{"id":147,"date":"2010-03-18T23:02:15","date_gmt":"2010-03-18T23:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/poojanwagh.opalstacked.com\/techblog\/web-hostingdesign\/web-host-performance-comparison\/"},"modified":"2014-08-13T02:50:46","modified_gmt":"2014-08-13T02:50:46","slug":"web-host-performance-comparison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tech.poojanblog.com\/blog\/web-hostingdesign\/web-host-performance-comparison\/","title":{"rendered":"Web Host Performance Comparison"},"content":{"rendered":"

Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Median<\/a> Connection Time\u00a0 \u00b1 Std. Deviaton (ms) To:<\/td>\nFrom DreamHost PS<\/td>\nFrom my office (in Chicago)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A Small Orange<\/a><\/td>\n465.5 \u00b1 332.6<\/td>\n544.5 \u00b1 1012.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crucial Paradigm<\/a><\/td>\n511.5 \u00b1 162.0<\/td>\n537.5 \u00b1 112.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DreamHost<\/a><\/td>\n574.5 \u00b1 321.5<\/td>\n893.5 \u00b1 203.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MediaTemple<\/a><\/td>\n520.5 \u00b1 530.1<\/td>\n802.5 \u00b1 234.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SteadFast<\/a><\/td>\n523.5 \u00b1 69.8<\/td>\n260.5 \u00b1 43.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WebFaction<\/a><\/td>\n321.5 \u00b1 301.6<\/td>\n304.5 \u00b1 166.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Explanation<\/h3>\n

Due to some files disappearing, I recently decided to switch from DreamHost to another host. I wasn\u2019t sure which one to go to. So, I decided to sign up for short-term periods (one month) and try them all out.<\/p>\n

On each host, I ran tests of server performance using httperf<\/a> on the front-page of my circuit design blog<\/a> (with all plugins disabled). As a result, the test measures both the front-end server and the PHP processing that drives WordPress.<\/p>\n

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.)<\/p>\n

I know that performance isn\u2019t the only issue. Many web developers\/designers don\u2019t care that much about performance and would rather get faster support when things are broken. I\u2019ll post a follow-up which considers customer service.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

I decided to go with WebFaction<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Test Logs<\/h3>\n

From Office in Chicago<\/h4>\n

A Small Orange<\/h5>\n

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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.987 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9909.9 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 460.0 avg 919.2 max 9074.8 median 544.5 stddev 1012.6
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 30.9
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9909.9 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 76.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 694.0 transfer 194.3
\nReply size [B]: header 400.0 content 37361.0 footer 2.0 (total 37763.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 486.32 system 504.53 (user 49.1% system 50.9% total 100.0%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.7 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

Crucial Paradigm<\/h5>\n

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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.551 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9905.5 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 496.7 avg 542.5 max 1484.6 median 537.5 stddev 112.1
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 40.5
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9905.5 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 70.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 351.8 transfer 150.2
\nReply size [B]: header 347.0 content 33525.0 footer 2.0 (total 33874.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 482.36 system 508.05 (user 48.7% system 51.3% total 100.0%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.3 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

DreamHost<\/h5>\n

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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.935 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9909.3 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 777.0 avg 952.0 max 2041.0 median 893.5 stddev 203.5
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 70.8
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9909.3 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 80.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 667.2 transfer 214.0
\nReply size [B]: header 242.0 content 33989.0 footer 0.0 (total 34231.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 487.63 system 503.13 (user 49.2% system 50.8% total 100.0%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.4 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

MediaTemple<\/h5>\n

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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.878 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9908.8 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 630.6 avg 876.2 max 1988.3 median 802.5 stddev 234.6
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 86.6
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9908.8 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 98.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 540.2 transfer 249.5
\nReply size [B]: header 272.0 content 36269.0 footer 2.0 (total 36543.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 497.04 system 493.65 (user 50.2% system 49.8% total 100.0%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.6 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

SteadFast<\/h5>\n

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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.277 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9902.8 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 252.6 avg 274.4 max 613.0 median 260.5 stddev 43.6
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 1.3
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9902.8 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 85.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 175.9 transfer 97.2
\nReply size [B]: header 251.0 content 35067.0 footer 2.0 (total 35320.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 487.68 system 502.46 (user 49.2% system 50.7% total 100.0%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.5 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

WebFaction<\/h5>\n

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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.303 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9903.0 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 299.8 avg 323.2 max 1963.3 median 304.5 stddev 166.0
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 39.6
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9903.0 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 79.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 162.5 transfer 121.1
\nReply size [B]: header 247.0 content 34407.0 footer 2.0 (total 34656.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 487.06 system 503.10 (user 49.2% system 50.8% total 100.0%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.4 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

From DreamHostPS<\/h4>\n
A Small Orange<\/h5>\n

httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
\nhttperf --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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.862 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9908.6 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 577.2 avg 773.6 max 3057.0 median 645.5 stddev 332.6
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 57.0
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9908.6 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 76.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 461.7 transfer 254.9
\nReply size [B]: header 400.0 content 37361.0 footer 2.0 (total 37763.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 286.01 system 644.04 (user 28.9% system 65.0% total 93.9%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.7 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0 <\/code><\/p>\n

Crucial Paradigm<\/h5>\n

httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
\nhttperf --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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.511 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9905.1 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 477.2 avg 535.7 max 1668.8 median 511.5 stddev 162.0
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 37.8
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9905.1 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 70.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 364.6 transfer 133.4
\nReply size [B]: header 347.0 content 33525.0 footer 2.0 (total 33874.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 281.02 system 631.33 (user 28.4% system 63.7% total 92.1%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.3 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

DreamHost<\/h5>\n

httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
\nhttperf --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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.549 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9905.5 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 422.1 avg 661.1 max 3282.9 median 574.5 stddev 321.5
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 1.0
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9905.5 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 80.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 646.6 transfer 13.5
\nReply size [B]: header 242.0 content 33989.0 footer 0.0 (total 34231.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 285.41 system 645.15 (user 28.8% system 65.1% total 93.9%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.4 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

MediaTemple<\/h5>\n

httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
\nhttperf --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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.609 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9906.1 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 437.1 avg 681.2 max 4791.4 median 520.5 stddev 530.1
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 63.1
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9906.1 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 98.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 432.4 transfer 185.7
\nReply size [B]: header 272.0 content 36269.0 footer 2.0 (total 36543.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 278.61 system 628.55 (user 28.1% system 63.5% total 91.6%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.6 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

SteadFast<\/h5>\n

httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
\nhttperf --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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.508 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9905.1 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 505.9 avg 532.3 max 1029.8 median 512.5 stddev 69.8
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 70.1
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9905.1 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 85.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (198 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 249.0 transfer 213.1
\nReply size [B]: header 251.0 content 35067.0 footer 2.0 (total 35320.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 285.75 system 641.73 (user 28.8% system 64.8% total 93.6%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.5 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0<\/code><\/p>\n

WebFaction<\/h5>\n

httperf: warning: open file limit > FD_SETSIZE; limiting max. # of open files to FD_SETSIZE
\nhttperf --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
\nMaximum connect burst length: 1<\/p>\n

Total: connections 100 requests 100 replies 100 test-duration 990.325 s<\/p>\n

Connection rate: 0.1 conn\/s (9903.3 ms\/conn, <=1 concurrent connections)
\nConnection time [ms]: min 317.7 avg 357.7 max 3325.8 median 321.5 stddev 301.6
\nConnection time [ms]: connect 74.3
\nConnection length [replies\/conn]: 1.000<\/p>\n

Request rate: 0.1 req\/s (9903.3 ms\/req)
\nRequest size [B]: 79.0<\/p>\n

Reply rate [replies\/s]: min 0.0 avg 0.1 max 0.2 stddev 0.1 (197 samples)
\nReply time [ms]: response 153.2 transfer 130.2
\nReply size [B]: header 247.0 content 34407.0 footer 2.0 (total 34656.0)
\nReply status: 1xx=0 2xx=100 3xx=0 4xx=0 5xx=0<\/p>\n

CPU time [s]: user 283.79 system 634.90 (user 28.7% system 64.1% total 92.8%)
\nNet I\/O: 3.4 KB\/s (0.0*10^6 bps)<\/p>\n

Errors: total 0 client-timo 0 socket-timo 0 connrefused 0 connreset 0
\nErrors: fd-unavail 0 addrunavail 0 ftab-full 0 other 0
\n<\/code>\n<\/p>\n