[MUD-Dev] Server hosting

[fred at clift.org]

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Brian Hook
 
>> Can someone give me the scoop on how most MUDs are hosted?  I'm
>> assuming something a bit more elaborate than a server running off
>> a cable modem in someone's bedroom, but I could be wrong.

I work for a hosting company (check out www.iserver.com) but I dont
use our companies service for the mud (blackmud.com) I develop on -
I run a dedicated box of my own tucked in a quiet corner of a local
datacenter.  Nice to have friends on the operation staff.

I'd recommend either some kind of hosted account (there are lots of
companies out there) or co-location of a dedicated box depending on
what your pocket-book can handle.  DSL to your house is perfectly
fine if you can get a fixed IP address and proper reverse dns.  The
problems with DSL from the home are: 1) the 'acceptable use' policy
of your ISP may not allow you to run 'server' services - QWest is
like this for my cable modem) and 2) 'residential' customers tend to
get crappy service "Oh, your cable is out?  We'll have someone out
there within 3 days to fix it".  So, if you depend on being on line
for making money, you might get screwed over.

You can get 'business' DSL lines for significantly more money.  A
friend's business has 2 Mbit DSL for their network access and pays
about $400 a month.  At that price though, I'd rather do a colocate
at a shop down the street from my house.

Oh, and if you do run a dedicated, be _really_ uptight about
security on the box and expect to be attacked by crackers left and
right, all the time.  Make 'off box' backups of everything that is
remotely important to you. In my case, I tar up all that is
important, push it through an ssh session to my home box and back it
up to tape there.


See another posting about some security stuff I'm considering :)

Fred

--
Fred Clift - fred at clift.org -- Remember: If brute 
force doesn't work, you're just not using enough.

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