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The provider we use for the LAX server is having trouble with the host node.  They are forcing us to recreate another VM on a different node without letting us move the storage over.

After a few attempts at getting another one created, they appear to have taken down the running LAX server again.

Hopefully they are able to bring it back online so we can do a proper migration from the old VM.  This provider is getting on my last nerve.

We are no longer accepting new clients into the FreePgs service.

All future plans for setting up new servers have been cancelled.

Existing accounts will not be removed at this time, but further discussion will need to take place to determine how this will continue.

We are going to start work on replacing all Plesk servers with cPanel/CloudLinux servers in an effort to standardize our offering and provide greater performance.

We will likely start with our EU region clients since the provider we are using has had a few problems over the past week.

Old Setup:
Plesk 11.5 over CentOS 6.6

New Setup:
cPanel (Latest) over CloudLinux

Benefits:
-We can limit the amount of memory, CPU, disk I/O on a per-client basis, which will keep your site running fast (by keeping abusers or hacked sites from using all of the available resources).
-Better functionality of PHP version selector, this setup lets you pick the modules you wish to enable/disable on a per-account basis!
-Alternative PHP versions are also correct when you SSH or run via cron, unlike the way it works with Plesk (you simply call it via "php" and you will get the correct version your site uses).
-Ability to limit outbound emails per account instead of having to disable email functions after we get blacklisted.
-Ability to select from more PHP versions than we can offer on Plesk, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 for example.
-Automated system updates including PHP version updates (about 1 week delayed) without manual intervention from us.

These functions are already available on our NYC server.  If this is your closest server, you might want to request migration and see if it offers any benefits for your site.

PHP 5.2.17 and 5.3.29 have now been removed from Plesk.  5.3.3 is still available using "Apache Module" as that is the patched OS vendor version.

If you were using 5.2.17 or 5.3.29 you have automatically been switched to 5.4.35.

We are no longer able to maintain these PHP versions on our Plesk servers.  We can continue to offer these versions along with a few others on our NYC cPanel server due to the additional isolation and protection available on that platform.

We are facing more and more problems with spam, exploited sites, phishing emails, emails contain viruses, constantly being blacklisted, etc.

We will no longer be able to provide this service due to all of these constant issues.

Starting next year, we will be forced to scale back operations.  We will be going through payments to determine the number of accounts paid beyond the end of this year to be sure we continue offering service to those accounts or process a refund.

Please let us know if you would like PHP 5.6 to be made available on the EAST, EU, and LAX servers.

We already have it available on the new NYC cPanel server.

We are thinking of migrating from Plesk to cPanel w/ CloudLinux for new servers which will prevent one user from using all of the resources of a server.

This also allows us to sell packages with different CPU/IO/connection limits instead of just disk space.

If you are currently on the EAST server and would like to try out the new system, please email plesk at lvcs dot net or use the helpdesk to request migration.

This also allows us to offer a wider range of PHP versions due to the way users are isolated.
SSH access is standard on this server for Gold and Titanium plans.

We are testing a new cPanel server at the NYC data center.

If anyone would like to be moved to this server, please let us know by sending a message via the Helpdesk.

This server is running CloudLinux so it allows various PHP versions to be selected, modules to be included/excluded, PHP settings changed, etc.

If you are on EAST, this server should provide more performance as it is SSD based.

We will be removing PHP 5.2.17 from all servers in the near future.

If you have scripts that require these older versions, those scripts will no longer function on our service.

Users that have PHP 5.2.17 selected will be updated to 5.3.28.

When 5.3 is removed, those users will be updated to 5.4.

Please be sure you have selected the highest PHP version that your script will run with.  It is recommended to use PHP 5.4 or 5.5 for all sites.  PHP 5.3 should bed avoided as it is nearing the end of its life.  PHP 5.2 reached end of life more than 2 years ago.

Running this service is not worth the aggravation.

We have to constantly deal with spammers exploiting users that do not keep their scripts up to date, our servers getting blacklisted, threatened to unplug our servers on a daily basis, etc.  It is an endless cycle at least every week.

For this reason, we are seriously considering shutting this service down.

The next time we find outdated scripts on a users site, spam coming from a users site, or other activities that are against our terms of service or our providers terms of service, we will be cancelling those accounts permanently.  In most cases, the exploits are either due to outdated CMS/forum/blog scripts that allow users to upload files to your site (then use those files to send massive amounts of spam), or by exploited passwords.  It is important that every change ALL of their passwords, including control panel, FTP, mail accounts, etc.

When updating to a new version of WordPress (for example) be sure to check for malicious files that could have been placed there from an exploited version (especially if you are upgrading from a version older than 3.7.1).

PHP 5.5.11 has been released, but we are going to wait another day to see if an updated 5.4 version is released before building the new version on all of the servers.

Someone has been spamming via the EU server again.  Most likely via compromised mail password.

That server is now blacklisted.  Hopefully the provider will not unplug us like before, but if you cannot access your site, that is what happened.

Just a reminder, outdated scripts cannot be tolerated, especially when there are exploits against those scripts, such as older WordPress versions.  If we find an outdated script, your site will be suspended.  Always keep your scripts up to date.

Our goals for this year...

-Further consolidate customers on the remaining DA server (West1).
-Investigate why I/O performance is so mediocre on West server.  Possibly migrate more over to LAX and/or upgrade LAX to 1000Mbit ethernet.

We have accomplished:

-Removal of all older hardware running older Plesk versions capable of only PHP 5.2
-All new servers (with the exception of WEST) give performance of at least twice the previous hardware.
-Better hardware and network performance than we have ever been able to offer to our EU region clients.

We are close to disabling the mail function globally since it seems there are many outdated/insecure scripts on these servers.  A few new ones are being exploited every day causing us to be blacklisted over and over again.  A few of these and everyone will have us blocked.

We have already started rate limiting messages on our EU server.  We will most likely need to carry that over to the other machines as well.

EUR server is in testing phase.  This supports IPv6.  (PHP versions and the SSL certificate hasn't been setup yet.)

If everything remains stable with EU over the next few days and additional clients are not requesting to move to an EU based server, we may take the EUR server down.  If this server gives better response to some users, please let us know.

The EU server is down right now due to an abuse request.  We are investigating the request and should have service restored shortly.

Update:
We had the server enabled again but it was disabled before we could suspend the client spamming.

If we are given the opportunity to clean the queue out before getting cut off again, we will do so.


Update:
We have managed to get this client suspended and all of the mail removed.

We have announced our new plans with more email accounts and transfer as well as adding "Titanium" to the lineup for those that need more space.

**Please note: Existing FreePgs subscribers are grandfathered into their existing storage space at the $10/year level**
**These prices are for new users not grandfathered in for being a previous FreePgs user**

"Bronze"   Web Hosting Service   $10 per year   No monthly option   Features:   Up to 6 Domains
1 GB Storage
50 GB Transfer/Mo
25 Email Accounts
PHP 5.3, 5.4, 5.5
MySQL 5.1
Choice of servers      

"Silver"   Web Hosting Service   $18 per year   No monthly option   Features:   Up to 12 Domains
2 GB Storage
100 GB Transfer/Mo
50 Email Accounts
PHP 5.3, 5.4, 5.5
MySQL 5.1
Choice of servers      

"Gold"      Web Hosting Service   $26 per year   $2.99 per month   Features:   Up to 18 Domains
3 GB Storage
150 GB Transfer/Mo
75 Email Accounts
PHP 5.3, 5.4, 5.5
MySQL 5.1
Choice of servers      

"Titanium"   Web Hosting Service   $42 per year   $4.49 per month   Features:   Up to 30 Domains
5 GB Storage
250 GB Transfer/Mo
125 Email Accounts
PHP 5.3, 5.4, 5.5
MySQL 5.1
EAST only

Due to the increased cost of this service, we are offering the following commitments:

-PHP Versions will be updated within 14 days of release (East, EU, LAX only)
-Updates will be performed on a regular basis
-Performance will be monitored so that users abusing the service are limited or terminated to avoid disruption to other users.
-MySQL performance will be optimized as load increases.
-All PHP functions are available.  They will be disabled on a case-by-case basis if there are problems caused by insecure coding/scripts.
 (If this becomes more of a problem, we may disable some functions globally.)

Most users should notice increased site performance compared to the past with FreePgs.

Reminder: newer PHP versions are available for users on the EAST, EU, and LAX servers.

We defaulted everyone to 5.3.28, however, 5.4.24 and 5.5.8 are available.  If you would like to use these newer versions of PHP and do not see the options to change these in your panel, please email plesk at lvcs dot net OR use the helpdesk link (or email helpdesk at freepgs dot com).