Terms of Service: Not allowed files over 150mb!

[akreider2]

Is this Terms of Service new? It makes no sense to me. For starters, cPanel or other backup software is already generating files over 150 mb (acccess log files, automatic backups).

Am I not allowed to have a file larger than 150 mb?
Or is this just a case of it being worded very badly?
Is Jaguar really just trying to limit the use of disk space?

Do large files really cause file system corruption? I'd expect that they are better than having lots of small files.

Are we not allowed to store backups of our own account on the same account? (eg the big tar.gz file that cpanel will create for you)


From the TOS:
"You may not use your shared or semi-dedicated accounts for file storage of other accounts, backups, storing backups of dvd's, mp3's, or any files larger than 150MB. Large and plentiful files used in this manner on an active system can cause file system corruption and lead to not just your own data loss but that of others."

[the_ancient]

Is this Terms of Service new? It makes no sense to me. For starters, cPanel or other backup software is already generating files over 150 mb (acccess log files, automatic backups).

Am I not allowed to have a file larger than 150 mb?
Or is this just a case of it being worded very badly?
Is Jaguar really just trying to limit the use of disk space?

Do large files really cause file system corruption? I'd expect that they are better than having lots of small files.

Are we not allowed to store backups of our own account on the same account? (eg the big tar.gz file that cpanel will create for you)


From the TOS:
"You may not use your shared or semi-dedicated accounts for file storage of other accounts, backups, storing backups of dvd's, mp3's, or any files larger than 150MB. Large and plentiful files used in this manner on an active system can cause file system corruption and lead to not just your own data loss but that of others."

[not a JPC Employee, this is not an offical response]
The Shared and Semi-Dedicated plans are for Web Hosting, not as Cloud Storage or other services, so no you should not be allowed to store large files, dvd's or other items. Nothing is Unlimited, ad the "Endless" Disk space is not really endless, they will just allow you to host very large web sites, but no operate a backup service or cloud storage or CDN from your shared account

There is a reason S3, CloudFiles, and other CDN's all charge per GB stored not "$10 a mo you can store your entire DVD collection"

[akreider2]

I think they need to reword it to say they don't want you to backup (non-account) related things on your account.

I do regular database dumps and have some access and log files that can hit 100mb-1gb. I also have plans to use GIS shapefiles - and they can get big.

I think it makes more sense to limit file space. Promising unlimited disk space is a silly advertising gimmick which Jaguar doesn't really mean to fulfill. It'd be great if web hosts could get away with telling the truth about shared hosting (the more people you pile on a server, the slower it is, and the fact that almost everyone is overselling).

If there is a file size limit, it should be larger for semi-dedicated accounts. We pay 3-5 times more.

[the_ancient]

I think they need to reword it to say they don't want you to backup (non-account) related things on your account.

I do regular database dumps and have some access and log files that can hit 100mb-1gb. I also have plans to use GIS shapefiles - and they can get big.

I think it makes more sense to limit file space. Promising unlimited disk space is a silly advertising gimmick which Jaguar doesn't really mean to fulfill. It'd be great if web hosts could get away with telling the truth about shared hosting (the more people you pile on a server, the slower it is, and the fact that almost everyone is overselling).

If there is a file size limit, it should be larger for semi-dedicated accounts. We pay 3-5 times more.

You get no arguments from me on that, Greg and I have gone round and round on those issues, but the sad fact is it is "keep up with the jones" and if every other budget host is advertising unlimited everything you will have to also....

This goes far far beyond Shared Hosting, ISP do it, Bus Companies do it, At some point there will probably have to be either be case law or a government regulation to actually define unlimited as unlimited, then all of these gimmicks will go away. as no one in the world can truly give you unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage, unlimited bus rides, unlimited [insert product here] for a fixed rate. Not mathematically possible

As to the Larger File Size, I have a Feeling this is a "Soft" limit meant to be used as a tool to banish abusers , and it probably is not applied in a strict manner, as there are video hosting services, GIS and other legit items that may want to be stored at a large file size (as a side not you should not be storing DB backups on your Web account, GET THEM OFF THE SERVER, as they are no good to you, the db server is on the same file system that your storing the backup to, big no no... ) but your not paying more for more storage, disks are cheap, your paying for more processing power, and a lower server load.

[Ron]

I also keep the most recent db backup online in my space, and compressed it is somewhat over that limit. I don't think they'll toss me for it, but if they object I imagine they'd warn me first. ;-)

[Gwaihir]

I've also debated this stuff with Greg, as I have no use for "endless diskspace" but I do use some of the space in my account to story a copy of important files. Some of what he answered started with "confidentially" so you'd have to bother him if you want details. Let's just say it's quite negotiable, as long as you agree to stay in your original diskspace allowance (25 GB?) and don't touch that "more space" button.

as a side not you should not be storing DB backups on your Web account, GET THEM OFF THE SERVER, as they are no good to you, the db server is on the same file system that your storing the backup to, big no no...

There are plenty other ways of corrupting a database than the file storage crapping out - which isn't too likely with these RAID protected systems. Off site is better, sure, but on the system is certainly not useless.

[JPC-NickO]

Hi,

I believe the intent of the TOS is to ensure that we are able to provide endless disk-space for hosting web-sites. The 150mb file limit is most often used to have clients remove content that they have no right to distribute (movies, warez) and backups. The idea behind unlimited hosting is for you to be able to grow your website without worrying about hitting disk space limits. Large files also make backups and restores take much longer than they need to which impacts all the clients on the server.

We disallow storing backups on the server because if there is an outage you won't be able to get to them anyway. We don't have any problems with taking large backups as long as they are removed from the server within a reasonable time period.

If you feel your site violates the letter of the TOS but not the reasons behind it please feel free to open a ticket with us and we can see about working something out.

Edit: I'd like to add that we don't cancel accounts for disk usage issues. We simply open a ticket with the client and ask them to correct the problem. I've never seen a client terminated or cancel themselves over this policy.

[the_ancient]

There are plenty other ways of corrupting a database than the file storage crapping out - which isn't too likely with these RAID protected systems. Off site is better, sure, but on the system is certainly not useless.

Sure, But 99% of the complaints on this forum is when the box goes dark, for that it is useless.

The point of a backup is to protect you form failures AND data corruption, so storing a backup that does not do 100% of the job is worthless IMO

[Ron]

What makes you think that backup is stored ONLY on the server?
Personally, I dump the db and backup my space (including the db dump) elsewhere.

Anyway.....