs, with an alloted 100mb storage/1.5 gb transfer per user.

Intel Celeron 2.4 GHz, 1Gig Ram, Dual 80 gig HDs/w RAID, and 1200GB transfer.

Assuming each user used 50% of their allocated recourses. How many users would u suggest per server? Would a server with those specs be able to handle a max of 600 users. What would the operating speed/suggested user amount be if using a P4 processor instead of Celeron?

I will try to provide more "hypothetical" information to help you in answering this question. And I am also open to any other information you could supply regarding server load, even though it is a widely varying subject without any concrete answers.

Thanks for your time, and in advance for your answers,
Eric

[S3RiOUS]

bandwith wise you would be able to have probably about 4000 users

[LP-Trel]

Bottom line is this:

If you provide PHP/MySQL your server can't handle more than say 1000 accounts.

If you choose not to support server side scripting then your server can handle the 4000 mentioned in this thread. :)

[S3RiOUS]

php should be fine, mysql may be a problem because of heavy portals like phpnuke

[jdhf99]

I have a 2.4 celeron server :) I'd say 250 accounts.

-Corey

[PopRawkS]

4000 or 1000 is more than I would have hoped, do those responses allow for the hypothetical transfer allocation/usage and the resulting server load?

And jdhf99,

Your number of 250, is that on a server with similiar specs and the users having comparable useage to what i mentioned? or are they using more/less resources on average?

Thank you for your responses,
Eric

[S3RiOUS]

very few users will use more that2% of their bandwit .unless you are manually hosting established sites. server load without mysql/cgi wouldn't be a problem. if you host 250 randosite
you will get about 10 active ones

[PopRawkS]

Thank You S3RiOUS,

Another piece of advice on packages/permissions for me to consider.


I am still trying to find some theoretical/factual comparison of server/CPU loads.
I knew from reading different posts that this was an unanswerable subject.

Could any of you provide some "Rough" numbers about ur hosting indevers.
Like Server specs, number of accounts per server, average resource usage of those accounts, and what steps your are taking to hinder or limit your client/serverload.

Any insight would be greatly appereciated.

Eric