HostGator issues - after 50% discount

[bambo]

50% off is a lot Had to check them out so I clicked yes, yes. Now time to complain. 2 things and the first one all with HostGater accounts should check:

1.
PHP version is by default the many years old 5.2.x. Nothing special about that BUT HostGator does have latest 5.3.x - they just chose not to advertise it so much. They do document how-to upgrade http://support.hostgator.com/article...stions/php-5-3 so no big deal for those reading that. Set PHP to "System Default" (not "PHP 5") in Control Panel, add those lines to .htaccess in root and say hello to latest and greatest 5.3.8. Faster and stronger.

2.
http://support.hostgator.com/article...ss/mod_deflate (also part of feature list here http://support.hostgator.com/article...e-technologies ) This is bogus, mod_default do not work on shared accounts = "Optimize website" in Control Panel also does not work. Because of CPU resources they say (check forum). Morale is pay up or shut up

[wudman]

I have done a few Catalyst sites on Hostgator and have had to do the manual update to the most current PHP. 1and1 is running an even older 4.x version you have to opt-in to, but for the most part, both of those companies have pretty decent customer service infrastructure.

[bambo]

Yeah they seem ok. From 30 min. on their forum reps. also seem to be on top of things. Except when they talk about WordPress, heh. But strange they dont just make 5.3.8 "System Default". Now they have 3 PHP versions active!

I only wanted max options to play so in that respect HostGator deliver, so many buttons to click in cPanel A lot more features than I am used to with stupid local hosting companies.

Dont know how good they are for more serious demands.

[David]

Good notes Bambo - thanks...
I've always found their live chat fast and responsive when I've had to use it - including some trickier stuff too once upon a time.

[jose]

I think 1&1 are now running PHP 5 - at least on the client's account I've been working on. But we still had to contact them to ask for a higher mem limit.

This issue is not hostgator-specific: I think quite a few hosts delay updating PHP (I don't know... they'll have their reasons...)

I've had some issues with hostgator too, but they are super-fast to solve them when I pop into live chat.

1&1 on the other hand are a nightmare - I don't recommend hosting with those people (I am also a 1&1 client, so I experiece
the 'nightmares' personally every time something goes bang).

[bambo]

Update. There are potential issues when upgrading to 5.3. Surprise, surprise.

5.3.8 is not their default and that includes PHP help thingys in cpanel. Stay far away from "PHP Quick-Config" (can be disabled). So before going 5.3 delete php.ini (or better save it) and .htaccess also needs a little change. Quick-Config work directly with php.ini for version 5.2 so useless, perhaps able to mess up even. There are entries in exisiting 5.2 focused php.ini that hard links to folders with "extensions". These are specific to php version. Upgrading only upgrade PHP itself not surrounding stuff.

Fully documented if you look for correct info. Cool but if in doubt contact their support. They say "YOU" are supposed to build new php.ini (98% similar to the one for 5.2) but if problems they will give you one. I wont link as certain things are being debated internally in my head, almost real time Just go to their forum and FAQ if not sure.

Other weird finding is that W3 Total Cache seems to be almost incompatible with Hostgator, "compatibility" check reveal features as common as mod_expires are missing and required for this and that. Well ignore and do before/after test using these server features (browser cache), they are available and do work. But since W3 miss detecting other tools might as well. Running phpinfo does not really show much. They must hide certain Apache features. I also tried to SSH in to server but cant find much. SSH is "limited" so probably why. They have a FAQ page which links all paths to relevant libraries/scripts etc. so have fun searching.

No details is crap so check difference below in php.ini, old vs. new Enough to fire up Google I bet.

;extension_dir = "/usr/local/lib/php/extensions/no-debug-non-zts-20060613"
extension_dir = "/opt/php53/lib/php/extensions/no-debug-non-zts-20090626"

Very important of course but 99 out of 100 settings are not. With no entries defaults for 5.3 is used so custom php.ini is like custom CSS for Catalyst. Only settings different than defaults are required.