Ultima Hosts Worldwide Windows Hyper-V VPS Hosting

First of all, thanks for making a trial available. This is an excellent idea as it gives you a proper idea of what features and user interface you will get. I signed up for my free trial last night, and thought I would post back with some questions and issues I encountered along the way.

To briefly introduce myself, I am a C# developer who has done very little ASP.NET, but I am looking for a cheap host that I can use for experimentation. My current website and blog are hosted on my ISP's Linux webspace, and I am eager to move to something that supports ASP.NET and gives me a bit more flexibility. I'm looking at signing up to the Starter.NET package (UK).

Webspace 
I started off by installing a variety of web applications, some via the control panel and some I installed myself.

• FlexWiki - installed via the DotNetPanel and worked fine
• DotNetNuke 4.5.3 - tried to install via the DotNetPanel and failed both times (The stored procedure 'dbo.GetPortalAliasByPortalID' doesn't exist.) Am I doing something wrong? The first try was to a database I had already created, the second try was to a new database, and got further except the InstallationWizard seemed to get stuck on the install page. (kept saying "Installation of Database Complete" every time I clicked Next and when I gave up and went to the DNN home, I got "The stored procedure 'dbo.GetPortalAliasByPortalID' doesn't exist" again).
• BlogEngine.NET - worked great, having given my virtual directory write permissions. I did discover that I needed to set my email server to mail.ultimahosts.eu not mail.ultimahosts.com to get comment notification working.
• Subtext - again worked great having set the connection string
• SubSonic Starter Kit - didn't work because it uses SQL Express which is a shame. But I found help quite quickly explaining how to move the databases to SQL Server 2005, so I guess this is just a one-time install issue.
• Silverlight was also supported out of the box which is nice

And a couple of questions / issues:

• Visual Studio Web Developer Express completely locked up on me when I tried to upload a project using its Copy Web Site Tool. I had to kill the process and it had only uploaded 5 or 6 files in about 20 minutes. I can use FileZilla OK (having set it to active mode). Not sure if this was a one-off as when I created a new project on FTP, it worked fine.
• When you upload an application which you are going to point a Virtual Directory at, is it best practice to put it in a subfolder underneath wwwroot, or

SQL Server
I am very pleased I can access my SQL Server databases directly through SQL Management Studio Express. I noticed a number of other databases, presumably created by other people's tests (test, test1, dbtest etc). I didn't have access to them of course, but it made me wonder about whether there could be clashes over database naming. What if someone else already has a database called "DotNetNuke"?

A few questions:

• Is it correct that even in the Starter.NET package you get unlimited SQL Databases? The trial was limited to 5.
• Is there any limit on the SQL Database size. The trial was limited to 10 MB
  

Email

I set up an email account, and an email forwarder. The email account received a test message I sent it (after a short delay), but the forwarder doesn't seem to work. I've sent two test messages and neither have got through. Is there something I am doing wrong? I am simply pointing mark@32.ultimahosts.net to my usual email address. I would want to be very sure I could get email forwarding working before pointing my domain at Ultima Hosts.

Misc

• On the dotNetPanel, the disk space usage always shows 0MB, even though I know I am using at least 5MB. Also, should I expect to see my SQL Server DB usage in that as well.
• Can a subdomain be made to point to a specific Virtual Application Folder?
• I assume the price quoted excludes VAT?
  

Sorry for the long-winded post. I'm hoping that if I make a good web hosting choice I can stay there for a long time, so I want to be sure it does everything I need. I've got a few more things to try out, but I wanted to post this now, particularly to see if there is a solution to the mail forwarding problem before my trial runs out.

thanks

Mark

Going to answer what I can, which isn't everything but may help anyways :)

markheath:

I'm looking at signing up to the Starter.NET package (UK).

I am currently using a Professional.NET (US) but those packages are the same for both US and UK and the main difference between Starter.NET and Professional is the size and number of Domains/Web Statistics.

• FlexWiki - installed via the DotNetPanel and worked fine
• DotNetNuke 4.5.3 - tried to install via the DotNetPanel and failed both times (The stored procedure 'dbo.GetPortalAliasByPortalID' doesn't exist.) Am I doing something wrong? The first try was to a database I had already created, the second try was to a new database, and got further except the InstallationWizard seemed to get stuck on the install page. (kept saying "Installation of Database Complete" every time I clicked Next and when I gave up and went to the DNN home, I got "The stored procedure 'dbo.GetPortalAliasByPortalID' doesn't exist" again).
• BlogEngine.NET - worked great, having given my virtual directory write permissions. I did discover that I needed to set my email server to mail.ultimahosts.eu not mail.ultimahosts.com to get comment notification working.
• Subtext - again worked great having set the connection string
• SubSonic Starter Kit - didn't work because it uses SQL Express which is a shame. But I found help quite quickly explaining how to move the databases to SQL Server 2005, so I guess this is just a one-time install issue.
• Silverlight was also supported out of the box which is nice

For DotNetNuke, I didn't have an issue starting it up, it might be the database limitation you have.  DotNetNuke starts out pretty big on the DB.  I will install it on my account and see if that is the case. (I know that a basic ASP.NET Membership database starts out larger then 10MB).  And just to double confirm that it works (I installed it in the past, but decided on using phpBB instead as the DDN forums aren't released last I checked).

I am going to have to look into those other things you got working though.  I have been looking for a nice ASP.NET based blog.

SQL Server
I am very pleased I can access my SQL Server databases directly through SQL Management Studio Express. I noticed a number of other databases, presumably created by other people's tests (test, test1, dbtest etc). I didn't have access to them of course, but it made me wonder about whether there could be clashes over database naming. What if someone else already has a database called "DotNetNuke"?

 Yes, database names can clash as can user names.  I have been using simple names when I can get away with it, but it can be a problem, I actually like that I can see the other DBs so I can avoid the name clashes.

A few questions:

• Is it correct that even in the Starter.NET package you get unlimited SQL Databases? The trial was limited to 5.
• Is there any limit on the SQL Database size. The trial was limited to 10 MB

Yes unlimited SQL Databases.  While messing around I at one point had about 10 of them.

The Dabase size is limited by your Hosting Space.  Databases, Email, Web Space is all taken from that one value (in your case 500MB).

Email

I set up an email account, and an email forwarder. The email account received a test message I sent it (after a short delay), but the forwarder doesn't seem to work. I've sent two test messages and neither have got through. Is there something I am doing wrong? I am simply pointing mark@32.ultimahosts.net to my usual email address. I would want to be very sure I could get email forwarding working before pointing my domain at Ultima Hosts.

I've always noticed a delay in getting the email forwarded, but I know it is working for me so I am sorry but I can't help on this one :(

Misc

• On the dotNetPanel, the disk space usage always shows 0MB, even though I know I am using at least 5MB. Also, should I expect to see my SQL Server DB usage in that as well.
• Can a subdomain be made to point to a specific Virtual Application Folder?
• I assume the price quoted excludes VAT?
  

The dotNetPanel does not automatically update the information.  It does it either every day or every few days.  I think there is something in the file manager that will let you recalculate it when you want, but I can't remember where exactly that is.

A subdomain acts exactly like a regular domain in the dotNetPanel.  So if you use the dotNetPanel to turn it into a web site, you can point its folder anywhere.

If you need examples of specific things done, I can try it out and see what happens.

Edit: I sent a test email to myself, haven't gotten it at the forwarding account yet.  Will update when I do.

Edit: Oh yeah, Another limitation on the SQL Databases I found was that I was unable to use CLI integration.  But I could just be a moron and did it wrong.

thanks for the great answer Rangoric

Rangoric:

For DotNetNuke, I didn't have an issue starting it up, it might be the database limitation you have.  DotNetNuke starts out pretty big on the DB.  I will install it on my account and see if that is the case. (I know that a basic ASP.NET Membership database starts out larger then 10MB).  And just to double confirm that it works (I installed it in the past, but decided on using phpBB instead as the DDN forums aren't released last I checked).

That would make sense. I was only curious to see how DNN is progressing. I think it was at version 2 last time I installed a copy to have a look.

Rangoric:

Yes, database names can clash as can user names.  I have been using simple names when I can get away with it, but it can be a problem, I actually like that I can see the other DBs so I can avoid the name clashes.

Usernames? So if someone else creates "admin_sql" (as I did for my test) then I can't have a user called that myself? Is that correct? How many accounts is an instance of SQL Server shared between?

Rangoric:

Yes unlimited SQL Databases.  While messing around I at one point had about 10 of them.

This is really nice.

Rangoric:

A subdomain acts exactly like a regular domain in the dotNetPanel.  So if you use the dotNetPanel to turn it into a web site, you can point its folder anywhere.

But starter.NET only has one website. So I can't have a subdomain pointing anywhere but my root. Or am I missing something?

thanks again Rangoric for clearing up a lot of issues for me. I would still like to hear from ultima hosts on the email forwarding issue though

Mark

markheath:

Usernames? So if someone else creates "admin_sql" (as I did for my test) then I can't have a user called that myself? Is that correct? How many accounts is an instance of SQL Server shared between?

Yes that is the case, and I am unsure how many accounts.  You can see the number of databases on your server with the SQL Management Studio but other then that I don't know how many people use it.  When you go to create a User in dotNetPanel it will let you know if its already created.  So you can create a few User Names to "Hold" them if you want to.  Or in my case I use a naming Scheme that makes it so that having a naming conflict is really rare.  For Example if you put MH in front of the user names/database names how often would it ever be an issue.

 

But starter.NET only has one website. So I can't have a subdomain pointing anywhere but my root. Or am I missing something?

Ops thats a difference between the .com and .uk.

On my main account I have 6 websites, whereas for the .uk I would have been limited to 5.

Without being able to make it a website in dotNetPanel I have no idea how to do that.  The only thing that comes to mind is an automatic redirect but I still have no idea on how to have it act like a typical subdomain.

 

thanks again Rangoric for clearing up a lot of issues for me. I would still like to hear from ultima hosts on the email forwarding issue though

Mark

No problem, I hope you get that cleared up too.  There is a delay on my forwarding of email but it does make it so I'm unsure exactly why it may not work.

I just signed up for the Trial account as well - and Im very impressed with what Im seeing so far.. 

 I tried to install Community Server 2007 and that didnt go through - looks like there was a db issue.  But no big deal - figured it was a trial account so maybe it had some kind of restriction.  Did an install for DNN and that went through without a hitch - loved the set up for it as well.  

 One thing though I would like to see is potentially an uninstall - don't know if there is such feature in this.  Or I might be overlooking it.  I am heavingly considering Ultima Host - I have a few projects that just now have been put on my plate, and have been looking into using the ASP.NET format.  So been looking around for a good host - I used to run a Windows host with another Windows Hosting company which is irrevelant - but it seems like Ultima host have their stuff together. 

 The control panel is pretty much very straightforward and not overactive (too much stuff in too much things)  :) 

I plan on tinkering with this for the next few days -

 I have a site which I am planning on building for a statewide organization - and this looks like the perfect location and opportunity to build from it.

And thanks for having a Trial Account - it does make a difference!

Defsolutions:

 One thing though I would like to see is potentially an uninstall - don't know if there is such feature in this.

Well, since its a web application, all you have to do is delete all the files that the install installed.  Typically go into [websitename]/wwwroot in the File Manager (1 or 2 spots above application installer) and hit the top checkbox above the file names and hit delete and its gone.

Then you can delete the database by heading over to Databases/Database Type and deleteing it there too.

Community Server is like ASP.Net Memberships, it has a high intial DB cost, DNN is a bit smaller I think (which is why it worked and Community Server Did not).

Makes sense - well I have signed up..

 Was pretty content with what I was seeing.  :)

Well I've signed up for the new Starter.NET package. I can't believe it is so cheap and still includes 2 SQL databases. I never did get email forwarding working with the trial account though. Not sure what was going wrong.

Mark