What are features you as a client want to see

[SkylarM]

I'm interested in seeing what the community wants to see as an additional value-added service to their VPS. Things like DNS and off-loaded SQL are becoming more and more standard (less so with SQL, but it's popping up more frequently now than in the past). What is a feature you wish more providers offered, or cannot find anywhere on the market right now?

What draws your attention to a provider in this case? Things like KVM vs OpenVZ, the panel they use, IPv6 support, SSD-Cache/SSD VPS,  so on.

 

[tdc-adm]

I like DNS and off-loaded SQL   

 

[bbb]

• Proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. on the site. No fucking typos. No fucking typos.
  
• Make sure your site displays properly in all browsers. As much as I love Patrick, this pisses me off.
• KVM is brilliant, and better than OpenVZ, but make sure that we can install the OS manually over VNC. We like that. Make sure you mention on the site that we can do it.
• Let us send you links to ISOs so you can make them available to us in SolusVM.
• Use SolusVM/WHMCS/whatever else is popular. We're used to it. I actually get kind of annoyed when people write their own because it's seldom as good as the aforementioned alternatives.
• Make sure all of the links on your site work. It's not hard. Check your logs for 404s or whatever.
• Make sure you have the latest OSs available nice and quick. Some hosts still don't have Debian 7 templates and it's fucking annoying.
• Also make sure you have minimal templates if you're going to use them.
• That neat 'Configure Network' button some hosts have in SolusVM is great.
• Consider rewarding people with a temporary discount or something else if they help you out by reporting bugs, etc. It's annoying typing up a big message after discovering some obscure error just to get a 'lol thx', even if we don't really deserve it (an extra 10% off next month's bill is enough to let us know you appreciate it).
• For the love of god, spell your company's name the same way on all pages. Not FlipHost on one and Fliphost.net on another.
• English AUP and ToS. No Google translate. Pay to get it professionally translated or do it yourself. Make sure it makes sense.
• Make it very, very clear if IRC/VPN/BitTorrent/game servers are/aren't allowed in the AUP.
• Consider having a 'quick AUP' that's, like, a really simple fucking table or 'simple English' version. Make sure that the client knows it's just a quickie and not a substitute for the actual AUP, but that it gives you a brief overview of what is/isn't allowed. This is a good idea and I think Secure Dragon (or is it SecureDragon?) did it once and I liked it.
• No WhoisGuard, no all-name-servers-on-the-same-IP.
• Don't try and beguile me with bullshit buzzwords.
• Use a custom template. Don't use the same template as every other summer host (I'm looking at you again, FlipHost).
• Use IRC. Even though everyone just seems to piss about in #lowendbox and #vpsboard, I feel much more comfortable knowing that PatrickINIZ, ispirto, WilliamDotSI, etc. are real people that can be fun to talk to. It's also nice knowing I can /query them if I have a really quick question not worthy of a ticket.
• Have an IRC channel. Bonus points if it's not on your own network (just use freenode).
• Actually listen to feedback.
• Actually listen to feedback and keep to your word. I reported a problem with netelligent's AUP about a year ago and some woman on the support team assured me it would be fixed (and confirmed that it was an actual problem, not just me being an idiot). It never was (they terminate you for hosting IRC servers but don't mention it anywhere). Another example is VPSCorner saying they'd fix the WHOIS issue with their domain -- they never did.
• If it's possible, offer payments in multiple currencies. Not sure about this one but it's nice.
• None of that flying-right-in-your-face support 'come chat with us' shit that BalticServers has where it actually connects you to the chat whether you want to or not.
• It's 'DDoS', not 'DDOS'.
• I don't know about DNS hosting but it would be nice.
• If you offer domain registration, make sure we feel safe knowing you won't fuck off and lose our domains when your summer host inevitably fails.
• No Pony shit (MLP or not). Francisco does it and it's bloody annoying, and one of the offers on this forum has it, too.
• Actually, no cartoon characters or famous people, full stop. It's dumb.
• Transparency. No Linode nonsense.
• Make sure there are no random rDNS records for IPs you hand out. With VPSCorner I once ended up with an IPv4 address with an rDNS record for some kind of SMTP service, and the IPv6 address had something else dumb, too.
• Try not to end up on Hack Forums.
• Have a Twitter. Status updates are great.
• Prizes and competitions aren't necessary but are a fun way to attract attention to yourselves and make sure that people look at you twice. I think it's nice that LoveVPS is doing one. It's just a yearly KVM -- won't cost them much -- but it still makes them look good.

This list isn't so much about features as it is about common mistakes. Probably got more to say but I'm lazy as fug.

Edit: Regarding the WHMCS bit, kro[au]'s panel/billing system is great. I helped test it and he actually listened to feedback. Take note!

 

[Awmusic12635]

• For the love of god, spell your company's name the same way on all pages. Not FlipHost on one and Fliphost.net on another.
• Use a custom template. Don't use the same template as every other summer host (I'm looking at you again, FlipHost).

I Intend to get one made for sure.

While most of my funds have been going back into adding new features and locations etc, I do understand that my website is the first image the customer will have of Fliphost and I indend to make sure it is a good one in the coming months.

 

[SkylarM]

This list isn't so much about features as it is about common mistakes. Probably got more to say but I'm lazy as fug.

You're lazy, yet wrote that. Love it Good points especially the IRC. I've been debating about throwing together an IRC channel that I can provide support in, I just don't want it to be a wasteland of emptyness so haven't done it quite yet.

I like the comment about Transparency. I've always felt honesty is important. It's always amusing seeing a provider selling a 1GB ram service for $3/m and then stating clear as day that they don't oversell at all. Honesty goes a long way when I look for a provider.

@Fliphost I noticed in your client area that the "More" button on the announcement doesn't seem to work using Firefox. Haven't bothered looking in another browser though, the font hurts my eyes ;(

 

[bbb]

• If you don't allow certain things in certain locations, let us know. Make it very, very clear. I'm sure that EDIS prohibits IRC servers in certain locations, but I can't find where it's mentioned on the site.
• Actually look at your site. I'm not a designer, nor am I a critic, but even I could tell you that having a Smurf picture and then a little girl on your homepage is a stupid idea (fucking LetBox -- at least they've fixed it now).
• I can't stress enough how frustrated I get when I can't figure out if you, as a provider, are or aren't okay with something in less than two minutes of opening your site. I should be able to click 'Acceptable Use Policy' at the bottom of the page, read through it, and come away with a good understanding of what's tolerated.
  
• No drama, no shenanigans (see: CC). I doubt anyone that's active in the community will ever trust these guys again because of the nonsense they've pulled.
• NinjaHawk, NerdyVPS, LoliHosting, etc. are not a good company names. Especially that last one (although it's probably more acceptable in Asia). I'm sorry. Make sure your company name isn't awful. There are professional services out there that don't cost very much. They can help you rebrand. If you're not sure if your name/site/etc. is awful, ask someone. If I saw a host with a crap site asking for feedback on vpsBoard I'd be grateful because it means that they care about our opinion. This is another example of when it's a good idea to take feedback on board.
• Obscure-but-not-quite-so-obscure locations such as Romania, Moldova, Estonia are a lot of fun. Not a dealbreaker by any means, but I really do like it when I see hosts with nodes in strange places. EDIS, GetKVM, etc. are great examples (especially EDIS).
• A proper knowledge base is great. RamNode is very good at this. They have guides to optimising your VPS and configuring networking manually. I like this a lot.
• Contacting support for rDNS changes is a pain in the ass.
• Don't make us ask permission to do something like use IRC. That's just dumb (see: CastleGem).
• Regarding feedback, respond to mentions on forums and such. You see that Fliphost made a post regarding my comments above, and that's what I like to see.
• If you're an OVZ provider, consider offering yearly <= 256 MB plans.
• Custom plans are a really, really, really good idea. I love it when I can shave off some memory for a few extra GBs of drive space. It's even better if you let us do it with some fancy sliders on the order form. I'm not talking about extra memory, I'm talking about if I want something with lots of drive space and not much else, I could get it. Even if I have to e-mail you, it's still great.
• Make it clear what vSwap/etc. is on the site. Maybe have a mouse-over pop-up for most of the terminology. Once again, no buzzwords.
• It's nice to HTTPS on _every_ page of the site, even the home page, although it's not necessary. No self-signed, ever.
• Use the same terminology on each page. Don't call it Swap on one and vSwap on another if you're talking about the exact same thing.

I'm enjoying this!

Edit: IPv6. Who the heck doesn't have IPv6 these days? State if it's not native.

 

[Awmusic12635]

@Fliphost I noticed in your client area that the "More" button on the announcement doesn't seem to work using Firefox. Haven't bothered looking in another browser though, the font hurts my eyes ;(

Are you referring to the annoucements in whmcs?

Regarding feedback, respond to mentions on forums and such. You see that Fliphost made a post regarding my comments above, and that's what I like to see.

I try to stay active

You are certainly coming up with a lot of good and interesting ideas. Some I haven't thought of and will put on my list to work on.

Thanks

 

[SkylarM]

Are you referring to the annoucements in whmcs?

Yessir.

On a related note, IPv6 support for customers is coming this week or next.

 

[staticsafe]

Full IPv6 support, by this I mean:

• Native IPv6, no tunnel bullshit that some providers do. Seriously, providing HE tunnels to paying customers is not cool.
• Give me a /64 (I realize this isn't possible with SolusVM...)
• Let me set the PTR(s) or let me delegate the PTR zone to my own nameservers
• Don't treat IPv6 as a second class citizen, a problem with IPv6 is a problem with your network.

 

[Awmusic12635]

Yessir.

Alright I see the issue now. Must have happened one day I was editing some of the template files.

I belive it is just a missing tag.

Thanks I will that right up.

 

[Aldryic C'boas]

[*]No Pony shit (MLP or not). Francisco does it and it's bloody annoying, and one of the offers on this forum has it, too.


Sorry to hear you don't like our antics Love your list though - adding this to my notebook for future reference.

 

[SkylarM]

Decided to make a change to our TOS, something I've been considering for a while:

Usage and Overages

Crissic Solutions, LLC does not charge for bandwidth overages. If a client goes over their allocated bandwidth, the service will be port limited until the beginning of the next pay period at a rate of 10Mbps. Customers may contact sales to purchase additional bandwidth at the rate of $2.50/TB as a monthly addon or at a one time fee for the current pay period.

 

[bbb]

 

[bbb]

Decided to make a change to our TOS, something I've been considering for a while:

See? That's good. It's simple and makes sense, and now nobody will ever be confused about what happens if they go over their allocated limits. This is how it should always be!

 

[SeriesN]

NinjaHawk, NerdyVPS, LoliHosting, etc. are not a good company names. Especially that last one (although it's probably more acceptable in Asia). I'm sorry. Make sure your company name isn't awful. There are professional services out there that don't cost very much. They can help you rebrand. If you're not sure if your name/site/etc. is awful, ask someone. If I saw a host with a crap site asking for feedback on vpsBoard I'd be grateful because it means that they care about our opinion. This is another example of when it's a good idea to take feedback on board.

bbb, I beg to differ. How is Ninja Hawk not a good name? I have asked you the same on your other post and you have ignored it.

No Pony shit (MLP or not). Francisco does it and it's bloody annoying, and one of the offers on this forum has it, too.

If you fail to see the humor and want to constantly attack our business and business ethics without being a customer, I have no words for you. It is just sad. That is all I am going to say.

 

[SkylarM]

bbb, I beg to differ. How is Ninja Hawk not a good name? I have asked you the same on your other post and you have ignored it.


If you fail to see the humor and want to constantly attack our business and business ethics without being a customer, I have no words for you. It is just sad. That is all I am going to say.

Yeah NinjaHawk is a pretty bad name. Personally I feel like PinkPrincessWarriors would be a better name.

Kidding of course. NinjaHawk is better than the companies that put vm, vps, etc in their name. Not a huge fan of that. Some can pull it off, but it just feels so unoriginal

 

[bbb]

bbb, I beg to differ. How is Ninja Hawk not a good name? I have asked you the same on your other post and you have ignored it.

It comes off as childish. This is my opinion and you're entitled to disagree with me. I assumed you were a child like Robert Clarke at first, simply because of the name. I've seen worse (the last example), but I still think it's better suited for an Xbox Live clan or something rather than a company I'd trust with my data.

I'm not overly fond of people using word like panther or dragon in a company name. Secure Dragon does it, but I think they pull it off quite well.

Your logo looks like it belongs on a cereal box.

BigScoots is another crappy one I've just thought of, although it is pretty hilarious.

 

[Aldryic C'boas]

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It just seems incredibly unprofessional. I'm not fond of your Cartmanland-esque 'we're always out of stock' stuff, either. Also, your ToS pretty bad.


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I've never actually used your services though so I can't comment on much else.

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Well, we know it's not for everyone, but we do prefer to be a host that people can easily relate with. Jarland put it best.. I don't remember his exact quote, but it was along the lines of wanting to talk to a provider on a first name basis and know you could relax with them, rather than just 'talking to a suit and tie'.


Well, the 'out of stock' is done out of necessity. Either we know that orders would have to wait unreasonably long to be setup (holidays/etc), or the stock legitimately isn't there. We absolutely refuse to overprovision the nodes.. so when something's sold out, it's sold out. We're not gonna cram 80 2Gs on a node just to make a buck


What do you find unappealing about the TOS?

 

[Francisco]

Ours isn't bro'ny crap

Ours is FMP good sir!

Fran

 

[bbb]