Why is SAUK web server based in Alanta USA?

GhostOnMagneticTape · #1 29th September 2008, 07:18

http://geotool.servehttp.com/?ip=64....-community.org

Tracing route to matthew.asmallorange.com [64.22.96.32]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 4 ms 1 ms 1 ms mygateway1.ar7 [192.168.1.1]
2 47 ms 55 ms 45 ms vispahg1.birmingham.broadband.bt.net [213.123.102.81]
3 44 ms 46 ms 45 ms 62.24.228.40
4 45 ms 45 ms 53 ms rt-gw1.tcm.vispa.net.uk [62.24.228.1]
5 62 ms 53 ms 75 ms 64.208.205.169
6 142 ms 141 ms 141 ms te6 [67.17.67.222]
7 143 ms 195 ms 145 ms xe-4-3-0.cr1.atl1.us.nlayer.net [69.31.135.213]
8 141 ms 142 ms 142 ms po1.ar1.atl1.us.nlayer.net [69.31.135.130]
9 142 ms 142 ms 147 ms as3595.ge3-41-101.ar1.atl1.us.nlayer.net [69.31.135.42]
10 153 ms 142 ms 143 ms atl-core-g-g1-6.gnax.net [63.247.69.178]
11 143 ms 143 ms 142 ms matthew.asmallorange.com [64.22.96.32]

Trace complete.

11 hops for me!

Sometimes the forum can be a bit slow loading, would it not be better to move SAUK to a British based server? Which may make it a tad faster for a lot of us?

DaughterOfTheRains · #2 29th September 2008, 08:05

Yes, I`ve wondered about that before. It does seem a bit odd having a US server for a British site like SAUK..

MooseOfDoom · #3 29th September 2008, 20:00

There really shouldn't be a huuuge difference in speed between the connections to a UK and US based server in this day and age - maybe for online gaming a few hundred ms ping makes a difference but in terms of a web page loading it's not going to be something that should be critical. More important is the hosts infrastructure - the speed and reliability of the link they provide etc.

There aren't a huge number of hosts in the UK with a great reputation anyway - but if you take one random cheap and cheerful host, Fasthosts...

Quote:

Tracing route to www.fasthosts.co.uk [213.171.195.48]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 725 ms 2 ms 2 ms 192.168.1.1
2 54 ms 40 ms 36 ms lo0-plusnet.pcl-ag01.plus.net [195.166.128.27]
3 35 ms 56 ms 41 ms gi1-2-803.pcl-gw1.plus.net [84.92.5.57]
4 40 ms 42 ms 41 ms te2-2.pte-gw1.plus.net [212.159.0.186]
5 42 ms 39 ms 37 ms te2-4.pte-gw2.plus.net [212.159.1.102]
6 33 ms 44 ms 34 ms linx.bb-c.the.lon.gb.oneandone.net [195.66.224.98]
7 52 ms 53 ms 42 ms 88.208.255.61
8 67 ms 42 ms 38 ms pc2.prt0.fhdis.fasthosts.net.uk [88.208.255.1]
9 64 ms 43 ms 44 ms 213.171.217.3
10 1001 ms 41 ms 38 ms server213-171-195-48.livedns.org.uk [213.171.195.48]

Trace complete.

That's still 10 hops just for a UK based server. The speed difference over the last few hops amounts to less than half a second. Cheaper hosting and bandwidth can often be had in the US so in terms of something that doesn't charge any subscription fees or solicit donations it makes sense for it to be there. I am not sure if the original owner of the site is also based in the US too which would be another reason for not getting screwed over on the exchange rates paying for UK hosting...

</geek hat>

anne123456 · #4 30th September 2008, 17:10

We didn't make a decision based on the location of the server, but rather service, price etc. When we first moved from a hosted board, we moved to a UK company based on a user recommendation. That company did not serve us well at all and after just a few months we moved to ASO because they had excellent reviews, etc. That was about 4 years ago and until recently we've not had any serious complaints. Even now we don't have any real complaints, but we may be growing too big for their service.
Anne