How reliable are IRC shell providers?

MrBurns · Posted: Jun 27, 2006 4:55am Post subject: How reliable are IRC shell providers?

A lot of people get a shell from a provider to run an IRC server. But just how stable and reliable is such a server? Here's a few questions for you:

Suppose the provider has a Pentium 4 3.0 GHz server with 1024 MB DDR400 memory, 128 IP's and a 100 mbit line and running (renting) the server costs 200 USD a month. Now let's look at how much CPU power and memory each background process uses...

UnrealIRCd 3.2.x - 50 MHz and 4 MB (50 user server)
Anope (any version) - 50 MHz and 5 MB (10 server network, 500 users)
PsyBNC - 25 MHz and 5 MB (2 connections on a 500 user network)
Eggdrop with TCL script gamebot - 25 MHz and 5 MB (same as above)

5% of the total CPU power and memory is reserved for the operating system and all other processes that are used to be able to function as a server (150 MHz and 50 MB memory)

Now let's asume each account on the server is a 4 BG shell running the programs mentioned above (instead of a service it can be Neostats or IRC defender or BOPM).

Question 1: How many 4 BG shells can you run on the server before it overloads and becomes unstable or completely shuts down?

Question 2: Based on the amount, how much do you have to charge for each shell to make any profit?

Question 3: Based on the amount from answer 1 and 2, is it possible for any shell provider to offer a stable 4 BG shell for 5 dollars a month?

flux · Posted: Jun 27, 2006 9:03am Post subject:

I think the anwser to that would be, buy a Dedicated server, or Colo.

FBI · Posted: Jun 27, 2006 11:34am Post subject:

Most of the IRC Provider I saw has 3.6 dual xeon with 4 or more gigabytes of ram and sometimes 100 mbit or faster line.....

So I geuss its really stable for me....

But I perfer having my own ded because I know it will be stable Razz

SkaterStuff · Lurker Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 156

Willaim · Lurker Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 227 Location: IRC

We have a dedicated with ~75% of our network, and two shells on two different networks (just in case.)

Best shell provider I'ved used (and I haven't used a lot) is Lomag. May be expensive but good uptimes.

MrBurns · Posted: Jun 28, 2006 2:43am Post subject:

Uh huh... but let's get back to the topic shall we? Having been a shell provider myself I know damn well that the big providers have better servers. The point is that there are hundreds if not thousands of small shell providers who claim to deliver a stable shell for 5 bucks a month.

flux · Posted: Jun 28, 2006 5:37am Post subject:

Well, you pay for what you get, if you want cheap ircd then you get cheap service, and yeah, Lomag and the other companys he owns are rock stable.

MrBurns · Posted: Jun 28, 2006 5:53am Post subject:

Yeah I still have an Outlandz (owned by Xzibition) shell which runs perfectly, and there are other providers I had which were also rock stable.

However, some people still think they can get a stable shell for 5 bucks a month or simply want the cheapest thing they can get. Like you said, cheap shells make cheap service.

BTW, for those who are looking for a shell and don't know who to go to, the Shellsearch site (a.k.a. the Acky network) is a good place to start looking. Both the site itself aswell as the forum is jam-packed with shell reviews and comments. Also a good place to start if you're looking for a dedicated server (it's where I found mine).

katsklaw · Guru Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 1048

Stability in shell providers are just the same as anywhere else. The Admin that truns the server as weill as the company that hosts the server play a larger part in defining stability. So just by asking if shell providers are stabile is like asking which is better .. cars? or trucks?

SkaterStuff · Lurker Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 156

right... all my servers have a power pack just in case if the power goes out the server will remain online for 25 hrs after that..

it all depends on the admin like said before. some only has one guy that runs every thing then there are some with at least 6 or more.

so it's really up to you to find the best one. all i can say is ask them alot of stuff before you buy anything

MrBurns · Posted: Jun 29, 2006 3:09am Post subject:

Cars are better of course!!!

But the issue is... even if you have 10 admins and the server has a PSU (i even got one at home) and the hosting company is reliable, it's just not possible to provide 5 dollar shells with 4 BG and still make a profit unless you overload the server. This is why a lot of shell companies start off with 10 dollar shells and you only get 1 BG, or you pay a lot more for a 4 BG shell.

So the point is: cheaper ain't better

P.S. I've been running my servers on my own, and yet mine were perfectly stable (+99% uptime)

FuRiOuS · Lurker Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 244

Some people are able to run them on their own and have a steady server. Others are not, some companies don't necessarily provide shells for profit, but rather to help recoup some of their expenses assiciated with running their own network for example. If that's the case, it's perfectly possible to have a steady, stable 5 dollar shell. Now if it's a business and they are shooting for the goal most businesses have of profit, it's not very likely to be stable at all.