Uptime in context of Web Hosting Service, is the web server working time without failures. Uptime is important measure, because it indicates web hosting servers and maintenance quality. Uptime is the amount of time that a server has stayed up and running. This is usually listed as a percentage, like "99.9% uptime." Uptime is a great measure of how good a web hosting provider is at keeping their systems up and running. The most basic thing for a website to be found on the internet depends on whether the server where the files are stored is online i.e. up and running at any given time. This is called Server Uptime. You will find that most of the web hosting providers will claim a 99.99% server uptime. Some even claimed 100%. If you have time, search for comments by users of the provider on internet forums or elsewhere online. Or go for the larger more established hosting companies who have built a trusted reputation. Most good hosting companies have multiple server data and power backups. A few also promised 100% and they do that by guaranteeing refund of fees in the eventuality that any downtime might happen.
uptime of web hosting service.
- Thread starter flowcloud
- Start date
The definition of uptime must be clearly stated.
Anyone can have a server respond to ping requests 100% of the time if the ping interval is every 5 minutes.
For us, we provided a realtime analytics page for not just one server but for a few dozen. Each was pinged every minute, and also showed the following information;
We ran this for about 40 servers and provided the page publicly.
True transparency is hard to find these days - but when presented right, you can win over a customer very easily!
Anyone can have a server respond to ping requests 100% of the time if the ping interval is every 5 minutes.
For us, we provided a realtime analytics page for not just one server but for a few dozen. Each was pinged every minute, and also showed the following information;
- Ping Response Time
- Average CPU load
- Average Memory Usage
- Average Disk Usage
- Average Traffic IN/OUT
- Last Apache reboot time
- Last MySQL reboot time
- Last Server reboot time
We ran this for about 40 servers and provided the page publicly.
True transparency is hard to find these days - but when presented right, you can win over a customer very easily!
John @ S4
Active member
I'm always curious about 100% uptime guarantees, because really it's just not practical unless you fudge figures somewhere.
Unintended things do occasionally happen, however good the server admins are and whatever hardware and software you are running. The key thing is to have systems in place to make sure that they are resolved quickly and downtime is minimised.
But even when they don't, sometimes updates or config changes mean restarting servers, it results in a few seconds of downtime but that still means it isn't 100%.
In our SLA we promise 99.98% uptime and most of the time we beat that, a lot of the time we actually are at 100%, but we like to be realistic.
The other important thing is what happens when there actually is downtime, is it just an 'oops, we are sorry' or do you have something in your SLA compensating clients if sites or servers are down and it is your fault. Again we do, and everyone should but a lot don't.
Unintended things do occasionally happen, however good the server admins are and whatever hardware and software you are running. The key thing is to have systems in place to make sure that they are resolved quickly and downtime is minimised.
But even when they don't, sometimes updates or config changes mean restarting servers, it results in a few seconds of downtime but that still means it isn't 100%.
In our SLA we promise 99.98% uptime and most of the time we beat that, a lot of the time we actually are at 100%, but we like to be realistic.
The other important thing is what happens when there actually is downtime, is it just an 'oops, we are sorry' or do you have something in your SLA compensating clients if sites or servers are down and it is your fault. Again we do, and everyone should but a lot don't.
Most companies exclude Planned Outages as part of an SLA. Planned restarts are not usually counted.
Also, most companies exclude Emergency maintenance for hardware or software errors that can be resolved in less than an hour.
The fine print on SLAs are always interesting
Godaddy's SLA is 99.9% over a 1 month period. Failure to reach that, you can contact them for a 5% refund of your hosting fee which may be granted at their sole discretion. SLA does not apply to (1) scheduled maintenance or repairs, (2) interruptions caused by users' scripts/code, (3) outages to FTP or email, (4) causes beyond their control, (5) outages related to the reliability of certain programming environments.
It's a pretty blanket "get out of jail free" and if they are liable, they're on the hook for 5% of the hosting fee - only if the user has requested it.
SiteGround's SLA is 99.9% on an annual base. If they are in 99%-99.9%, you get 1 free month of hosting. Also get 1 month free for each 1% under 99%
The following does not count toward the SLA; (1) Scheduled maintenance, (2) emergency maintenance if resolved in less than 1 hour, (3) downtime caused by DNS or IP changes where the user was not notified, (4) dDOS attacks, hacker attacks etc, (5) Downtime caused by user's own configuration, (6) downtime due to exceeding server resources, violation of tos, downtime during upgrade/downgrade of hosting plans, downtime during processing of technical support requests, or events beyond their control. All calculation of downtime is through their own tools and outside 3rd party reports are not accepted as evidence.
Another, pretty blanket get out of jail free as they use their own tools only as the reporting factor.
Aayushi
Member
Uptime is the time that shows that your server stayed up and running. This time is usually listed as a percentage; for example, 99.9% uptime.
Uptime is a great measure of how well a web hosting provider keeps its servers active. A high uptime percentage means the server stays up most of the time.
As a result, the site you have hosted there will be available for your visitors. If your website is down, customers can’t keep waiting until it gets active, so uptime is very important.
Sometimes uptime percentage might be misleading. Like 99% uptime sounds great. But it means three days over a year.
When selecting a web hosting service, look at their uptime guarantees; I recommend selecting the one that provides at least 99.5% or higher.
Uptime is a great measure of how well a web hosting provider keeps its servers active. A high uptime percentage means the server stays up most of the time.
As a result, the site you have hosted there will be available for your visitors. If your website is down, customers can’t keep waiting until it gets active, so uptime is very important.
Sometimes uptime percentage might be misleading. Like 99% uptime sounds great. But it means three days over a year.
When selecting a web hosting service, look at their uptime guarantees; I recommend selecting the one that provides at least 99.5% or higher.
John @ S4
Active member
Very true, and those two examples you cited make that incredibly clear. They are basically saying that almost nothing that results in downtime actually gets counted as downtime.The fine print on SLAs are always interesting
There do have to be some caveats in there, we have some, everyone does, but those are ridiculous.
I'm curious what others on here include in their SLA about downtime. This is taken from ours at S4:
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