Will F2S mySQL ever get updated?

[PaulBM]

Looking at the F2S mysql servers, we're still stuck with MySQL 3.23.58!

Is there any chance we'll get brought up to date? I'd really like to be able to take advantage of some of the newer functions in mySQL.

While they're about it PHP 5 would be nice too.

Actually, I'm getting to the point of looking elsewhere for my hosting. The database limit is too small and the cost of upping it to 50mb is mad and it's not an option for our free sites.
Plus with Pipex taking over, I fear we'll all lose our websites and DB's in the end anyway, they don't offer any of their other customers free hosting as far as I know.

Does anyone have any recommendations for hosting, with up to date PHP and mySQL?

[wicksee]

I asked the same question months ago. My purely uneducated guess as to the answer would be "NO!".

I'd also add to your list of woes the recent db reliability issues (i.e. the total lack of).

If your db (or your email for that matter!) is critical to you, my solemn recommendation would be to move as far away from F2S servers as you can possibly get!

[aos101]

I agree they really need to update it. I think they are meant to be changing to new webservers sometime, but I don't know when. I don't know if that will include the MySQL database server though.

I posted before mentioning that MySQL 3.23.58 will only be supported up to the end of the year, then security updates won't be released for it, so F2S really need to upgrade it.

[acidtechno]

Maybe if enough people whine at them they'll upgrade it,

on the other hand they might get really annoyed and take it away altogether

it's a freebie after all

unless you pay for a hosting package.

[kazap]

can it really be that hard for them to upgrade?? And its all free so not sure what the fuss is. Presumably they just run an update proggy on the server, but I guess its more complicated - it must be else why havent the done it!!

tbh i had to go elsewhere as I needed some new features, but even my new host (uk2.net) is being rubbish at upgrading, Id really like to use sub-queries and procs but they are one version behind on mySQL and again seem very reluctant to upgrade - I dont get it :S

[btakb]

Originally Posted by acidtechno

Maybe if enough people whine at them they'll upgrade it,

on the other hand they might get really annoyed and take it away altogether

it's a freebie after all

unless you pay for a hosting package.

I know where you're coming from but that kind of depends on your definition of a freebie. According to the F2S FAQ on ADSL (under "what else is included with the service")

"You get a static IP address, 200 megabytes of webspace, a f2s.com domain name, 20 email accounts and 10 megabytes of database space."

That doesn't make it a freebie, that makes it part of what you and I have paid for, and what F2S contracted to supply when we signed up to the package.

Of course, I agree with you that they could take it away and really upset some of their customers - but they would not be taking away something that was 'free'.

[acidtechno]

when I've not heard of another ISP providing a database of any size as part of their internet service package, then I see it more as a freebie really. Something out of the ordinary that we are lucky to have, ok so there's been problems lately, but a lot of f2s customers have put it to great use.

Of course, there are hosting companies that provide cheap deals that include database features so it's easy to get better than the included f2s stuff if you are prepared to pay a bit more.

Originally Posted by acidtechno

I see it more as a freebie really

Time to think outside your personal box.

As stated above the database is a paid-for part of the broadband package - if you don't use it that is your choice.

More importantly, it is also a paid-for (and often crucial) part of any F2S webhosting package.

I pay for several such webhosting packages personally.

The businesses whose websites I look after pay for several more.

All will have lost money last week when their databases were down for 3 days out of 7 without explanation or apology.

Originally Posted by aos101

MySQL 3.23.58 will only be supported up to the end of the year, then security updates won't be released for it, so F2S really need to upgrade it.

Nicely on-topic. But can F2S make a newer version work?

Originally Posted by wicksee

If your db (or your email for that matter!) is critical to you, my solemn recommendation would be to move as far away from F2S servers as you can possibly get!

That quote should be on the front of the current F2S site.

[aubs]

the database space was one of the reasons I originally signed up with f2s

[acidtechno]

at the end of the day it is still an extra feature that normally most other ISPs don't provide as part of a broadband package.

My comments on it here were solely related to it being a feature you get with your broadband package, not about it's stability or related to paid for web hosting.

Obviously you should expect the highest standards with latest version and best stability with paid for hosting, but when it comes to it being a feature of a broadband package, I don't expect on same level, so an outdated database is better than no database, and if you want the latest and greatest, then it's best to find a company elsewhere which is more dedicated to providing a better service to the customer. There are plenty of companies who appear to offer better packages than F2S for what you pay. And probably better support too.

Originally Posted by acidtechno

an extra feature that normally most other ISPs don't provide

...and the one that made F2S popular in the first place.