[ChrisEmerson]

..but before I do, just want to check some details. I've been looking for a good value host with the right features for ages, so if this does have 'the right' features, I will probably sign up!

Questions:
1. When you create a subdomain, where does it create the folder for that subdomain? cPanel creates them inside public_html, which is incredibly annoying. I'm hoping it creates them somewhere outside your main document root folder.

2. I had a look around the control panel with my web ID, but cannot see where you create cron jobs. Where is this done?

3. Can you administrate mysql users and databases through phpmyadmin, or does it have to be done through the control panel? Also, when you create a new user or database, does it keep the name as you enter it, or does it stick something onto the beginning (like cPanel very annoyingly does)

4. Can you create folders outside of the document root? I have some php class files, some other files that are included by pages within httpdocs, but don't want them to be accessible from the web.

eg:

/httpdocs/index.php

...which includes...

/lib/some.class.php

Where the lib and httpdocs folder are at the same level. Can the lib folder be created?
More questions when I think of them!

[marsbar]

Q1. When you create a subdomain, where does it create the folder for that subdomain?

/home/user/
/home/user/domain/
/home/user/subdomain/

Q2. I had a look around the control panel with my web ID, but cannot see where you create cron jobs. Where is this done?

Via the "crontab" command from the shell.
See http://wiki.dreamhost.com/index.php/KB_/..._Processes
http://wiki.dreamhost.com/index.php/Crontab

Q3a. Can you administrate mysql users and databases through phpmyadmin

Yes.

Q3b: when you create a new user or database, does it keep the name as you enter it

Yes.

Q4. Can you create folders outside of the document root?

Yes.

All the best,
marsbar

[deansfurniture5]

With regards to where your domains go, you can really put them wherever you want. The default is /home/[username]/[domain name]/ but you can put them wherever.

For instance, I have mine as the following:
/home/username/sites/[domain name]

It keeps things a little cleaner.

I guess that sort of answers #4 as well--like I said, you can set up your directory structure however you want

What's so great about Dreamhost is how flexible everything really is. They really let you do just about anything.

Save $50 on all yearly plans using promo code PHEWSEPHIFTY when you sign up!

[ChrisEmerson]

Of course... I forgot about shell access for crontab!

Many thanks for your answers... another question though

In your honest opinion... what is the speed like, and what is the reliability like? How much downtime is there? And is there anything at all that annoys any of you about dreamhost - something you can't do that you wish you could or anything?

[deansfurniture5]

I've really had a good experience with Dreamhost so far.

As far as speed goes, at first I had some trouble with FTP upload/download speeds as well as HTTP. But, I contacted support and they were extremely helpful. They moved me to a different server with fewer domains on it and things have improved.

Downtime-wise, I can't really say--I don't really use my site that much at the moment, but whenever I need it, it is up. I don't know that I would put anything mission-critical on Dreamhost, because of past events, but for anything else, Dreamhost is perfect. They seem to be making an honest effort to improve all the time, and they are very open about what is going on.

Dreamhost is perfect for my needs--I tend to play around with different things all the time, and the fact that they offer shell access and so many more other "goodies" is great, especially for such a low price!

Save $50 on all yearly plans using promo code PHEWSEPHIFTY when you sign up!

[ChrisEmerson]

That is good, I find that encouraging.

One final question... What is it like in terms of the future? How do they make their money, and get away with giving away so much for such a good price? Am I likely to sign up and find them go bust soon, or are they pretty stable & have a good future?

[deansfurniture5]

I'd really recommend that you read over at the Dreamhost Blog. There are some great entries on their philosophies as a company.

Here's the entry on overselling. Basically, they know very, very few of their customers will actually use the full bandwidth/disk space, so they can give away lots of it.

Dreamhost has been around since 1997, so I don't think they're going anywhere anytime soon, especially since they host around 400,000 domains.

Save $50 on all yearly plans using promo code PHEWSEPHIFTY when you sign up!

[anonymous2]

Quote:In your honest opinion... what is the speed like, and what is the reliability like? How much downtime is there? And is there anything at all that annoys any of you about dreamhost - something you can't do that you wish you could or anything?

I can't give an honest opinion; I only answer this to post DreamHost's anniversary promo code in my sig'. :-) Doesn't pay me a thing; saves you a couple extra $$.

Speed and reliability varies, of course, with network conditions between "you" and DreamHost making as big a difference as anything.

The thing that annoys me most about DreamHost, other than blog.dreamhost.com, is they offer more and more features all the time, and I just can't use them all, so I'm not getting my full money's worth. I've been thinking of mirroring some linux distributions and sourceforge projects to fill my disk space quota. I started backing up my old backups just to use more space. I upload and download tar.gz files randomly with cron jobs, just to burn bandwidth, and I'm encouraging people to inline link my photos to burn more bandwidth (not really).

What really bothers me most is the shenanigans they play with promo codes and setup fees (which didn't exist back in the day).

--
Cut the code, it's their birthday: 9999 => $99.99 Off

[nathan823]

we all worry about the speed but forget it is shared.

Save $97 (max discount) on dreamhost by using promo code: 97CRAZY.

[ChrisEmerson]

I've been reading a bit elsewhere on the site about the CPU minutes limits etc, but have no idea and no context for this at all. What sort of application / load / usage is likely to push it over this limit? I really don't have a clue how much different types of application use!

Also, I am planning to sign up tonight, but the only email address I have is one that is on the domain I want to host, but the signup form will not let me use a contact email on the same domain. What can I do? I don't particularly want to use my work address, but if there is no other way then I will have to, and I don't want to sign up for a Hotmail / Gmail / any other free email account.