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What are the setup fees and monthly costs involved?
VLE Hosting charges a one-time setup fee depending on the size and type of web hosting package ordered. The full rate charts for available hosting packages are shown on the Web Hosting pages.
How do I set up my email?
VLE Hosting web hosting clients can set up POP Accounts, Forwarders/Aliases, & Auto-Responders in the Web Browser Control Panel that comes with every VLE Hosting web hosting package. This can be done by yourself, and without any assistance from the VLE Hosting staff.
How do I upload my files?
All VLE Hosting web hosting packages allow the usage of FTP, Telnet, SSH, File Manager, MS FrontPage™, and other web development publishing programs, to upload files to your website.
Is there a trial period or money-back guarantee?
VLE Hosting offers a full 30-day money back guarantee. No questions asked. If you are not happy for any reason, cancel your VLE Hosting service within 30 days of signup we will refund 100% of your unused hosting fees. Please note: This guarantee does not cover repayment for domain name registration fees, set up fees, website design services, overage charges, professional services, or if you violate VLE Hosting Terms of Service (TOS). Violations of the TOS usually are due to spamming, hacking, and illegal content. Your account can be cancelled ONLY by submitting a support ticket requesting cancellation within 30 days of sign up. Other methods of cancellation are not valid.
How fast are websites set up?
VLE Hosting strives for a setup time of no more than 60 minutes per order if order is placed during normal business day hours.
Does my website get a control panel?
Yes. Every VLE Hosting web-hosting package comes with a web browser based control panel. The control panel includes many features including; email configurations, chat rooms, mailing lists, pre-installed cgi scripts, databases, chat rooms, and much, much, more... The Windows NT™ account control panels run on a Red Hat™ Linux backend, and feature email based features only. A copy of the online control panel manual can be found here.
How am I billed?
VLE Hosting invoices you via email. You can request a monthly statement via email as well, at any time. Hard copy invoices can be mailed for those clients that request such. You will receive an invoice for each service/account order every month on the same day the service was ordered (if it is a monthly service). Special arrangements can be made for custom billing requirements. VLE Hosting accepts Bank Wire Transfers, Western Union, Company Checks, Personal Checks, Money Orders, and PayPal http://www.paypal.com (paypal@verdunlyles.com). You can opt to not have your credit card charged every month, until you specifically submit a payment form each month.
How much assistance do you provide for my website?
VLE Hosting will assist you with all support for services provided directly thru VLE Hosting. VLE Hosting will help you with basic settings for your email software and ftp client, as well as assist you with using the web browser control panel. VLE Hosting is not responsible for teaching you how to use another company's products. Example: VLE Hosting will assist you with the settings for using MS Frontpage™, but we will not teach you how to actually use the product itself. You need to contact the software maker in such a situation, who provides tech support for how to use their product. VLE Hosting cannot even attempt to support all the thousands of software products on the market. VLE Hosting is not responsible for assisting with your own programs and cgi scripts. If you choose to install your own programs and cgi scripts on your site, you are responsible fully for installing them. VLE Hosting will provide support for any program or cgi script that we provide pre-installed with your web-hosting package. VLE Hosting is not responsible for designing, nor developing, your website, including HTML and/or images. Anything complicated relating to design/development is not the responsibility of VLE Hosting
What if the hardware fails?
VLE Hosting stocks replacement parts for all servers. VLE Hosting is always building new servers for our shared hosting clients, so a full inventory of parts is maintained. Hardware failures are uncommon, but they do happen, and are a part of the hosting business. VLE Hosting repairs all failed hardware promptly, to minimize any downtime caused by such.
Are there any hidden costs?
No. All costs are stated plainly on our website. We do not hide fees in fine print, or in our terms of service pages. The only costs that are commonly found to occur beyond your expected flat monthly rates per service are those due to increased disk space or bandwidth usage. Pricing for such is plainly stated on our website. VLE Hosting very often will allow you to upgrade your packages to the next size up, should you see an increase in disk space levels or bandwidth usage for the current month, and not want to pay for such additional usage. Disk space usage and availability, as well as estimated bandwidth usage, is available to you in the majority of the control panel versions included with the hosting packages.
What is Cpanel™? Do you have a Demo?
CPanel™ is the brand name of the web browser control panel software that VLE Hosting utilizes on its web hosting packages. A copy of the online control panel manual can be found here.
What happens if I decide to leave VLE Hosting
You are free to leave at any time.
Is there a discount if I pre-pay for several months in advance?
VLE Hosting offers 2 months free for all yearly advanced payments. Pay for 10 months of service, and receive 2 months free.
May I have some examples of some sites hosted by you?
VLE Hosting makes a client sites page available to the public on it's website.
Does my website have their own IP number or is it shared?
This depends on the type of hosting packages you order. Traditionally all VLE Hosting packages come with a dedicated IP address. VLE Hosting dedicated servers have the ability to utilize IP based, or IPless, virtual hosting configurations.
What type of support do you offer? Average Response Time?
VLE Hosting offers support to our clients 24/7/365 via web based ticket system, and email.. We strive for response times of no more than a few hours. Response times of just a few minutes are quite common during normal business hours. VLE Hosting has recently implemented a web based support ticket system, which integrates all incoming support email into it. The ticket system tracks support inquires by "time waiting" for response from the support dept. The VLE Hosting administration carefully monitors that the VLE Hosting support staff maintains a fast response time, with courteous and helpful service.
What are the hardware specs of the servers?
Every server at VLE Hosting has different specifications. Whenever a server reaches what we feel to be the limit, another server is built. VLE Hosting is constantly upgrading the server hardware on our network. If more drive space, memory, or faster processors are needed, they are added in at that time. The average shared server is a QUAD XEON processor system, with 4048MB RAM, and RAID hard drive(s). All VLE Hosting servers run spare hard drives for backup requirements.
Can I have adult content on my website?
Yes, you can have adult content on your websites.
May I view your Terms Of Service?
The VLE Hosting terms of service (TOS), including policy and service guidelines, are available online at: http://www.verdunlyles.com/terms/terms.html
How long have you been in business?
The company has been in business since August 8, 2000. September 15th 2003, VLE Hosting entered the web hosting industry.
Do you support International domain names and clients?
VLE Hosting can host all international domains on its servers. VLE Hosting can accept foreign clientele, just please be advised that all correspondence must be conducted in English. The client is responsible for handling the registration process of foreign domain name(s). This must be pointed to name servers on the VLE Hosting network as assigned, or you can use other name servers and route the domain name to the IP address you are assigned. VLE Hosting cannot handle the foreign domain registration process for you, due to the fact that we do not speak all of the potential foreign languages that may be involved. VLE Hosting will assist you however, with any technical information need to accomplish this.
How do I transfer my domain name?
VLE Hosting will attempt to file the necessary electronic forms for your domain name transfer with InterNIC. If VLE Hosting is unable to file such with your specific domain name registrar, VLE Hosting will send you instructions on how to do such yourself, including all necessary technical details. Clients may opt to not have VLE Hosting handle the domain name transfer, or to delay doing such, as an option on the web hosting order form required for signup.
What if my site breaks your "acceptable usage policy" rules?
Users' sites may be suspended for violations of policy, or if extreme, or second time offenders, sites may be cancelled. Each occurrence is dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and we try to work things out with every client. Notifications will be sent, if VLE Hosting takes any action on your account.
What if I want to upgrade my website?
You may upgrade or downgrade your VLE Hosting web-hosting package at any time. You will be required to pay the difference in the setup fee for your current plan, and the plan you are upgrading to, should you decide to choose a larger plan. You will then pay the new monthly fee for the new account package that you select. Transfers between operating systems (ie..Linux to Windows NT™) will require a setup fee to be paid.
How is my website monitored?
VLE Hosting maintains internal and external monitoring systems for every server in the VLE Hosting Data Center. The servers are checked every 5 minutes via network monitoring software. VLE Hosting monitors uptime as well as individual features and services running on each server. VLE Hosting staff is notified via alarms, email, screen popups, and paging, if a problem occurs.
What is the uptime?
VLE Hosting strives to maintain a 99.5% network and server uptime service level. This uptime percentage is a monthly figure, and does not include any scheduled hardware/software upgrades, nor "Acts of God". Our definition of "Act of God" includes; fire, flood, tornado, earthquake, telco fiber issues (ie...Verizon™ cutting a fiber line somewhere), backbone peering point issues (ie...UUnet™ having a router go down in Virginia that wipes out internet service for the entire East Coast), hard drive failure (faulty hardware is rare, but cannot be predicted nor avoided), as well as network floods, hacks, and attacks. If VLE Hosting fails to meet it's 99.5% uptime guarantee, and it is not due to one of the above reasons, partial downtime credits will be made available to each client, upon request, on a case-by-case basis. VLE Hosting does not credit a full month's service if we only have 99.4% uptime. This would not be financially healthy for VLE Hosting, and in turn would only negatively affect the service level VLE Hosting provides to you. "Partial refunds for partial downtime" is our standard policy.
Do you have a Service Level Agreement (SLA)?
The VLE Hosting terms of service (TOS), including policy and service guidelines, are available online at: http://www.verdunlyles.com/sla/sla.html
What is your connectivity to the Internet?
VLE Hosting, connectivity to the internet is located in the carrier-neutral Equinix Chicago Data Center, VLE Hosting, Inc has access to all the major carriers in Chicago without the need for local loop circuits. Fore more information visit this page http://www.verdunlyles.com/network/network.html .
Do you have battery backups and generators?
Our Network Operations Center is backed up and protected by UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems. In a very rare case of utility outages, our auto-start generators start automatically, taking over for the UPS system and supplying all necessary power for our Network Operations Center. APC™, Tripp-Lite™, & Liebert™ UPS Systems provide the power backups, along with Kohler™ generator systems.
What kind of security does the VLE Hosting Data Center have?
The VLE Hosting Data Center in Chicago, IL USA is a high security facility. Double metal security doors, with interior gating, protect the main entrance to the facility. The windows-less facility has advanced security, fire, temperature, and flood alarms, directly piped into the Security Monitoring Company via phone, cellular, and Internet connections. A 16-camera digital video system monitors the interior and exterior of the Data Center. This video system is monitored internally at the facility. The video data is recorded live both on and off site, and stored for several months ahead. Visitors cannot gain access into the facility without employee escort. The physical servers and equipment area is secured from the visitor's area by huge metal doors, as well as metal sheeting and bulletproof glass walls. Armed guards are planned for the future, but not a necessity at this junction.
What about software upgrades?
VLE Hosting handles all software upgrades/patches on the shared hosting servers. We fully follow all trends in the industry, and monitor all support/bug announcement groups. If a new bug or security vulnerability is found, VLE Hosting immediately upgrades our systems. Microsoft™ regularly release patches for the Windows™ based systems, and VLE Hosting auto-updates the Linux systems every night from security patch websites. As new software is released, including new versions of operating systems, VLE Hosting evaluates the new software. If the software's new version does not have any security issues, or bug problems, the upgrade is implemented.
What if the server my website is on gets hacked or attacked?
Individually hacked websites are rare. If such occurs, usually they are a target for a reason; hate sites, pirated software, etc... VLE Hosting does not host such websites. If such material is found on a VLE Hosting server, it is deleted immediately and the user's account cancelled. Usually the target is the whole server itself. Hackers usually go after a server just to say that "they did", or to use the server to bounce off of to hack something more important. Rarely are any users' files on the server damaged, erased, or modified. For this reason, once a hacker is detected, a server can usually be cleaned up and the hacker locked back out within a matter of hours. At that time the server is restored to full security levels, as if the hack has never occurred. Most hackers get into a system thru valid user accounts. We recommend you use complicated passwords for your account. VLE Hosting strictly reviews all orders for new clients, to make sure they are legitimate. Unfortunately, some fake orders do get thru the system, and that is one way a hacker can gain initial access. VLE Hosting runs security checks on the servers daily, so even if a hacker does get in, they are found and dealt with quickly. Most hackers are not malicious; they are just playing or testing their abilities. If an individual attacks the whole VLE Hosting Data Center, measures are in place to cut off such floods and attacks automatically at the backbone level and the router level. VLE Hosting also uses firewall technology to fend off most common methods of flooding and attacks to the network.
How is extra bandwidth billed?
VLE Hosting maintains software on every server and on the switches to monitor individual website usage and server-wide usage. Bandwidth is billed per Gigabyte (GB) over your monthly allocation, rounded up to the nearest Gigabyte. Usually between the 3rd and 5th of the month you will receive your bandwidth overage billing, if applicable, for the preceding month's usage.
What is included in my website package?
VLE Hosting provides full hardware; software, support, and system administration for your VLE Hosting shared hosting solution. The software provided includes the operating system, ftp & email software, web server software, and a control panel. VLE Hosting even includes free e-commerce shopping cart software. Everything you need to conduct business on the Internet, or maintain a personal website, is included in your VLE Hosting solution. VLE Hosting will provide basic support on services/software that we provide you with your account. VLE Hosting does not develop your website for you, nor provide tech support on how to use software products that we do not provide to your directly.
How many sites are currently running on per server?
VLE Hosting does not have a set quantity of domains running on each machine. We find that ten domains can utilize more resources than 200 others. VLE Hosting monitors each server's performance levels and attempts to maintain a low server load average and high cpu availability. As needed, VLE Hosting will upgrade the hardware, to increase server performance. Individual domains that become too much for the server to handle, and utilize too much server resources, are moved to servers set up specifically for such resource intensive accounts.
Can I host more than one domain name per account?
VLE Hosting charges additional fees for every EXTRA (some are included for free) domain name you point to your account. For a domain name that is parked on top of your main domain name, the cost is a $15 one-time setup fee. You may use an index.cgi script, to redirect from that domain name to a sub-directory at no additional charge. VLE Hosting charges a $15 setup fee and $3/mo, for every additional domain name parked to a sub-directory. Each additional domain name parked on top, or to a sub-directory, receives one catchall email POP account or forwarder for all mail to that domain name. Parked domain names do not receive a control panel of their own. VLE Hosting usually recommends the very inexpensive "Small" accounts ($9.95 monthly) instead, due to the fact that they come with their own control panel functionality.
Why should I choose VLE Hosting as my webhost?
Simple. VLE Hosting maintains one of the most feature rich hosting packages on the market, so advanced that many hosting companies cannot compete. VLE Hosting offers Cpanel™ on it's packages, the premier software in the business. VLE Hosting offers a 30-day money back guarantee for new clients that sign up...so you really cannot loose by selecting VLE Hosting.
How do I get started?
Simple! Just fill out the Secure New Account Order form! You will receive details shortly afterwards about how to proceed with your new VLE Hosting Web Hosting Account!
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