[OSGeo Africa] Web Hosting

Tue May 10 07:57:03 EDT 2011

Hi

On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 1:33 PM, Sarel Coetzer <geotech.sarel at gmail.com>wrote:

> Gavin,
> Thanks for the input. Yes I will provide feedback soon. I have a couple of
> days to list and document so whats this space.
>
> Tim.
> As last resort I think it will be possible to "port" from Windows developed
> stack to Linux OS. All it requires is the actual code to be ported to an
> already setup mapserver stack (same versions) on a linux system hopefully
> with same build libraries.
>

Yes probably the only thing that should be affected are file paths if you
are using any absolute system paths. Also if you used any windows specific
php (unlikely, it's pretty generic) you may need to port that. We can help
with the porting effort if needed.

>
> Would a Linux OS be setup with the required stack? if yes then it means we
> just move code from Windows to Linux.
>
>

Yes. Typically for a dedicated server, the hosting farm provides a default
install. We usually take that, lock it down as much as possible, install the
FOSSGIS stack and typically provide a detailed manual of what and how we set
up the machine for your records.

> Would this be possible as an alternative scenario?
>
>

Almost certainly yes. There are plenty of good reasons to run it on Linux
rather than Windows (besides the fact that I am obviously a windows hater
:-) ):

- remote management of linux boxes is awesome
- no viruses etc
- server reboots are only occarsionally required if there is a kernel
update. All other updates don't require rebooting
- linux uses few system resources so your machine's processing power is
spent on your applications not the underlying operating system
- using apt (the software distribution system for linux) you can install
your software and keep your system up to date in a very simple automated way

There are hundreds more good reasons, I could go on all day, but I will
leave you with this last gem:

- Almost every FOSSGIS project's developement effort that I am aware of
happens principally on linux. When things go wrong developers are much more
amenable to helping because the are on 'home turf'. Speaking personally, if
someone reports a QGIS problem on windows, I usually groan inside and have
to be really motivated to dig out a mothballed windows xp virtual machine to
look at the problem....

Regards

Tim

>
> Sarel Coetzer | GIS Developer
>
> Malaria Research Programme
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 1:05 PM, Gavin <gavinjfleming at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Sarel
>>
>> I have had experience with Hetzner in Germany and DataPro in Cape Town.
>> Hetzner with dedicated servers and DataPro with a clients' own servers.
>>
>> Offshore hosting has the advantage of negligible bandwidth costs.
>>
>> I have come across a couple of North American services that cover the
>> mapserver and postgis part of your stack, not sure about the MS though.
>>
>> I have generally done full management along with Tim Sutton (Linfiniti) or
>> directly with my clients on the following stack:
>>
>> Ubuntu server
>> PostgreSQL/PostGIS
>> MapServer/Mapnik/GeoServer/QGIS map server
>> Python (mainly Django)/php(a little)
>>
>> A few of us (AfriSpatial and Linfiniti so far that I know of) are offering
>> / keen to offer hosting solutions on more or less the above stack so please
>> continue the discussion on or off list. These would most likely be VPS or
>> shared servers.
>>
>> It would also be interesting to see your results if you're planning to
>> share them.
>>
>> Gavin
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 2011-05-10 at 12:18 +0200, Sarel Coetzer wrote:
>>
>> Hi There
>>
>>
>>
>> I am currently documenting and listing hosting solutions in (Africa or
>> European) that caters/supports the following stack:
>>
>>
>>
>> *Stack:*
>>
>> OS: MS 2008 R2
>>
>> Mapserver
>>
>> PostgreSQL
>>
>> PostGIS
>>
>> PHP
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I am interested in VPS, shared or dedicated servers.I would like to know
>> your experience with the hosting source aswell. Any info will be great.
>>
>>
>>
>> Your assistance will be appreciated
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards
>> Sarel Coetzer | GIS Developer
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Africa mailing list
>> Africa at lists.osgeo.orghttp://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/africa
>>
>>
>>   --
>> Gavin Fleming
>> t: 0218620670
>> c: 0845965680
>> f: 0866164820
>> Paarl
>> South Africa
>> 18°59'18.8"E 33°44'40.2"S
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>
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>

-- 
Tim Sutton - QGIS Project Steering Committee Member (Release  Manager)
==============================================
Visit http://linfiniti.com to find out about:
 * QGIS programming services
 * Mapserver and PostGIS based hosting plans
 * FOSS Consulting Services
Skype: timlinux Irc: timlinux on #qgis at freenode.net
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