I just want to give you all a heads up if you happen to notice that env! is down for a bit, this is probably why.  Hostgator has been head and shoulders above my last host in keeping me informed as well as in general reliability.  I can’t recommend them highly enough!

Here’s the email I received:

***

Dear HostGator Client,

We will be performing scheduled maintenance on your server on November 24th @ 10:00 PM CST. During this time we will be upgrading our Apache web server to version 2.2.10 (from 1.3.4x). We will also be upgrading the operating system from CentOS 4.7 to CentOS 5.2.

This upgrade will allow us to provide you with a higher level of performance and security. During the upgrade we will also be installing a new set of mod_security rules which will add to the overall protection our clients websites. We will also be upgrading our firewall software which help deflect distributed denial of service attacks and ensure that your sites are kept functioning at optimal levels.

The server will stay online during this time however while the Apache service is recompiled your websites and your client websites will be unavailable for an estimated 30-45 minutes. During this time an unbranded, generic “Under Maintenance” page will be displayed instead of your normal content.

We have more information located on our forums here:

http://forums.hostgator.com/reseller-apache-2-migration-schedule-t41308.html?p=148175

Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you require assistance or further clarification please contact us via forums, live chat or a support ticket.

Thank you,

HostGator Support

***

Boring, I know, but I’m just happy to have received any notice at all that maintenance was going to be performed and that my site my be down temporarily because of it.  Moving to Hostgator = the best hosting choice I’ve ever made!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

environmentastic!’s webhost recently went green!

Yes, I’m a little ashamed to admit that environmentastic! was not hosted originally on a green webhost, and even when we switched to Hostgator (for service and reliability reasons – don’t EVER use e3 servers to host your webpage!), they were not green.

The reason (not an excuse, a reason) was that I needed a reseller hosting account, as I host and run several websites for my wife and myself, and also a couple for friends and our neighborhood organization.  Once I had decided on Hostgator, I set it up and really haven’t been back to their site.  Their service and reliability is so good that I haven’t had a need to!

That said, an e-friend just switched hosting companies and moved to Hostgator.  Lisa at My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings was having trouble with her old host and switched.  She mentioned that Hostgator offset 130% of their energy usage for servers and cooling (yes, MORE than their actual usage, and for server cooling, too!) by purchasing RECs (renewable energy credits).  Essentially, an REC is a way for a company or individual to purchase energy from renewable sources (like wind), even if it is not available directly to them at their location.  In other words, the energy Hostgator is buying doesn’t necessarily power their servers and a/c, but it is produced and fed into the power grid, where it commingles and is used just like any other energy.  The great thing about an REC is that, once purchased by one person or company, that energy cannot be purchased by another.  It’s not diluted by selling the same energy to multiple people, each believing they’re getting the full use of that power once it has been generated.

So now that environmentastic! is officially hosted green, I’ve decided that I will sell hosting! “environmentastic! green hosting” has a nice little ring to it, I think!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley