1and1 linux svr, running Gentoo, freezing, sftp to blame?

dalamarian · n00b Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 30

Approximately 1.5 months ago I ordered a dedicated server package from 1and1. I of course wanted to run gentoo instead of the Redhat whatever it came with. So I used their rescue utility to boot into a debian image running out of memory (just as if the livecd was setting up an environment). I then followed the normal installation procedures from the handbook like always.

The problem that I am facing is that the server tends to lockup or lose network connectivity (I can't tell which because I only have network access), meaning no ssh, ping, http, webmin etc etc. And the interval can be hours but more often is days between freezes. I have tried going through the tech support people at 1and1, because I am fairly certain that it is a hardware problem. However, they keep assuring me that they tested the hardware and it is all fine. To this I say bollux, but I figure that I have to keep plugging away in case it is a software problem. And whenever I search through the /var/logs I never see anything indicative of a major crash. Again I think it is bad RAM or something hardware but I have to make certain that it wouldn't be software. I have setup at least 20 Gentoo boxes since starting with the OS about 1.5 years ago.

Hoping that the following information will help, but I am sure that there is going to be a ton that I left out. I will gladly post anything that you require.

Celeron 2gig
256mb ram
40GB hd
Via Chipset (recorded in lspci)

Kernel running with standard opts. (I have compiled it with no opts, some, normal, tons, processor specific/generic without any remedy to the lockup issue). Created ones manually and currently using one created by Genkernel. Ran both gentoo sources, development, 2.4, 2.6 vanilla etc etc. Was getting a bit desperate I know.

Functions primarly as a webserver with a mysql db backend.
Apache 1.3
Mysql 4.x
Completely up to date as of Oct 15 2004 (this problem has ocurred since the 4th day or so of use.)

And I have rebuilt the server from scratch 3 times.

I would move to a new hosting company without even thinking of solving this (because I really shouldn't have to), but the price for what I am supposed to get is about the best out there. I, also don't feel like going through the whole crap of getting refunded (But of course will). Any and all help is appreciated.

lspci

uncleringo · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 21 Jul 2004 Posts: 146

Hi

I'm sorry I'm not going to say anything helpful here. I'd just like to share with you my experiences with 1and1. Last year I ordered a dedicated server from them. They said it would take roughly a week to get it ready for me.

So two weeks later I started ringing them to ask why there was a delay. They started telling me that they it should be sorted in a few days. So a few days later I called them again and they said exactly the same thing.

A few weeks later when I called them they said that the reason for the delay was that they'd run out of servers and it would take a week or two before they would be able to give me one. So another couple of weeks later I rang again. This time they said that the reason I hadn't got my server was that my phone number that I had given them was an foreign number and that they're not allowed to call foreign numbers! So they couldn't confirm the order due to the fact that they couldn't call me. So I changed the number and got them to finally confirm the order.

But after another 2 weeks wait I finally gave up and cancelled my order with them. However, hat wasn't the end of it because they then sent me a couple of letters saying that I still owed them the money for the server! Eventually they admitted that it was their error and cancelled the threatning letters.

All in all I would say after that experience that 1and1 is really not to be trusted as a company that is supposed to provide a service. And I wouldn't trust them at all when they say the hardware was thoroughly tested by them before you got access to it.

I'm sorry for going off on a rant here but they really annoyed me greatly with all this. I ended up using webhosting24.co.uk and have had a very smooth ride with them. They usually reply to any support emails within a few minutes which eliminates the need to spend huge amounts of time and money on phonecalls!

I really hope you get your server sorted. I'll be interested to follow this thread.

Cheers
Rich Birch

xianx · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:51 pm Post subject:

my site is hosted on 1and1 and i've actually really enjoyed the experience. However: i'm not using the dedicated server service from them.

I have sent a few technical support emails to them and they've been pretty helpful.

Just thought i'd mention that they're not all bad.

good luck with your sever.
_________________
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dalamarian · n00b Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 30

The only other bit of information I can give, is that there seems to be a higher incidence of freezing when files are being transferred through sftp

nick58b · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:38 pm Post subject:

I had problems with compiles segfaulting on my dedicated server. I emerged gimps (the distributed prime number finder) and ran the torture test (mprime -t) with the result of that it told me when it started to get erranous calcuations. This happened consistantly, after about 8 hours every time. When I presented my host with this information, they swapped my memory, and my server then ran the test for a solid 48 hours before I stopped it. My server has been fine since.

Hopefully you can get similar results. Even if mprime -t locks up your server, you could use that information to get them to fix stuff (perhaps move you to a different box).

dalamarian · n00b Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 30

Well I took your advice of running mprime. But it did not seem to crash it this last time. It ran for about 36 hours.

The processes running at the minute of when it crashed (was logging like hell)

dalamarian · n00b Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 30

Thats it folks. I backed up all my data, and am now cancelling my service. I would not recommend any dedicated server package from 1and1 due to lousy (though always available) support both technical and customer.

I do admit, I have bias, it could just have been an anomaly that only I experienced. However, you won't see me purchasing anything from them again.

And I did try debian on the machine just to test.