Results
| Median Connection Time ± Std. Deviaton (ms) To: | From DreamHost PS | From my office (in Chicago) |
| A Small Orange | 465.5 ± 332.6 | 544.5 ± 1012.6 |
| Crucial Paradigm | 511.5 ± 162.0 | 537.5 ± 112.1 |
| DreamHost | 574.5 ± 321.5 | 893.5 ± 203.5 |
| MediaTemple | 520.5 ± 530.1 | 802.5 ± 234.6 |
| SteadFast | 523.5 ± 69.8 | 260.5 ± 43.6 |
| WebFaction | 321.5 ± 301.6 | 304.5 ± 166.0 |
Explanation
Due to some files disappearing, I recently decided to switch from DreamHost to another host. I wasn’t sure which one to go to. So, I decided to sign up for short-term periods (one month) and try them all out.
On each host, I ran tests of server performance using httperf on the front-page of my circuit design blog (with all plugins disabled). As a result, the test measures both the front-end server and the PHP processing that drives WordPress.
At the time of writing this post (and any point before then), I do not have an affiliate relationship with any hosting provider. (DreamHost might have given all their members associate links, but I have never used it.)
I know that performance isn’t the only issue. Many web developers/designers don’t care that much about performance and would rather get faster support when things are broken. I’ll post a follow-up which considers customer service.
If anyone’s wondering, SteadFast is based in Chicago. They’re likely one or two hops away from my employer, which is why the Chicago numbers for SteadFast are so low.
I decided to go with WebFaction.
Test Logs
From Office in Chicago
A Small Orange
httperf --client=0/1 --server=64.22.96.26 --server_name=circuitdesign.info --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.987 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9909.9 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 460.0 avg 919.2 max 9074.8 median 544.5 stddev 1012.6
Connection time [ms]: connect 30.9
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9909.9 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 76.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 694.0 transfer 194.3
Reply size [B]: header 400.0 content 37361.0 footer 2.0 (total 37763.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 486.32 system 504.53 (user 49.1% system 50.9% total 100.0%)
Net I/O: 3.7 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
Crucial Paradigm
httperf --client=0/1 --server=67.208.117.2 --server_name=67.208.117.2 --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.551 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9905.5 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 496.7 avg 542.5 max 1484.6 median 537.5 stddev 112.1
Connection time [ms]: connect 40.5
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9905.5 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 70.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 351.8 transfer 150.2
Reply size [B]: header 347.0 content 33525.0 footer 2.0 (total 33874.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 482.36 system 508.05 (user 48.7% system 51.3% total 100.0%)
Net I/O: 3.3 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
DreamHost
httperf --client=0/1 --server=www.circuitdesign.info --server_name=www.circuitdesign.info --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.935 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9909.3 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 777.0 avg 952.0 max 2041.0 median 893.5 stddev 203.5
Connection time [ms]: connect 70.8
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9909.3 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 80.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 667.2 transfer 214.0
Reply size [B]: header 242.0 content 33989.0 footer 0.0 (total 34231.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 487.63 system 503.13 (user 49.2% system 50.8% total 100.0%)
Net I/O: 3.4 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
MediaTemple
httperf --client=0/1 --server=circuitdesign.info.s82309.gridserver.com --server_name=circuitdesign.info.s82309.gridserver.com --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.878 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9908.8 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 630.6 avg 876.2 max 1988.3 median 802.5 stddev 234.6
Connection time [ms]: connect 86.6
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9908.8 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 98.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 540.2 transfer 249.5
Reply size [B]: header 272.0 content 36269.0 footer 2.0 (total 36543.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 497.04 system 493.65 (user 50.2% system 49.8% total 100.0%)
Net I/O: 3.6 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
SteadFast
httperf --client=0/1 --server=circuitdesign.nozonenet.com --server_name=circuitdesign.nozonenet.com --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.277 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9902.8 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 252.6 avg 274.4 max 613.0 median 260.5 stddev 43.6
Connection time [ms]: connect 1.3
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9902.8 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 85.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 175.9 transfer 97.2
Reply size [B]: header 251.0 content 35067.0 footer 2.0 (total 35320.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 487.68 system 502.46 (user 49.2% system 50.7% total 100.0%)
Net I/O: 3.5 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
WebFaction
httperf --client=0/1 --server=XXXX.webfactional.com --server_name=XXXX.webfactional.com --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.303 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9903.0 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 299.8 avg 323.2 max 1963.3 median 304.5 stddev 166.0
Connection time [ms]: connect 39.6
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9903.0 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 79.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 162.5 transfer 121.1
Reply size [B]: header 247.0 content 34407.0 footer 2.0 (total 34656.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 487.06 system 503.10 (user 49.2% system 50.8% total 100.0%)
Net I/O: 3.4 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
From DreamHostPS
A Small Orange
httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
httperf --client=0/1 --server=64.22.96.26 --server_name=circuitdesign.info --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.862 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9908.6 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 577.2 avg 773.6 max 3057.0 median 645.5 stddev 332.6
Connection time [ms]: connect 57.0
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9908.6 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 76.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 461.7 transfer 254.9
Reply size [B]: header 400.0 content 37361.0 footer 2.0 (total 37763.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 286.01 system 644.04 (user 28.9% system 65.0% total 93.9%)
Net I/O: 3.7 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
Crucial Paradigm
httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
httperf --client=0/1 --server=67.208.117.2 --server_name=67.208.117.2 --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.511 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9905.1 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 477.2 avg 535.7 max 1668.8 median 511.5 stddev 162.0
Connection time [ms]: connect 37.8
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9905.1 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 70.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 364.6 transfer 133.4
Reply size [B]: header 347.0 content 33525.0 footer 2.0 (total 33874.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 281.02 system 631.33 (user 28.4% system 63.7% total 92.1%)
Net I/O: 3.3 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
DreamHost
httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
httperf --client=0/1 --server=www.circuitdesign.info --server_name=www.circuitdesign.info --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.549 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9905.5 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 422.1 avg 661.1 max 3282.9 median 574.5 stddev 321.5
Connection time [ms]: connect 1.0
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9905.5 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 80.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 646.6 transfer 13.5
Reply size [B]: header 242.0 content 33989.0 footer 0.0 (total 34231.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 285.41 system 645.15 (user 28.8% system 65.1% total 93.9%)
Net I/O: 3.4 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
MediaTemple
httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
httperf --client=0/1 --server=circuitdesign.info.s82309.gridserver.com --server_name=circuitdesign.info.s82309.gridserver.com --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.609 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9906.1 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 437.1 avg 681.2 max 4791.4 median 520.5 stddev 530.1
Connection time [ms]: connect 63.1
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9906.1 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 98.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 432.4 transfer 185.7
Reply size [B]: header 272.0 content 36269.0 footer 2.0 (total 36543.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 278.61 system 628.55 (user 28.1% system 63.5% total 91.6%)
Net I/O: 3.6 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
SteadFast
httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
httperf --client=0/1 --server=circuitdesign.nozonenet.com --server_name=circuitdesign.nozonenet.com --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.508 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9905.1 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 505.9 avg 532.3 max 1029.8 median 512.5 stddev 69.8
Connection time [ms]: connect 70.1
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9905.1 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 85.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 249.0 transfer 213.1
Reply size [B]: header 251.0 content 35067.0 footer 2.0 (total 35320.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 285.75 system 641.73 (user 28.8% system 64.8% total 93.6%)
Net I/O: 3.5 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
WebFaction
httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
httperf --client=0/1 --server=XXXX.webfactional.com --server_name=XXXX.webfactional.com --port=80 --uri=/blog/ --rate=0.1 --send-buffer=4096 --recv-buffer=16384 --num-conns=100 --num-calls=1
Maximum connect burst length: 1
Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.325 s
Connection rate: 0.1 conn/s (9903.3 ms/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
Connection time [ms]: min 317.7 avg 357.7 max 3325.8 median 321.5 stddev 301.6
Connection time [ms]: connect 74.3
Connection length [replies/conn]: 1.000
Request rate: 0.1 req/s (9903.3 ms/req)
Request size [B]: 79.0
Reply rate [replies/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (197 samples)
Reply time [ms]: response 153.2 transfer 130.2
Reply size [B]: header 247.0 content 34407.0 footer 2.0 (total 34656.0)
Reply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0
CPU time [s]: user 283.79 system 634.90 (user 28.7% system 64.1% total 92.8%)
Net I/O: 3.4 KB/s (0.0*10^6 bps)
Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
Errors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
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