I’ve done web development stuff for quite a while now, and I’ve been through several hosting providers. Some provided root access, some provided “nicer” linux distros (read: ubuntu), others provided cheaper solutions with less control. I’ve been pleased with some, disappointed in others, and tolerated many for longer than I should have. I’m often called upon to recommend a hosting service, and it usually ends up being a discussion about features vs cost. However when I’m the one who will be doing dev or deployment work, I tend to push whichever host is my favorite at the moment, simply because I know exactly what to expect (and likely I’m hosting various sites with them already). For a few months now, that has been linode. And I honestly can’t see that changing in the near future.
They provide root access to a good selection of linux distributions, and they also have a neat console-over-web access feature that’s great for emergencies. They do cost a little bit more than comparable providers (starting at around $19/mo I believe), but that comes with a good chunk of disk space and bandwidth. Their servers are snappy, and since I originally signed up I’ve experienced zero down time.
The image here has a link to their site, and yes it contains a referral tag. But I don’t get any money, just credit on my personal account (on which this blog is hosted), and only if the signee sticks with the service for three months. So trust me, there is no financial motive here.
Linode, keep up the good work.
Cheerz.