Can anyone recommend a good web hosting company?

[Nick Jones]

I had problems with my old web host (emails weren't getting through, probably because other companies on the same server were blacklisted). I moved to another company and, while my emails seem to be getting through, I've been having another problem - a strange and very annoying problem, in fact!

One day, about two months ago, I lost internet access, but only to my own websites! I could use the internet fine, but I couldn't connect to my own sites or the site of my web host. I couldn't connect via my PC, iPad, laptop or smartphone. The only way I could connect was via my phone's mobile internet. I rang my web host and he said he could access my sites and his site, and also everyone else I spoke to could access them.

Because I couldn't access my site, I couldn't receive work emails either (via Outlook or otherwise). I've been using my phone as a wireless hot spot for the past month just so I can retrieve my emails!!

I switched from O2 to Sky, as my host said it was an issue with the IP O2 had given me. I got connected yesterday and I've already had to reset the router three times because of the same issue (although at least this time resetting the router does help - it didn't with O2).

Sorry for the long-winded explanation but that's the background. I am now thinking of moving web hosts because I don't believe the issue is with my internet provider.

Can anyone either a) shed light on my issue or b) recommend a good, reliable web host? I

Thanks in advance!

 

[Momenta]

I have used a company called freeola for many years and always found them to be reliable.

 

[yorkukhosting]

Hi Nick,

Based upon the issue you described accessing your site the only thing that springs to mind is that your internal IP address range on your network clashed with that of your web host resulting in traffic not being routed to the Internet and hence no access. It seems unlikely as I would expect you to have a private address.

You mentioned it still happens on o2, when it next happens open a command prompt (start - run - cmd) then type 'tracert www.yourdomain.co.uk' (where www.yourdomain.co.uk is your website address). What are the results?

Regards

 

[cgdhosting]

It could be due to routing but if it is still a problem with a different provider it may not be. Unless maybe it is a problem on the actual BT network (Are you still using a BT phone line for the underlying infrastructure?)

You may of blacklisted your IP by attempting to login and failing too many times?

 

[Nick Jones]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I switched from O2 to Sky so it does still use the same BT phone line. I've emailed my host and explained that I'm still getting this problem (albeit intermittently) with Sky. I think I'll give him a few days to sort it before I switch to someone else.

Nick

 

[Leo-InstallingIT]

To norrow down the issue, it would be work running a ping to see if your domain is being resolved correctly.

Can you go to command prompt and run: ping www.yourdomain.com

Replacing www.yourdomain.com with your domain.

 

[Nick Jones]

The next time it goes down, I'll run those tests and let you know. Cheers.

 

[cgdhosting]

It will be better to use the 'tracert' command as then you can see where exactly the point of failure is.

 

[DesignerNick]

Yep, try doing a ping / tracert to see what is happening.

Have you tried speaking to somebody on the same ISP who is using the same DNS servers? It could be that the DNS server you are using doesn't work nicely. I had it with my ISP and changed the DNS servers I used and it was fine.

If you do want to change hosting I can only suggest 34SP, great customer service

 

[RemoteTechs]

Try Netwise hosting, they are great, good support too!

 

[ccsleedsltd]

Nick, this is almost certainly a router or PC misconfiguration issue. I suspect your external domain name has been used as part of the DNS settings on the network card on the PC (dns search suffix) or within your router in which case its "intelligent" DNS cache is getting hopelessly confused. Both should be sorted in a jiffy in all honesty with some help from your ISP for the router, or anyone happy poking dns suffixes on your machines. Given this is happening to all devices behind your adsl/cable/whatever I'll put a tenner on router config. although it could be your ISP's DNS servers, but you can soon check that by using OpenDNS or Googles, or ours etc. By all means drop a line if you need some help/assistance.

Cheers,

 

[webhostuk]

Regarding the problem with your second host, I think its related to brute force blacklisting of your machine IP, thats the reason you are not able to access emails and site, this occurs on CPanel server when you try to connect email , or Cpanel login with incorrect login detail, in this case you can just ask them to check it and remove your IP from there server blacklist. Also second thing you need to check if your password are correctly set in your outlook.

 

[Optegris]

It does to me sound like a simple firewall issue to be honest. Have you asked them to check the firewall logs on the server?

 

[HandmadeJewelry]

Host Gator is the best one there is.

 

[visagephoto]

It does to me sound like a simple firewall issue to be honest. Have you asked them to check the firewall logs on the server?

I had the same problem recently, Shortly (not immediately) after moving my ISP services from SKY to O2 I discovered that I couldn't log on to my website or send/receive emails, (although I could still log into my account in cpanel).

I called my hosting company who reckoned something I had done at my end had caused their firewall to block my isp address, they had it sorted in minutes.

 

[Nick Jones]

Regarding the problem with your second host, I think its related to brute force blacklisting of your machine IP, thats the reason you are not able to access emails and site, this occurs on CPanel server when you try to connect email , or Cpanel login with incorrect login detail, in this case you can just ask them to check it and remove your IP from there server blacklist. Also second thing you need to check if your password are correctly set in your outlook.

My host hasn't changed, just my ISP. I think you're right about it being CPanel/email related, though. My host now thinks it's because my SSL authentication was failing, which was causing his server to reject me. Or something like that. I'm using new settings now and so far it's working. We'll see.

Thanks to all of your for your input. If things continue to go wrong, I'll definitely bear your suggestions in mind

 

[Nick Jones]

Update - Two days ago I moved my websites to Cornish Hosting. After months of problems, and my old host giving me loads of complicated, highly technical explanations for why I couldn't visit my own sites or retrieve my emails (at one point he said one of my neighbours must be a hacker), it turns out it was just to do with my Outlook checking for emails too frequently. So their server kept banning my IP because my email was connecting too often.

When I switched to Cornish, after a couple of hours my emails wouldn't come through, and Andy said straight away that it was because of my Outlook. We've adjusted a couple of settings and voila! It works like a dream.

 

[ServWise]

One day, about two months ago, I lost internet access, but only to my own websites! I could use the internet fine, but I couldn't connect to my own sites or the site of my web host. I couldn't connect via my PC, iPad, laptop or smartphone. The only way I could connect was via my phone's mobile internet. I rang my web host and he said he could access my sites and his site, and also everyone else I spoke to could access them.

This sounds to me like your internet IP may have been automatically blocked (firewalled) from accessing the server you are hosted on.

This can happen especially so with Cpanel with the default config and it will block ips for port scanning or password failures.

Unfortunately the default settings are quite heavy and it doesn't take much to activate them. For example many email clients (especially mobile clients) try to help customers by automatically working out the mail settings of their domain. They do this by scanning which typical email ports are open but this can also trigger the IP blacklisting.

If you hosts website is also on that same server then you wont see their website either.

Normally though this is only a temporary block (<1h) and your host if they are any good should know about this and check it in any case.

 

[Nick Jones]

Thanks, yeah, you're right.

Seems like my old host wasn't any good, then!

At least it's resolved now, thank God!

 

[TechDon]

Will keep this short and sweet for you... Tech-Hosts. These are by far in my opinion the best, they're prices are extremely cheap for hosting and their support is fantastic.

 

[Digital Ark]

I think we are good but of course I would.....

Happy to help.

 

[pollack]

I recommended 9cubehosting.com is best for Linux based web hosting ...

 

[frida_adams]

you may take help of this company. They will help you a lot.
www.hostgator.com/Website-Hosting

 

[ogurets]

inmotionhosting.com - fast and live support!

 

[ecenica]

Very pleased to hear you've sorted your new web hosting company and resolved your Outlook issue.

I'm a pretty heavy user of email so know how annoying it can be to run into these type of glitches - good news is backed by the right technical support guys they're usually easily fixed.

Rich.