Is 'unlimited' or 'unmetered' bandwidth in hosting plans truly limitless?
- Thread starter osayi
- Start date
Greenhost.cloud
Member
Yes, there is no problem if the provider's hosting server is hosted in a datacenter that does not have traffic restrictions.
JackieJim
New member
The level of data usage allowed depends on the data center and the services they offer. It is also important to clarify whether there is unlimited traffic for each packet or for each node. In the case of shared hosting or VPS, there is often the possibility to exceed the set limit imposed by the hosting provider, as the allocated resources may not always be accurately calculated for each hosting package.
It is crucial to recognize that there are limits in place, and ultimately these limits may be reached, even on dedicated servers.
It is crucial to recognize that there are limits in place, and ultimately these limits may be reached, even on dedicated servers.
easyhostmedia
Well-known member
But at the end of the day their will always be a limit, too much traffic then server slows down and eventually will be killed
Exactly this and not only this, as say if the provider has a 1Gb/s uplink on the server then the most that can be pushed through it is ~10.5TB a day or 10Gb/s at ~105TB a day (very rough, without overheads calculation). There is always going to be limits.
easyhostmedia
Well-known member
also financial implications as you could be paying $200 a month for your server, and list an unlimited plan for $20 a month which means in effect you are allowing a client to use the whole of your $200 server for $20
Develosmuth
New member
There is no unlimited hosting ever, if you exceed the limits of space or bandwidth, your sites will be down.
easyhostmedia
Well-known member
that depends as std of you exceeds b/w or space your site would be down with a notice to say it is offline until next monthly period, but you can also set up in cpanel a way that when i site exceeds b/w or space rather than site going down the site owner is charged extra per mb
mikstrahost
New member
It depends on the hosting provider. We provide truly unlimited bandwidth, who would limit data transfer these days?
easyhostmedia
Well-known member
What is Unlimited Bandwidth?
Though people often use the term “unlimited bandwidth” to mean “unlimited transfer”, there is really no such thing as unlimited bandwidth once you understand what bandwidth is. Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transferred from one place to another over a specific period of time usually measured in units per second. In other words, you're talking about the speed at which that data can get from its origin to its destination and back again if need be, or as some say -- “it is the size of the pipe”.A standard T1 business connection, for example, offers a maximum speed of about 1.54 megabits per second. So, when a service provider says you have unlimited bandwidth, it essentially just means that your service provider won't be "throttling" the speed slower than the size of their pipe, thereby allowing you to take full advantage of the natural speed built into the service provider’s connection in the first place, which could be 1 gigabit per second or even more. It may also mean that the service provider allows you unlimited transfer per month.
Another way to think of these two terms would be in the context of a car. Bandwidth means that your car's top speed is whatever you need it to be up to the mechanical limits of the engine - if you want to drive 100 miles per hour, you can drive 100 miles per hour. Unlimited transfer means that you're allowed to take as many passengers with you in the car as you'd like while you drive at 100 miles per hour.
Here is how it works at example:
A 10Gbps connection means that there is a 10 gigabit per second connection between your server and the nearest switch. This ensures high-speed data transfer and optimal operation performance.
However, it's important to note that providers limit the outgoing traffic to 1Gbps, which aligns with the terms of your 1Gbps tariff plan. Rest assured, incoming traffic is not restricted and remains at a fair 10Gbps speed. Not only incoming traffic, but also traffic between your servers within the data center is unlimited (for example, if you had several servers).
A 10Gbps connection means that there is a 10 gigabit per second connection between your server and the nearest switch. This ensures high-speed data transfer and optimal operation performance.
However, it's important to note that providers limit the outgoing traffic to 1Gbps, which aligns with the terms of your 1Gbps tariff plan. Rest assured, incoming traffic is not restricted and remains at a fair 10Gbps speed. Not only incoming traffic, but also traffic between your servers within the data center is unlimited (for example, if you had several servers).
From my experience,'unlimited' or 'unmetered' bandwidth isnot truly limitless.These terms usually indicate that the provider doesn't strictly monitor bandwidth usage, but there are still limitations based on server capacity and fair usage policies. If you want to get more traffic, you need to select dedicated unmetered/unlimited bw instead of shared unmetered.
DediRock
Member
That's a great point! 'Unlimited' or 'unmetered' bandwidth often comes with fine print.
While there isn't a hard cap, most providers have a fair usage policy or resource limits in place. Once your usage impacts server performance, they may suggest an upgrade.
Have you considered hosting providers that are more transparent about these limits upfront, or do you think a dedicated plan might work better for your needs?
While there isn't a hard cap, most providers have a fair usage policy or resource limits in place. Once your usage impacts server performance, they may suggest an upgrade.
Have you considered hosting providers that are more transparent about these limits upfront, or do you think a dedicated plan might work better for your needs?
bubblehost
Member
Yeah, this is what most providers do. But it's a marketing strategy, and at the end of the day, it works out for most people.
They do this because most of the time, you don't end up using at least 5GB on a small website anyway. So they just call it 'Unlimited'.
I haven't had an experience where a provider hasn't stopped me for using too much resources. They have always stopped me.
OnTheCloud.co
Member
One of our hosting brands has a few clients that took it too far by using us as their backup server or to place all of their exe files on. It got out of hand and we had to request them to clean it up or take further action by upgrading packages or terminating them.
systeminplace
New member
I think its important to note the way that some providers use the terms unlimited and dedicated.
Unlimited is often twisted into a version of an oversold "shared" connection. The terms of this "unlimited" bandwidth offer is a misnomer and is used to mislead you into signing up and moving your business. Moving your business requires downtime, which in this industry is something people try to avoid so once they have you, you leaving becomes less likely. As others have mentioned, unlimited doesn't truly exist. The connection will always have a maximum that it can do over a 24/7 period. The trick is to read the providers AUP or TOS and find their "fair use" policy which generally will list your "real" limit before you are hit with excessive charges or throttled.
If you truly want unlimited bandwidth (up to the limits of the connection of course), then you want a dedicated line. There is a reason dedicated bandwidth is more costly, because it should not be oversold.
Unlimited is often twisted into a version of an oversold "shared" connection. The terms of this "unlimited" bandwidth offer is a misnomer and is used to mislead you into signing up and moving your business. Moving your business requires downtime, which in this industry is something people try to avoid so once they have you, you leaving becomes less likely. As others have mentioned, unlimited doesn't truly exist. The connection will always have a maximum that it can do over a 24/7 period. The trick is to read the providers AUP or TOS and find their "fair use" policy which generally will list your "real" limit before you are hit with excessive charges or throttled.
If you truly want unlimited bandwidth (up to the limits of the connection of course), then you want a dedicated line. There is a reason dedicated bandwidth is more costly, because it should not be oversold.
easyhostmedia
Well-known member
There is always a limit as lets say you pay $200 pm for a server, so say you list a Unlimited Space and bandwidth plan for $10 pm. in effect you are saying someone can take out the $10pm plan and use the whole of the $200pm server for their $10.
Mivocloud
Member
Hello.
The points mentioned above already cover the answer well, but regarding hosting providers, you're absolutely right.
Firstly, not all hosting providers own their data centers, which can be a significant limitation. To offer truly unlimited and unmetered resources, a provider should have its own data center.
My personal advice is always to confirm with the provider what they’re offering and what limits are in place. For example, we provide unmetered plans and offer unlimited options with additional payment.
The points mentioned above already cover the answer well, but regarding hosting providers, you're absolutely right.
Firstly, not all hosting providers own their data centers, which can be a significant limitation. To offer truly unlimited and unmetered resources, a provider should have its own data center.
My personal advice is always to confirm with the provider what they’re offering and what limits are in place. For example, we provide unmetered plans and offer unlimited options with additional payment.
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