where to buy server locally

[Mike Garfias]

Darin Wayrynen spoke forth with the blessed manuscript:
> > Author: Mike Garfias
> > Date: 2006-05-30 18:24 -700
> > To: Main PLUG discussion list
> > Subject: Re: where to buy server locally
> > Darin -
> > 
> > Your numbers there are a bit off. I took a WAG based on the prices quoted on
> > your site for what it would cost me for a 1U box with 1Mbps.
> > 
> > According to your page, a 1U system is $45 in rack fees, and $135 for 50GB
> > with each additional GB being $3.
> > 
> > 1Mbps = 330GB (roughly)
> > 330-50 = 280
> > 280 * 3 = $840/mo
> > 
> > Right now I pay $100mo for rack space with bandwidth included (1Mbps 95th
> > percentile) with each additional Mbps being $100. So $100 vs your $106, but
> > your $106 doesn't include the same bandwidth that is included in what I get.
> > 
> > So it really looks more like 1/8th the price. And there are cheaper deals out
> > there (I just didn't feel comfortable using them). We get monitoring, remote
> > reboot, serial consoles, etc included. The downside is that my box is in LA,
> > not local. But I pay a friend of mine in LA to go down there and beat on it
> > when the serial console isn't enough.
> > 
> > Not trying to flame you in anyway, but just keep the numbers straight.
> 
> 
> Hi Mike,
> 
> I understand you aren't trying to flame me, nor was I trying to flame
> you.
> 
> But I think you are not comparing apples to apples so it's sort of
> hard for anyone to keep their numbers straight.

No doubt.  I was trying to approximate based on what I'm paying for and what
your site lists.  

> 
> You are quoting our highest data center price (we have two price
> points), and then trying to manipulate the GB price to compare to your
> 95%tile megabit price in California which is not even quoted on their
> web site - so you are using off list pricing against our most
> expensive onlist pricing...

I just checked, and you're right.  I had forgotten that the 1U list there
wasn't shown with a 1Mbps option.

> 
> We have different rates for 95%tile measurement than GBs used
> measurement.  We offer both types of billing - based on our clients
> preference.
> 
> Anyone wanting to pre-purchase a full megabit, or 330 GB's isn't going
> to be paying the numbers you quoted.  The price for colocating a 1u
> server using 1 megabit of bandwidth is not going to be 8 times or even
> 5 times what you are paying in the bay area.  It might not be as
> inexpensive as the bay area, but your server will be closer to home so
> you won't have random support costs of having your box serviced over
> there.  Depending on the bandwidth you really use, it might even be
> cheaper.

Earlier in the thread I stated that we're using about .25Mbps right now, and
it made sense to just pay the extra $40/mo for the 1Mbps as our needs are
growing.

 
> 
> The point I really would like to make is that 95% of our customers
> don't use the bare minimum amount of bandwidth we charge for - it's
> not even close, so comparing our minimum charge to a provider that
> gives 1 meg or 10 megs or 100 megs of bandwidth for one flat price,
> and then trying to manipulate our price to match isn't based on
> reality.  Sure if you are using 1 meg, then you have to make those
> adjustments, but I'd venture to guess that most people reading this
> thread are not using 330 GB's a month of bandwidth.

Granted :).  We're not quite there, but I think in a month or two we will be.

> 
> Using that sort of comparison logic you are overpaying at layer42 when
> you could lease a server from ev1servers (who has a much better
> network than layer42) where you can get a 10 megabit un-metered line
> AND a server for $199/month - which means you are paying 5 times more
> than you could be paying for a 10 meg line...

Right, but I don't get a dual proc opteron with H/W raid.  I'm also a bit
picky when it comes to my own projects.

> 
> 
> Write to me offline if you want to see if we can make it worth your
> while to move your server back home.  With our remote kvm solution you
> won't even need to go down and pound on the keyboard yourself unless
> you like sitting in cold data centers or have bad hardware.
> 

Thats what management cards are for!  I (personally) am locked in here for a
year.  There were other concerns too (this might not be home for too much
longer), so we chose to place the box in a neutral location that is easy to
get to.  

This wasn't the reason I asked though.  Have another project that requires the
box(es) be local.  I believe the guy running the show called and got a quote,
but that was beat by limelight.