catching server

[CEO]

Can anyone advise what sort of spec server is required for running a dropcatching script/app?

Can anyone recommend companies?

 

[FC Domains]

It doesn't matter. Any old server off eBay will do the job.

 

[CEO]

Thanks Colin, I'm looking for a hosted server. I contacted weycrest but they dont do windows servers. I'm getting a quote on a vps at telehouse but not sure what i need spec wise. i.e. ram/processor etc....

 

[monaghan]

It's not the server, it's the quality of the code combined with the latency to Nominet that's the key. A 386 would probably be sufficient to exceed the DAC limits.

512Kb of ram minimum for a Windows server these days, more if you want a database on it.

 

[bb99]

To elaborate on what's been said above, the code to check a domain's availability and then try and register it is very very simple. It is not a resource intensive process.

So therefore you can get away with a pretty low spec server.

 

[Craig]

512Kb of ram minimum for a Windows server these days, more if you want a database on it.

kb?
Typo there Alex?

 

[monaghan]

Ah, those were the days when you could actually run something useful in less than 1Mb of ram

 

[CEO]

thanks all, so a standard vps deal will suffice for the script and sql 2005 express?
Would I get away with hosting sites as well?

I'm looking at a couple of hosts in telehouse unless i can find something next door to nominet. i assume their datacentre is oxford too?

 

[FC Domains]

Would I get away with hosting sites as well?

You really need to learn a lot more before spending your money.

 

[CEO]

yeah thanks.

 

[FC Domains]

yeah thanks.

Sorry, but it was a serious bit of advice.
You don't want a Windows server, or to worry about how physically close it would be to Nominet.

I'm not about to tell you what you do want, but I didn't like seeing you waste money.

 

[Skinner]

FC, when you connect to the server, I assume it works like

You: Connect
Server: Identify
You: Helo, Usernameassword
Server: Hello Username
You: Check Google
Server: available
You: Register google.co.uk
Server: OK / Error
You: Disconnect

Or something like that...

Do you HAVE to check the domain is available or can you just send the 'register' command ?

If you can do that, then your latancy to is pretty much irrelevant ?

I have loads of idea's to boost responsiveness of DAC querying and registering names, but as I don't have access (as yet), I can't test any.

I'm going to ask my hosting company if I can jack his account for testing, as I he has a tag, but not sure on DAC access.

 

[philipp]

You: Register google.co.uk
Server: OK / Error
You: Disconnect

Or something like that...

I'd echo FC's earlier comment. Regardless, it's all there on Nominet's website; why not go and have a read?

P.

 

[Skinner]

Hey Philip, I actually didnt think nominet would publically post server interactions, so I hadn't looked.

I'll go look now

 

[CEO]

You echo his earlier comments?
What exactly do I google for to answer my question? You dont find info on dropcatching anywhere. and nominet doesn't advise on servers either.
I have a vb.net script so needed a windows server.

Thanks for being so helpful to a noob. This forum appears to be 90% for selling your domains and the other 10% for the regulars. The noobs just seem to get talked down to imho.

 

[bb99]

CEO, you need to consider that dropcatching is a living for some people. The ability to catch a £xx,xxx domain name as it drops is a valuable one! The knowledge to do it isn't really out there.

Those who are doing it well have either bought in the knowledge/software (not generally cheap!) or have spent many a day crafting their own system/script to the point of obsession.

People will help you and point you in the right direction but it's not going to come on a plate. If it did, some people would be out of a job!

To be honest, it's never been so good for new dropcatchers - the amount of information that's freely available now is huge compared to what was public a few years ago :mrgreen:.

It's not something that you can successfully do casually, you need to have some technical knowledge on board and some extreme cunning

I am curious to know more about your script though - where did you get it from??

Best of luck with it

 

[pugyrob]

CEO, you need to consider that dropcatching is a living for some people. The ability to catch a £xx,xxx domain name as it drops is a valuable one! The knowledge to do it isn't really out there.

Those who are doing it well have either bought in the knowledge/software (not generally cheap!) or have spent many a day crafting their own system/script to the point of obsession.

People will help you and point you in the right direction but it's not going to come on a plate. If it did, some people would be out of a job!

To be honest, it's never been so good for new dropcatchers - the amount of information that's freely available now is huge compared to what was public a few years ago :mrgreen:.

It's not something that you can successfully do casually, you need to have some technical knowledge on board and some extreme cunning

I am curious to know more about your script though - where did you get it from??

Best of luck with it

Echo the above.

I am developing anew script and it hadnt occured to me to ask about it on here as i wouldnt expect to tell people if i myself knew.I will have to find out the hard way. I am not new here either.

Rob

 

[CEO]

Agree with above comments totally and hence haven't asked any questions about the actual scripting. I didn't consider my questions to be top secret or to assist greatly.
Telling me why i don't want a windows server is intriguing and if you dont want me to waste my money then eloborating would be appreciated which I assume wouldn't be elaborating on some holy grail of the dark art?

 

[pugyrob]

Agree with above comments totally and hence haven't asked any questions about the actual scripting. I didn't consider my questions to be top secret or to assist greatly.
Telling me why i don't want a windows server is intriguing and if you dont want me to waste my money then eloborating would be appreciated which I assume wouldn't be elaborating on some holy grail of the dark art?

Amazon.co.uk: How to Win Friends and Influence People: Dale Carnegie: Books

 

[CEO]

Yeah thanks again. good luck with your script.