The Jif website is running much faster on the new server. The PHP scripts controlling the Grind content and the headlines in the right hand bar are running instantly, and there’s no longer a wait for the whole page to draw. Excellent.
I did have a few problems with the transfer, but I fixed most of the bugs myself, and solved a particularly wierd one with the help of the HostOne support staff. They’ve been very good, and very quick at responding to my emails.
I closed the Jif Fasthosts account, and they rang to find out why. I pointed out that their PHP services are absolutely awful. The speed thing was not the only problem – they also will not allow the use of image manipulation tools like imagemagick or netbpm, making running a PHP based gallery impossible. I wonder what else you can’t do? I didn’t want to stick around to find out.
Interestingly the Cardiff Triathlete’s website’s PHP managed news page seems to be loading more quickly now (also on Fasthosts)… Coincidence? It doesn’t make any difference. I will also be moving the Tri website to HostOne because the PHP script I want to use for running polls will not run on the Fasthosts’ server, but will run on the HostOne server. Now why the hell should that be?
