Is this normal?

grantw · Jul 16, 2013

I've been renting a dedicated server for a few years now (probably my most important server business wise) and the host has decided to decommission the range of servers as they're getting past it.

I'm fine with that but they've basically said that they'll be giving me a brand new whm/cpanel server and leaving everything else up to me, data migration, config settings, custom zone file entries, custom OS changes etc. etc.

Would anyone else consider this normal or would I be right in feeling a bit arsed off about it?

Cheers, Grant

murph · Jul 16, 2013

Would have thought they would be able to replicate your exact setup on the new server? Whenever I've moved servers, it has been managed for me.

grantw · Jul 16, 2013

murph said:
Would have thought they would be able to replicate your exact setup on the new server? Whenever I've moved servers, it has been managed for me.

That's what I thought too, so far all they've given me is a link to instructions for the WHM transfer wizard!!!

Cheers, Grant

tifosi · Jul 16, 2013

If it was an unmanaged server then protentially yes. Depends on the T&C, and to a large extent the host company themselves. Some smaller friendlier ones will go out of their way just cos they're techies and like a challenge.

grantw · Jul 16, 2013

tifosi said:
If it was an unmanaged server then potentially yes.

Yep, it's unmanaged, haven't checked the T&C. As I've paid probably $4k+ to them to date I may try kicking off a bit and see what they say.

Grant

grantw · Jul 16, 2013

invincible said:
Ask if you can buy it for a nominal price and colo it for the short term?

That's a nice idea, cheers! Will give that a go after I've done shouting at them

Grant

mdrussell · Jul 17, 2013

grantw said:
I've been renting a dedicated server for a few years now (probably my most important server business wise) and the host has decided to decommission the range of servers as they're getting past it.

I'm fine with that but they've basically said that they'll be giving me a brand new whm/cpanel server and leaving everything else up to me, data migration, config settings, custom zone file entries, custom OS changes etc. etc.

Would anyone else consider this normal or would I be right in feeling a bit arsed off about it?

Cheers, Grant

Old servers = power inefficient. New servers = power efficient. At a certain point in time, the old server becomes more of a burden to run despite any leases on the hardware expiring and the hardware being owned, etc. So I can definitely understand why they are doing this.

We do it from time to time and donate the old hardware to charity. However, even for an unmanaged server, they should migrate the data for you and do it at your convenience.

Matt

mdrussell · Jul 17, 2013

invincible said:
Ask if you can buy it for a nominal price and colo it for the short term?

It's going to be power hungry. You're also suddenly responsible for old hard drives (probably close to or over their MTBF), an older sever in general and if they're decommissioning servers of a similar era - bang go the spares...