1^st Geek Corner!

What do those images at the bottom of the page mean?

2^nd this web page is Valid HTML 4.01

HTML is the computer language that web pages are written in. I have tested my web pages using "W3C Markup Validation Service" My web pages contain NO ERRORS! This means that they will display correctly in many different browsers, on many different operating systems. Very few web pages can make this claim.

3^rd Powered by APACHE

Apache is the computer software program that sends my web pages to your computer.
More web pages use Apache that any other program.

4^th Powered by LINUX

Linux is the Operating System this particular web host is running. Linux is type of Unix.
More web pages run on some type of Unix than any other operating system.

4^th Powered by FreeBSD

FreeBSD is the Operating System this particular web host is running. FreeBSD is a type of Unix. More web pages run on some type of Unix than any other operating system.
Apple's OSX is based on FreeBSD.

5^th DOWNTOWNHOST

Downtownhost is one of the companies this web site is hosted by.

5^th HOSTMONSTER

Hostmonster is one of the companies this web site is hosted by.

5^th ASTEROID

Asteroid is my home computer, where I develop my web site.
You'll never see this, unless you visit me.

6^th Web host X

Arbitrary identifier for one of my web hosts.
LARGE is the ACTIVE host, SMALL is the STANDBY host.
A particular web host can be reached by replacing the "www" in the URL,
with one of these letters. For example: "http://x.dbh3.us"

6^th Web host Y

Arbitrary identifier for one of my web hosts.
LARGE is the ACTIVE host, SMALL is the STANDBY host.
A particular web host can be reached by replacing the "www" in the URL,
with one of these letters. For example: "http://y.fleet80.com"

6^th Web host Z

Arbitrary identifier for one of my web hosts.
LARGE is the ACTIVE host, SMALL is the STANDBY host.
A particular web host can be reached by replacing the "www" in the URL,
with one of these letters. For example: "http://z.floridah3.us"

6^th Web host H

"H" is my home computer, where I develop my web site.
You'll never see this, unless you visit me.

7^th Pad Lock SSL

The Pad Lock only appears sometimes. I use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for all of the web pages which collect YOUR PERSONAL information: name, address, etc. I use SSL, so that YOUR PERSONAL information is ENCRYPTED when it is transmitted over the Internet. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to get your information. This is the same technology that other web sites use to protect your credit card and other information..

Why do I have two web hosts?

For enhanced reliability, this web site now runs on TWO DIFFERENT web host companies! The two web host companies are in different states, so not even hurricanes, earthquakes, or volcanos will knock both of them out at the same time! When currently ACTIVE web host fails, the STANBY host will becomne ACITVE. All of your requests will be automatically switched to the working host.

Of course, the most likely problem is human failure. Web host companies can be great for a few years and then go to hell. There are several reasons, but being bought by another company seems to be common. Promising more than can be delivered is also common. (see History, below)

Note: this is NOT fully implemented, yet!

Bookmarks^* or Favorites^* behave differently.

* Bookmark <==> Favorite - Two words browsers use for the same function

Because I use TWO different web hosts, the normal way you use your browser's Bookmark function may cause problems! For a detailed explanation please check my Bookmark Why page. If you follow the Bookmark procedure on the Bookmark Why page, everything will work just fine. Incorrectly created bookmarks will give the Malformed URL page, which will guide your to the correct URL.

How I found my new web hosts.

I used Google to find "web host reviews" web sites. Not wanting to trust any particular rating site, I computed an overall score for each web host, based on the scores of all of the rating sites. This is the same strategy I had used a few years ago, to find my former web host. I was pleased to notice that the score of my former web host has dropped significantly, which matched my experience with them. I was disappointed to notice that they still scored very highly on some rating sites.

Two of the review sites I found this time, were setup quite differently than most of the others. They both pointed out that many of the web host review sites are just scams. The top 10 or 15 slots are bought and paid for by the very web host companies being reviewed! Several years ago, when I was looking for my ex-web host, I noticed that the top web host on some particular review site would not even appear in the top 10 or 20 of ANY of the other review sites! The rest of the reviews seemed to corelate fairly well with the other review sites. I began to suspect that some of the review sites were fronts promoting one particular web host, and that the other reviews on that site were basically legitimate. It never occurred to me that ALL of the top slots on MOST of the review sites, were scams! I eventually picked one web host recommended by each of the two review sites, below.

Web Host Reviews       WHReviews - Web Host Reviews

If you go to the above two sites, you may notice that Hostmonster is not actually reviewed by either site! During my search, I noticed that Bluehost and Hostmonster actually had the exact same street address! They were both on my short list, so I sent an email to each company, and the replies I received, were both from the same individual! It turns out, that the two companies are owned by the same person, and the two companies, share nearly everything, including all of the employees! The only difference is the actual computer hardware that the web hosts run on. I assumed that the ratings of both companies would be extremely highly correlated. I picked the one that suited my needs a bit better.

Former Web Host(s) - NOT RECOMMENDED

AVOID iPowerWeb.com (also known as iPower.com)

History

Many of you are aware that in December 2006 and January 2007, my web pages were down for a few days. But, even worse, my email was down for over ONE WEEK in December and nearly one week in January. I don't know about you, but that SUCKED for me! Having two web hosts about doubled the cost of running my web sites, but I think it's worth it!

Gilligan

Last modified: Wednesday, 2008-Apr-30 10:28:54 AM MDT