It is important to keep your scripts up-to-date, even those automatically installed through your cPanel Fantastico Deluxe. Why? Well, not updating your script to lead to a few things:

• Running up the server memory and give your site as well as other shared clients a 502 Bad Gateway error.
• Spammers could infiltrate and send mass email, running up the server processes.
• Run up the database usage.

Please note that Host Solutions does have a list of scripts that are not allowed on the server:

• SimpleDir – a webdirectory script. Outdated script that can be easily hacked into and exploited by spammers.
• Enthusiast (up to 3.0) – fanlisting script with known security issues.
• Greymatter – blog script that has exposed security issues.
• CuteNews – blog script that has exposed security issues.
• SimpBook – a guestbook script who security issues.
• PHPFanBase – fanlisting script with known security issues.

We recently had a client that unfortunately had to be terminated after repeatedly using unsecure scripts… two of them listed above in our banned scripts. Because of this, the shared server experienced a 502 Gateway issue as the scripts had been exploited. I am sure some would say, “I will use them and I will not get caught.”

Eventually, the script will prove itself in the end. Please make sure to check the scripts you are using are up to date. If you are unsure if a script can be used, please do not hesitate to contact Host Solutions. It is important to Host Solutions that your site is up and functioning.

Between 12PM and 6PM CST USA, there were issues that I caught so I had the server rebooted. Things should be running smoothly now. If you are having issues, please do not hesitate to ask.

I am wrestling around with the idea of mini- webhosting where the packages will be smaller and pay per year is significantly less than our main packages. However, the other side in this type of hosting, the client is responsible for obtaining a domain as the domain would not be included. In ‘mini webhosting’, for example, this is what is being considered:

• 150 MB diskspace
• 6 GB bandwidth per month
• Full Cpanel account with unlimited emails, ftp, etcetra
• Cost is $7.50/ year. Does NOT include domain registration.
• Same service and support like other clients.

Sound interesting? The reason for this is not everyone can afford $70 a year for webhosting and all that eyecandy on diskspace and bandwidth. Many sites only need a little bit of space. Although $25 a year for a package is awesome, right now, the economy is not doing that great, so it was a thought I had. What do you think?