New clients and those of 24 months or more can receive a FREE $100 'Google AdWords' gift card!

You read right! We’re rewarding new AND loyal clients with our awesome new program!

Here at PhireFast we understand how important growth and online presence are. So, with Google‘s cooperation, we are offering $100 credit toward Google’s AdWords. More than just Search Engine Marketing, AdWords is a great way to create, deploy and manage successful internet advertisements of all kinds!

Eligibility:
You are eligible for one free Google AdWords Gift Card (as pictured above) if you:

• Sign up with PhireFast any time after this announcement
• Have hosted with PhireFast for 24 consecutive months or more

If you meet either of the criteria above, please submit a Support Request in your Client Portal with your request.

Terms:

• Only Google AdWords accounts created in the last 14 days may redeem gift cards, as set forth by Google
• Fulfillment may take up to 21 days if supplies run low (as of this entry supplies are plentiful and will be fulfilled within 24 hours)

More information about Google AdWords can be found here.

PS: We’d love to hear what you have to say about this, so comment below!

Per our server provider’s decision, Lambda’s main IP address was null-routed/terminated, and all DNS entries on that server were converted to accommodate its new main IP address, 174.136.62.3

This server is currently experiencing an issue where some webistes are being redirected to the default cPanel page. We are investigating this right now and it is our top priority.

If you host your DNS at PhireFast:
We have already updated your DNS entries and if your site is not already back to normal, it should be soon, pending DNS propagation.

If you host your DNS elsewhere:
You must update any affected records by updating to 174.136.62.3

Please create a Support Request if you have any questions or comments. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Unfortunately the internet is the modern Wild West. We cannot control who attacks our network, how powerful the attack is, or when it happens. We can only make quick decisions and take aggressive action as thee events occur and try to prevent them in the future.

Thank you for hosting with PhireFast.

- Mark Mutti
Founder/Owner

The new service is built on our 100% uptime-guaranteed platform and features SHOUTcast and Icecast DNAS (Distributed Network Audio Servers) audio streaming professionals are sure to enjoy! Each of our current packages feature a gorgeous Stream Control Panel and full reign over your audio streams. From on-demand content, to title info, request forms and statistics, the Panel has everything you need to succeed in the world of streaming!

Uptime graph for our newest Streaming Server, "Thunder"

Try it for FREE

So here’s the deal. We have a limit of 10 packages available that will let you try out our 25-slot 128kbps streaming package free for 30 days. After that, it’s just $18/mo. Cancel any time with no obligation.
1) Click here to enter our Checkout process with the special package
2) Use the promo code crystalclear at checkout

That’s it! We’ll email you your new log in information so you can start broadcasting your message to the world!

Thank you for taking the time to read our big announcement! We are VERY excited to fuse our passion for audio and music with hosting and servers!

(Oh, and be sure to follow PhireFast on Twitter for important updates)

*Offer applies to new clients only

Just like .com, .net and many other domain extensions, .xxx would serve as a TLD for domain names if passed by ICANN, the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

I last wrote about this matter when the TLD was first being discussed. Back then, an array of concerns swarmed our inbox and blog alike. Readers seemed to judge the blog entry simply by its title, without learning about the logic (and controversy) behind the subject, or PhireFast’s stance on the matter. I encourage you to continue reading, and to research the subject yourself as well. Educated people can help shape a better internet!

PROs: An Organized Internet & The Potential for Safe Browsing

There are some enourmous benefits when it comes to this matter, and each one has the potential to change the internet as we know it.

Many of you reading this are website owners or webmasters who have no doubt noticed the congestion behind the .com TLD. A .xxx shift would mean less .com congestion, and an array of new opportunities for internet capitalists.

A topic I’ve been asked about many times over the years is safe browsing. Though we are a web hosting and domain provider, we are concerned with internet-related matters and are happy to provide some advice when it comes to keeping folks safe on the web. Traditionally, we’ve recommended K9 Web Protection – a free web filter updated and maintained by a passionate non-profit organization.

Surprisingly, safe browsing is one thing that would thrive as a result of the .xxx TLD. If the proposed regulation passed, all the adult content on the web would be regulated and organized under one single TLD. The accuracy behind web filters would increase dramatically, maybe even by 100 times. It could keep your kids (or employees) safe and out of online trouble at the end of the day.

CONs: Freedom of Speech & A Free Internet

While reading the last two paragraphs you may have realized that a mandated shift to the .xxx TLD could violate multiple Freedom of Speech laws and various amendments. And you have here the controversy behind the TLD. Lets also shed light on the fact that companies which own thousands of adult-related domain names would be forced to invest tens of thousands more dollars in relocating their pieces of e-property.

When the TLD was first thought up, it was bundled together with the concept of regulating adult websites to that very TLD. As a result, what would otherwise be a simple, good idea, is being delayed because of the very regulation it’s become associated with.

From my understanding, ICANN has two decisions to make: a) Whether the TLD will become available for public registration, and b) if websites with adult content will be forced to relocate to the .xxx TLD.

PhireFast and .xxx Domains

PhireFast has strict policies when it comes to adult content. We simply don’t allow it on our network. As a result we have no plans to add the .xxx TLD to our arsenal of domain choices, though we are prepared to recommend domain registrars which will offer the TLD when it is available for registration.

A Little About ICANN & Their Pending Decision

Founded in 1998, ICANN is a non-profit organization appointed by various governments, including the US Government, to regulate the man-power behind various TLDs, including the globally popular .com.

As an internet enthusiast, I will keep you posted as news regarding this subject develops. Just keep an eye on the comments area on this entry if you’re interested!

Resources

Google News search for “ICANN xxx”

New clients will be able to use the coupon code social at checkout to receive the discounted rate, November 29th through December 13th 2010! The discount will apply to your new account for its lifetime.

Make sure to friend PhireFast on Facebook and Twitter for future offers!

“I don’t know of any host that provides sufficient anti-spam” said Geof G., client of 3 years and IT consultant. And with some innovation and a lot of hard work, our hopes are to once again show the industry how it’s done!

Current clients: What you need to know

Our Spam Burner has been installed on each server and is currently collecting data and learning how you use our email service. It may take up to a week for the new platform to reach its optimum level of effectiveness, so you may see a few pieces of spam get through in the mean time. Please keep reading…

Your spam control center

Log in to your PhireFast cPanel and you will see a new link named “SPAM” in your mail area. You can easily control what comes through and what gets blocked manually if you’d like, though the system is very wise by default. If certain spam keeps getting through, or legitimate emails are being blocked, visit this area for a quick solution!

Questions? We’re here 24/7

Should any questions or problems arise, we are reachable via your Client Portal any time you need us!

Now here’s a new video series from our friends over at Cisco. While the series may be silly, it emphasizes on a serious and important situation: the world is running out of IP addresses, which the vitality of the internet lay solely in the hands of.

HINT: Click one of the options at the end of the video for a clever ending!

Sony and Cisco were amongst the first to offer native IPv6 support when they began to integrate it in to their equipment in 2001, getting a head start on the technology, which will soon be standard.

A traditional IP address looks like:
192.168.1.1

While an IPv6 address can look like this:
3ffe:1900:4545:3:200:f8ff:fe21:67cf

As you can see, the new form can accommodate many more possible combinations.

Stay tuned for future blog entries about IPv6.

More information about IPv6 appearances

I’ve briefly outlined a few of PhireFast’s unique qualities. We use each one of these to create a quality-oriented and affordable hosting environment for you!

History

PhireFast has been providing hosting and domains since 2004. We are NOT a fly-by-night organization, nor are we new to the industry. Your data is in experienced, confident hands.

WHOIS lookup for phirefast.com - registration date: July 7th 2004

Entirely in the United States.

PhireFast is licensed to do business in the United States, every single one of our vendors is United States-based, and so on.

Uptime guarantee

We guarantee 100% uptime with our solid refund policy, where we refund 50% of your hosting dues for each hour of downtime that occurs. Two hours of downtime in a month, and your hosting bill’s on us!

LIVE uptime graph for our Lambda server

No reselling

We have direct relationships with our server vendors, domain providers, and more. We manage our servers and network ourselves for the highest level of quality control possible.

Robust Network

Your data blasts across our premium Cogent bandwidth, with multiple failover connections. Each hosting server features highly-available 100mbps uplinks to the web. We run our network at about 10% capacity, on average, leaving plenty of room for unusually busy hours.

Bandwidth usage graph for June 2010, displaying 10% average network usage. (Click for full size.)

True 24/7 support

Our helpdesk is manned by 3 people who take shifts of 8 hours each. 2am? 4am? No problem.

A staff reply to a recent early-morning Support Request. (Click for full size.)

We guard your data like there’s no tomorrow

We understand your data is precious, and often irreplaceable, so we have a serious backup system from R1Soft. Put simply, any of our hosting servers could completely fry and your data would be restored and back online in 1-2 hours. We backup your data every 4 hours – 12, 4 and 8 am and pm Pacific Time. Most other hosts tell you it’s your responsibility to backup your data, but we like to take care of our clients.

Your Backup Control Panel - included with each PhireFast hosting account.

Our packages are affordable

Our premier hosting package costs a meager $6.95/mo., with discounts for annual prepayment. It includes a domain name and everything you need to get up-and-running on the web.

No silly fees

What you see is what you pay. If you sign up for our $6.95/mo. package, we will charge you $6.95/mo. for life.* It is not possible to incur overage fees with us.

*PhireFast will charge a 15% late fee on invoices overdue past 3 days.

Overview

Wikipedia defines Uptime as a measure of the time a computer system has been “up” and running, but did you know there are different kinds of uptime? Did you know that many web hosts use this common lack of knowledge against you?

Types of Uptime

• Network lifetime: This is the type of uptime many hosts use to incorporate loopholes in to their advertisements and guarantees. Based on this measurement, a network can have 9 hours of downtime each year and still fulfill an advertised 99.9% guarantee! How would you feel if your site was down for 9 hours every year?!
• Set time frame: Most commonly measured annually, monthly, weekly or daily, this is the method we use in our uptime guarantee to assure a set, recorded number each month.
• Rolling period of time: This type of measurement is counted from the last X amount of days, usually the last 30, and is a constant measurement – never ending.

A live-updating uptime graph for our beloved "lambda" server

We use Pingdom

PhireFast uses and recommends a great, paid service called Pingdom. Their global network of monitoring servers measures and reports on each of our hosting servers. If you are interested in a constantly-updated uptime graph for the server your site is on, let us know!

When shopping for hosting

Find out if the host clearly defines the type of uptime their guarantees are based on. Do they back-up their advertised features in their Service Level Agreement? We do.

For the “techies”: Finding uptime

Windows
How: From command prompt, run systeminfo | find “Time:”
Example output: “System Up Time: 8 Days, 8 Hours, 30 Minutes, 17 Seconds

Unix/Apple OS
How: From a terminal session, run uptime
Example output (taken from PhireFast’s very own “lambda” server): 22:51:47 up 34 days,  6:39,  1 user,  load average: 4.51, 4.04, 4.21