Coffee, T1, or ftp? [Archive]

Dr. Bob

February 18th, 2007, 05:10 PM

With this being the collaboration home, I would suspect that this place would be populated with a few of those folks who do this on a routine basis.

I'm still in the throws of getting things together to get the studio construction underway, but I figger' it ain't never too early to get things researched for the eventuality of getting this mofo done... so...

Which, in your estimate, is the best (meaning cost effective) method of collaboration connection?

T3's is just plain out of the question... aren't they?
T1's are reliable, but damn sure ain't cheap.
Cable is cheaper than a T1, but still rather costly provided the narrower bandwidth.

Here's the pseudo plan...

To provide a quick and secure ftp server to up/download. Also, to provide either streaming realtime, and/or on-demand streaming video and/or audio.

Obiously the latter is WAAAAAAY down the road, but is the bandwidth available with cable to handle that eventuality?

Most telecom contracts are minimum two years, but 3-5 year contracts are non uncommon. I just don't want to get locked into anything that's quickly going to prove to be a real dumbass move.

QweziRider

February 18th, 2007, 11:04 PM

Unless I'm reading it wrong, it seems to almost be two separate issues you're dealing with. At least that's how I handle it.

Where I'm using cable for my access and for uploading/downloading, I keep all the FTP and such on another host separate from the cable provider (no minimum contract). Reasonable cost and someone else gets the headaches of security and server issues. I don't know if that really answered your question, but it's what I do for pretty much what you're describing.

Spock

February 19th, 2007, 04:02 AM

Depending on what you are doing, a T1 might not be that much better than cable. A T1 is 1.54 Mbits/sec both ways. Cable, most are 2-4 Mbits/sec down, and something like 384 Kbit/sec up, with the option to upgrade to 8 Mbits/se down and 784 Kbits, or even 1 Mbit/sec up.

Most cable companies only list the basic plan and cost, you have to call them about the price and speed of the better plan, or what they may call business class.

vanblah

February 19th, 2007, 04:41 AM

Is hosting your streaming media at another site an option?

Dr. Bob

February 20th, 2007, 03:07 AM

So Qwezi, you pretty much deal with your ISP for the whole ftp usage?

I would think it would be much quicker, cheaper, etc, to host your own considering the number of files that can be associated with say... 5-6 projects at once. My calculation looks something like this;
4Gb/Song X 10 Songs/Project = 40Gb/Project X 5 projects ~200Gb total ftp storage.
When you look at the upload and download bandwidth usage, I'd think that would get a bit tedious and expensive.

As far as the possiblity of doing streaming media... I'm just starting to look into it since it looks like it might be something to persue in the near future. But it sure is expensive right now as the charges I've seen are for bandwidth usage.

So, is it cost effective to build my own server(s) and do my own hosting? Very probably yes. But the bigger question is... is the bandwidth of either standard business class cable (512kb up/down) or a T1 adequate to handle both of these functions as well as email and general surfing?

If so, is there another cost justification factor to consider?

BigBubbaJ

February 21st, 2007, 11:07 PM

Cable for business is comparable if not faster than a T1. The difference is that a t1 is a dedicated circuit, whereas cable is shared bandwidth. I find my Home cable to be better on all fronts than the t1 we have here at the office.

All that aside, what is your comfort level with running servers?
It is a very different business than a studio.

If you make friends with some nice tech people, perhaps they can get you up and running at your site.

You can set up a linux server and a linux firewall that are as stable ,secure and FREE (software) as anything out there.... but getting it all up and running takes some serious know how.
Disk space will be easy to get also.

Cheers,

BigBubbaJ

QweziRider

February 21st, 2007, 11:28 PM

So Qwezi, you pretty much deal with your ISP for the whole ftp usage?

(snip)

So, is it cost effective to build my own server(s) and do my own hosting? Very probably yes. But the bigger question is... is the bandwidth of either standard business class cable (512kb up/down) or a T1 adequate to handle both of these functions as well as email and general surfing?

No, I'm using the ISP for cable and another host for placing my stuff out there. I don't know the cost of T1, but between the web host and ISP I'm paying about $60 per month. $10 of that is for the host, 100GB of space, and 750GB of throughput. Obviously, if you want more space and available throughput, you could do your own server. But not being familiar with a T1 cost, I don't know how beneficial it would be to do my own hosting. Especially when another host takes care of all the nuts and bolts BBJ points out.

Although, looking back at your stats, I do see where working with that much data would become tedious very quickly with the upload speed limitations cable tends to place on users. So in your shoes, perhaps the T1 cost and your own server costs would be worth the extra work on your end to get it running and maintain security.

Dr. Bob

February 21st, 2007, 11:46 PM

Right now at the day gig, I'm a Systems Admin responsible for 250 boxes, mixed environment w/9 servers and 16Tb worth of storage, including, mail, ftp, web, security, file storage, replication, backup and database developement.

There are NO nice tech people... I should know... I'm a head hack, chief cook and bottle washer myself! heheheheh

As far as T1 speed vs Cable... 1.5Mb is faster than 512kb... but is the bandwidth usage overage costs going to be worth the added costs in the cable environment vs. the T1 environment... pfffft.. that's what I don't know. Not only that, but can the burst loads

I've been around since RMX and CP/M, so Linux doesn't scare me. Vista... now THAT'S another story!! :)

vanblah

February 21st, 2007, 11:51 PM

QweziRider

February 22nd, 2007, 12:00 AM

.....w/9 servers and 16Tb worth of storage, including, mail, ftp, web, security, file storage, replication, backup and database developement.

Well, hell, just tap into that bad puppy! :Twisted:

Spock

February 22nd, 2007, 01:01 AM

chrisj

February 22nd, 2007, 02:39 AM

My conclusion is that Spock admins Google ;)

BigBubbaJ

February 22nd, 2007, 03:35 AM

Spock starts a DSW....

9 servers and 16Tb, that's all you got?

THAT was my EXACT thought.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

No more mind melds damnit!

BigBubbaJ

February 22nd, 2007, 03:38 AM

As far as T1 speed vs Cable... 1.5Mb is faster than 512kb... but is the bandwidth usage overage costs going to be worth the added costs in the cable environment vs. the T1 environment... pfffft.. that's what I don't know. Not only that, but can the burst loads
All the ins and outs are very well covered here (http://home.tfb.com/pages/DSLT1vsCable.htm)

Cheers.:lol:

Carlo

February 22nd, 2007, 04:15 AM

Me, if I could afford it at all, I'd be happy to pay someone else to deal with the crap. I've had enough for the past 10 years.

I just want to write music and play piano.

My new signature!!

Dr. Bob

February 23rd, 2007, 02:23 AM

I'd say it boils down to how much of the headache you want. I'm a sysadmin in the daytime too.

Me, if I could afford it at all, I'd be happy to pay someone else to deal with the crap. I've had enough for the past 10 years.

I just want to write music and play piano.

Right on!

I'm just afraid that I can't afford it "all"... just enough to keep me sloggin' through server hell...

Dr. Bob

February 23rd, 2007, 02:27 AM

... and Spock... yeah I know it ain't shit much of anything worth mentioning, but it's the cross I bare, and would someday hope to shrug off...

...on some other poor schmuck. :)

Jeff_C

February 28th, 2007, 12:01 AM

Hey, Doc, you might want to check out the fiber based offerings for your connection to the net. I'm on Verizon FiOS at home and paying $50 per month for 15MB/s down and 2MB/s up. Their fastest speed in our area is 30M down/5M up for $180 per month. It's made me pretty impatient with the office T1.