Hello everybody! I've been reading this list for a year, saved hundreds of messages, and just lately have spent dozens of hours on the net researching *... I can find all kinds of technical details answered, I can even find some faqs, but none of that helps me much with some generalities, and all kinds of newbie questions for someone who has nobody in the know to talk to.... But I think it is time I jump.
So I'll explain my circumstances and may be I can get a bunch of advice! I'm not a programmer, have never touched a server, don't know linux, but years ago I could slowly find my way around the DOS command line -with some book help! I'm sure I'm heading for some looong hours! Lol... But all my computer+Internet knowledge is self-taught, so there is hope. My immediate needs for the next year are only: =experimenting, no production requirement yet; just very low usage. =International fax to/from email, an immediate must. Not easy apparently... =international DIDs and terminations, for a handful of intermittent users. =can't have a physical server here, so I'll need one somewhere where I'll never see it... =need low traffic email server, BUT with fancy features like SSL encryption and ETRN. In a year or so I could use more production-like quality, even if not at the corporate level of quality. I am also slowly moving into semi-retirement in a Central Pacific Developing country; where I'd want a "slaved" *box (for a micro call shop with A2Billing), connected via the local lo-grade internet to my North America main *server; their internet speed is ok for voip but not for GB transfers. I'll also start playing with e-commerce and etc... Now for the questions (those I can think of imagining!) 1=This list seems to be using the word "colo", while my 'net research takes me to VPSs: which would I need? Is there mostly 2 kinds of hosting: the consumer's grade with an inflexible package of apps, and then the ones where one can install anything and everything? 2=Can I start with the $6.95, one-size-fits-all deal at bluehost.com? VPSs seem to be more like $60 a month; 3=I really don't have a clue how one "remote controls" a server!!!! Am I supposed to ship a CD to the Data Center tech for them to install? There is no way I could ftp a Gig from the Pacific!!! How do I do back ups? Get 2 cheap hosting deals and ftp, -direct-, fm one to the other? I don't even know if I can 100% control a server remotely over a not so fast internet link? Don't even know if I can order my server to fetch some new piece of software, direct, on its own? 4=If I crash my server OS, what do I do? Hop on a plane??? 5=When looking for a host server what details should I pay attention to? Is it ever possible to order particular hardware, like a fxo??? A second harddrive? What else? Is QoS an issue when * is the intended use? If I have a server with "shell" or "root" (pseudo root, etc, whatever the differences!?), am I allowed to remotely add ANY software I want to run? What about static IP? So: I have sole control over all of my server ports? 6=Would the nerd-vittle pre-packaged deal be a good way to start, getting something to work quickly? Then I can start experimenting/demolishing it! (ie learning...). And later can I download Asterisk and compile etc on the server itself, without ftp's from my own location? 7=Where does the firewall requirement fit? 8=I've read that *, doing DSP, requires no interfering with its timing: can one run other apps on the same server, or should one splurge for separate server $$$? 9=Is there any special requirements/considerations that could help me deal better with the extremely long latency I won't be able to avoid? Well, thanks for all opinions! Christian D
