Network Solutions nsHosting Shared Can't Handle Joomla?

The Back Story

For the past couple weeks I've been struggling with Network Solutions (NetSol) and the nsHosting package for several database driven websites. According to NetSol the problem is MySql latency. They said I had incorrectly configured Joomla to use the IP rather than the internal server name they supply. Ok mea culpa. But hold on a minute as I look through the MySql database administration of the control panel what do I see? A helpful little tip staring back at me and I quote, "You will get the best performance from your database if you use the "Server IP" in your scripts and code that calls it." Hmm, me thinks the left hand knowest not what the right hand doeth. So I shoot off a request for clarification and the answer is: Use the internal NetSol Server Alias.

Not a problem it's one line in a configuration file. Still no change in load times.

BTW: They, Network Solutions, still haven't corrected the Control Panel Screen tip I mentioned but the ticket is resolved.

The Plot Thickens

So I shoot off another request asking about this issue and they suggest I move a relatively small Joomla site to their Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting package. Peachy, $40.00/mo compared to $11.95/mo. I might have even gone for that had it not been for one small thing. I've got a number of Joomla sites running on several different hosts and none of them exhibit the level of slowness I'm seeing on NetSol. But I'll give NetSol the benefit of the doubt and just migrate one of the sites from them to another host and see if it's just the site. Could be Template design, plugins, components etc... are slowing the "Bloated" CMS down.

A Slow Boat to Network Solutions

So I pick the smallest, traffic wise, of the sites and move it to DreamHost. I picked DreamHost since I run a rather large Joomla site for the local Red Cross Chapter on DreamHost and have no latency issues. I'm not running their VPS package either. Comparatively the DreamHost and NetSol packages stack up pretty much the same on paper, though DreamHost is cheaper and offers more for the money. But that's a separate issue.

Backup/Export the database, backup the site, import the data, upload the site. Edit the configuration file and Eureka!! No, latency problems here on DreamHost. Seems to me that something else is at work here. Seems fishy that the only suggested work-around is VPS, a much more expensive solution. They're tricksie these little hobbits.

I've now moved three of the four sites we had on NetSol to DreamHost and I'm migrating the last this weekend, if I can get NetSol's backup/export to work.

Customer Service Tickets

1-479339492

details  08/19/2010 20:56  08/20/2010 04:55  [Category]:Web Hosting
[IP Address]:74.93.20.89

[Description]:Re: Service Request 1-478500464. The slow response of your mysql servers is adversely affecting our site. Your tech mentioned the change from IP to the server alias in our configuration of Joomla but that has had no effect. I have similar sites on other hosts without this speed issue. I'm reluctant to move one of our other sites to NS unless or until this issue can be resolved. John Wm. Wicks - Web Developer ph: [xxxxx]Jw

[08/20/2010 04:55:01] Service Request has been resolved  Resolved

close   Support Request Details  
Submitted  By  Notes  Status

08/20/2010 04:51 Network Solutions Personnel Dear [XXXX]jw, I am sorry to hear that your website is running slowly. If you are using a large or complex/bloated CMS system (such as Joomla, Drupal, etc) and are experiencing slow load times, your website may be too robust for nsHosting Shared. I do see that you are on one of our newest and fastest MySQL servers. If the load times are not ideal for you, we offer nsHosting VPS. On nsHosting VPS, you have 512MB of RAM dedicated to running your website versus the 16MB we allocate per user for PHP on the nsHosting Shared environment, or the 40MB you currently have your site set to. I hope that this has resolved your request, and I apologize for any delays or inconvenience caused by this issue. If you have any other questions about this issue, please contact our Support Center and refer to Service Request 1-479339492 and a specialist will be happy to further assist you and ensure that we completely resolve your issue as quickly as possible. Thank You, [XXX]jw Technical Services Network Solutions US/Can: 1.866.391.4357 International: 1.570.708.8788

1-480092974

details  08/25/2010 19:35  08/26/2010 07:13  [Category]:Web Hosting
[IP Address]:67.174.47.44

[Description]:Please check Tip that appears above the MySQL/Database Tool box it reads: You will get the best performance from your database if you use the "Server IP" in your scripts and code that calls it. However in a recent CSR your techs say to use the Server Alias to avoid/mitigate MySQL latency. So which is it?

[08/26/2010 07:13:41] Service Request has been resolved  Resolved

close   Support Request Details  
Submitted  By  Notes  Status

08/26/2010 07:07 Network Solutions Personnel Dear [XXX]jw, I apologize for any inconvenience. Make sure you are using the local network name for the MySQL database instead of the IP address. If you are using the MySQL IP address the script may go out to the Internet, then back in the network to perform queries (which produces more latency, and possibly Internal Server Errors or Time out errors). The internal network name looks something like "mysqlv1" and can be found in the networksolutions.com database manager after logging in. If you have any other questions about this issue, please contact our Support Center and refer to Service Request 1-480092974 and a specialist will be happy to further assist you and ensure that we completely resolve your issue as quickly as possible. Thank You, [xxx]jw Technical Services Network Solutions US/Can: 1.866.391.4357 International: 1.570.708.8788 Done