Comments on: the dark side of traffic http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/ A computer programmer's commentary on news, Linux, programming, music, web design, trivia, humor, usability and whatever else strikes his fancy at the time. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:21:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Renee http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/#comment-1231 Renee Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=569#comment-1231 Are you speaking from experience? (other than the thieves using your pics) Are you speaking from experience? (other than the thieves using your pics)

]]> By: dan http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/#comment-1232 dan Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=569#comment-1232 Nope. My web hosting service doesn't have a limit on bandwidth, for which I'm grateful. A year or so ago <a href="http://coincollector.org/" rel="nofollow">coincollector.org</a> was mentioned on CNN, resulting in 20,000 visitors. This site recently got 10,000 visitors to the <a href="/guess.html" rel="nofollow">javascript guessing game</a> from a college humor site. I've reduced bandwidth usage by removing images, but that's because I want the page to load quickly, not because I have to pay extra for it. The reason for the post is that I've seen sites become popular and then ask for help when they see the bill. It can be an unpleasant experience that most would rather avoid. Here are a few I've seen. <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=redooced%20begging" rel="nofollow">dooce.com</a> (she removed the archive) <a href="http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:FN9RWGRQKnQC:www.stinkfactor.com/" rel="nofollow">stinkfactor.com</a> <a href="http://www.ubergeek.tv/donate/" rel="nofollow">ubergeek.tv</a> <a href="http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,58219,00.html" rel="nofollow">Glenn Fleishman</a> (<a href="http://www.tidbits.com/tb-issues/TidBITS-675.html#lnk4" rel="nofollow">more</a>) <a href="http://www.poundy.com/" rel="nofollow">poundy.com</a> Nope. My web hosting service doesn’t have a limit on bandwidth, for which I’m grateful. A year or so ago coincollector.org was mentioned on CNN, resulting in 20,000 visitors. This site recently got 10,000 visitors to the javascript guessing game from a college humor site. I’ve reduced bandwidth usage by removing images, but that’s because I want the page to load quickly, not because I have to pay extra for it.

The reason for the post is that I’ve seen sites become popular and then ask for help when they see the bill. It can be an unpleasant experience that most would rather avoid. Here are a few I’ve seen.

dooce.com (she removed the archive)
stinkfactor.com
ubergeek.tv
Glenn Fleishman (more)
poundy.com

]]> By: jason http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/#comment-1233 jason Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=569#comment-1233 I have a bandwidth limit on ahoyhoy.org and out of curiosity I sent off an email to the admin to ask how they handle bandwidth problems such as this. He told me that they charge $3.xx per GB over your limit. They also offer throttling to prevent it. To activate throttling after the fact would be "day late and many dollars short", but I would like to think that I could catch the issue before it got out of control. I have a bandwidth limit on ahoyhoy.org and out of curiosity I sent off an email to the admin to ask how they handle bandwidth problems such as this. He told me that they charge $3.xx per GB over your limit. They also offer throttling to prevent it. To activate throttling after the fact would be “day late and many dollars short”, but I would like to think that I could catch the issue before it got out of control.

]]> By: Levi http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/#comment-1234 Levi Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=569#comment-1234 If you get mentioned on slashdot with a sizeable media file on your site, you're screwed. I don't think there's any way to catch that issue before it kills you. :) If you get mentioned on slashdot with a sizeable media file on your site, you’re screwed. I don’t think there’s any way to catch that issue before it kills you. :)

]]> By: Renee http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/#comment-1235 Renee Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=569#comment-1235 You must have a very kind webhosting service. Or maybe no one's had something on there site that gave them pause to reconsider. I visited dooce.com after a friend linked to it. After browsing around, I never had an interest in returning. But I have to say the legions of commentors were amusing. I haven't witnessed that much gushing and worshipping by admirers since Limbaugh was in his prime during the Clinton years. Can you say mega-dittos? But back to the topic at hand, I use the free blogger service on blogspot. I suppose on the free services, they just block access if you reach the limit. And I'm only marginally witty so I doubt I'll ever generate much traffic. LOL :) You must have a very kind webhosting service. Or maybe no one’s had something on there site that gave them pause to reconsider.

I visited dooce.com after a friend linked to it. After browsing around, I never had an interest in returning. But I have to say the legions of commentors were amusing. I haven’t witnessed that much gushing and worshipping by admirers since Limbaugh was in his prime during the Clinton years. Can you say mega-dittos?

But back to the topic at hand, I use the free blogger service on blogspot. I suppose on the free services, they just block access if you reach the limit. And I’m only marginally witty so I doubt I’ll ever generate much traffic. LOL :)

]]> By: dan http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/#comment-1236 dan Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=569#comment-1236 It's not really out of kindness, it's because in most cases of longterm high-bandwidth use, the material is either illegal or contains adult content, and your account gets disabled. Also, they have tens of thousands of customers (maybe even more), so a spike in a traffic on one site won't affect the overall network usage. I used to work there myself and when I changed jobs, I was willing to pay to keep the server, partly because I have friends that still work there, but also because there's no bandwidth cap. I resell space on the server to help defray costs, because it's not cheap. It’s not really out of kindness, it’s because in most cases of longterm high-bandwidth use, the material is either illegal or contains adult content, and your account gets disabled. Also, they have tens of thousands of customers (maybe even more), so a spike in a traffic on one site won’t affect the overall network usage.

I used to work there myself and when I changed jobs, I was willing to pay to keep the server, partly because I have friends that still work there, but also because there’s no bandwidth cap. I resell space on the server to help defray costs, because it’s not cheap.

]]> By: dan http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/#comment-1237 dan Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=569#comment-1237 Oh and I agree with you on the comments that lavish praise and worship on Heather. If you want to see some more, take a look at <a href="http://www.sourbob.com/">sourbob.com</a> who has at times told them to quit it, but they keep coming back. Oh and I agree with you on the comments that lavish praise and worship on Heather. If you want to see some more, take a look at sourbob.com who has at times told them to quit it, but they keep coming back.

]]> By: Renee http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/#comment-1238 Renee Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=569#comment-1238 Great, so if I decide to pay for a website someday you can host? :^D Will you install moveable type for me? Great, so if I decide to pay for a website someday you can host? :^D Will you install moveable type for me?

]]> By: dan http://dan.hersam.com/2003/04/10/the-dark-side-of-traffic/#comment-1239 dan Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=569#comment-1239 Sure. I already installed it for <a href="http://lifeoflevi.com/blog.php">Levi</a> and keep it up-to-date when I update mine. In fact, I even configured <a href="http://awstats.sourceforge.net/">AWStats</a>. The main limitation I impose is disk space, because that's the limited resource. Sure. I already installed it for Levi and keep it up-to-date when I update mine. In fact, I even configured AWStats. The main limitation I impose is disk space, because that’s the limited resource.

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