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Juan G
04-29-2000, 02:19 AM
Good morning (in Europe), FutureQuest. :)

As many of you, after looking hard for a good web host, in my finalists paper (pair.com, olm.net...) my favorite one is now FutureQuest. Naturally, I've read many good reviews about this company, its dedicated service to people, etc. For example, what customers say in this forum, or at:

http://www.hostsearch.com/showcomment.asp?Companycode=693
http://www.forumhosts.com/hosts.htm
http://www.deja.com/group/alt.www.webmaster
etc...

I admit that at first I discarded FutureQuest because of the "trailing slash" bug -and also possible cgi problems- in extra domains (IRM). But after my long search probably I am going to FutureQuest. None of the web hosts is perfect, and FQ only has one significant weak point, the extra domains working, and many other very good points.

So, since there is not perfect host, I will resign myself to the best one. ;)[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]

About the extra domains, I would like to ask a question.

As an example, I have 4 domains, and 2 of them can be IRM because they are very simple, just old listings of links.

But the other 2 domains will be growing list of links to nonprofits, etc., and they can not be IRM because their, as well, growing number of subdirectories. Of course, I use trailing slashs in the links but, for example, many people will write in browsers short URLs like the following:

mydomain.com/europe

And usually without trailing slash "/", getting an error if the domain is an IRM.

I would like very much a Silver package, but probably I will need 2 Basic packages instead, and to make 2 FTP connections constantly, etc., etc. to avoid those trailing slash errors. I do prefer one Silver, really.

My question is about if it's possible to have in a Silver package two or more non-IRM, normal domains.

I would be happy paying monthly for the extra domain, if the total of Silver ($29.95/mo) plus extra domain is not greater than 2 Basic packages (2 x $19.95/mo).

A possible sketch for IRM and non-IRM, working at the same time:

* Extra domain (IRM, or IRO): $25 setup fee, no monthly charges.
(It's right now this way at FutureQuest, up to 15 extra domains).

* Extra domain (normal, non-IRM, non-IRO):[nbsp][nbsp]$25 setup fee, $5 monthly.
(Just a possible example, maybe for some few normal domains per package).

With these options, the directory tree of a package can be (in my case) like the following:

Root directory of my space
___ 1. Subdirectory (out of the Internet)
___ 2. Domain english.com (normal, non-IRM)
______ 2.1. Domain english.org (IRM)
___ 3. Domain spanish.com (normal, non-IRM)
______ 3.1. Domain spanish.org (IRM)

This as well has the interesting advantage of possible directories out of the Internet, in order to increase security.

Right now, on my current web host, I have a similar tree (but with four normal domains), including in my space a subdirectory where a cgi script is storing passwords out of the Internet (advised this more secure way by some programs).

As I've said, I would like to ask if this is possible at FutureQuest (paying for normal extra domains).

In my personal opinion, this can be a solution while the waiting for a possible improvement in the working of the extra domains IRM.

Anyway, congratulations to FutureQuest team on their outstanding Internet service. :)

Finally, some links to information about the "trailing slash" problem and possible solutions.

(Sorry for this long message, and thank you very much).

FutureQuest: The "trailing slash" IRM domains old bug...
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000097-1.html
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000439-1.html
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000659-1.html
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000435-1.html
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000446-1.html
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000447-1.html
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000510-1.html
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000607-1.html
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001043-1.html
http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000928-2.html
(...)

FutureQuest: Extra domains
http://www.FutureQuest.net/ir.php

Apache HTTP Server Version 1.3

Apache 1.3
URL Rewriting Guide

Originally written by
Ralf S. Engelschall <rse@apache.org>
December 1997

This document supplements the mod_rewrite reference documentation. It describes how one can use Apache's mod_rewrite to solve typical URL-based problems webmasters are usually confronted with in practice. I give detailed descriptions on how to solve each problem by configuring URL rewriting rulesets.

Introduction to mod_rewrite

The Apache module mod_rewrite is a killer one, i.e. it is a really sophisticated module which provides a powerful way to do URL manipulations. With it you can nearly do all types of URL manipulations you ever dreamed about. The price you have to pay is to accept complexity, because mod_rewrite's major drawback is that it is not easy to understand and use for the beginner. And even Apache experts sometimes discover new aspects where mod_rewrite can help.

(...)[nbsp][nbsp]<font color=#FF0000>(you can read the texts by clicking on the links below)</font>

Practical Solutions

Here come a lot of practical solutions I've either invented myself or collected from other peoples solutions in the past. Feel free to learn the black magic of URL rewriting from these examples.

(...)

URL Layout

Canonical URLs

(...)

Canonical Hostnames

(...)

<font color=#FF0000>Trailing Slash Problem</font>

(...)

Webcluster through Homogeneous URL Layout

(...)

Apache 1.3: URL Rewriting Guide
http://www.apache.org/docs/misc/rewriteguide.html
8.Why does Apache ask for my password twice before serving a file?

(...) This happens, for example, in the case where you request a directory without including the trailing slash. (...)

Apache Server Frequently Asked Questions: Authentication and Access Restrictions
http://www.apache.org/docs/misc/FAQ-G.html#prompted-twice

9.Why does accessing directories only work when I include the trailing &quot;/&quot;
(e.g., http://foo.domain.com/~user/ ) but not when I omit it
(e.g., http://foo.domain.com/~user )?

When you access a directory without a trailing &quot;/&quot;, Apache needs to send what is called a redirect to the client to tell it to add the trailing slash. If it did not do so, relative URLs would not work properly. When it sends the redirect, it needs to know the name of the server so that it can include it in the redirect. There are two ways for Apache to find this out; either it can guess, or you can tell it. If your DNS is configured correctly, it can normally guess without any problems. If it is not, however, then you need to tell it.

Add a <font color=#FF0000>ServerName directive</font> to the config file to tell it what the domain name of the server is.

Apache Server Frequently Asked Questions: Configuration Questions
http://www.apache.org/docs/misc/FAQ-E.html#set-servername
http://www.apache.org/docs-1.2/misc/FAQ.html#set-servername

More info:

Apache Core Features: ServerName directive
http://www.apache.org/docs/mod/core.html#servername

Apache Core Features: <VirtualHost> directive
http://www.apache.org/docs/mod/core.html#virtualhost

Apache Core Features: UseCanonicalName directive
http://www.apache.org/docs/mod/core.html#usecanonicalname

Apache Core Features: DocumentRoot directive
http://www.apache.org/docs/mod/core.html#documentroot
http://www.apache.org/docs-1.2/mod/core.html#documentroot

Apache name-based Virtual Host Support
http://www.apache.org/docs/vhosts/name-based.html

[This message has been edited by Juan G (edited 04-29-00@02:07 am)]

Justin
04-29-2000, 04:40 AM
The trailing slash issue is not that simple to work around when you are dealing with multiple domains on a server. There is one solution that does work but it breaks any CGI script which relies on the SEVER_NAME environment variable, which there are many.

Considering that an IRM is an extra bonus feature that only costs a one time setup fee (with no recurring fees), this issue is not high on the priority list at this time...

------------------
Justin Nelson
FutureQuest (http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.php) Support

Justin
04-29-2000, 06:41 PM
I don't think you are quite following the logic here...

An IRM is nothing more than an additional domain mapped into your directory structure. This fact alone is what causes the trailing slash issue - we do not have another way to map a domain into another domain's space without the slash issue - regardless of what we charge for it.

There are workarounds posted elsewhere in the forums, such as using mod_rewrite, or trapping the missing slash yourself and forcing a redirect manually (but no matter what you will need to force a redirect complete with slash - else relative URLs will not work).

Hope this helps.

------------------
Justin Nelson
FutureQuest (http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.php) Support

DB
04-29-2000, 06:59 PM
I think the gist of what Juan is asking is if he could have two Basic packages for the price of a Silver package with a single log-in... or even just the single log-in at the normal price.[nbsp][nbsp]My guess is that the single log-in for two separate directories may conflict with the directory lock down, though I'll defer to The Master on this one.

------------------
--Tom aka DiamondBack
[nbsp][nbsp]http://diamond-back.com
[nbsp][nbsp]http://smartasses.org

Juan G
04-29-2000, 07:32 PM
Sorry, I did not know about the FQuest's directory structure. Now I'm guessing that every user's root directory is directly on the Internet, and additional domains must be subdirectories of the main domain, if I am not wrong.

Therefore my previous suggestion of several normal (non-IRM) domains sharing the same space &amp; login would be really difficult to implement with this kind of structure.

(For example, on my current host, my root directory is out of the Internet, and my four domains are subdirectories of my root; this way, a domain does not need to be a subdirectory of another domain; so the case is different).

Thank you for the replies. I will think about. ;)[nbsp]

Juan G
04-30-2000, 01:03 AM
Of course, I understand that IRMs are probably a difficult issue, even with the use of map files, as suggested in &quot;Webcluster through Homogeneous URL Layout&quot;, etc. (Apache URL Rewriting Guide, http://www.apache.org/docs/misc/rewriteguide.html ).

But, while the trailing slash problem is here (maybe up to a new Apache version), my question is what possibilities there are at FutureQuest for normal (non-IRM), multiple domains.

For example, if a customer signs for two Basic packages ( http://www.futurequest.net/Packages.php ), is there a way to merge them into a Silver package, with two normal (non-IRM) domains sharing the same space as subdirectories?

Naturally, paying the setup and monthly extra fees that FutureQuest will think are suitable.

I hope that one package per domain is not the only way to multiple normal domains, with the need to open several FTP connections again and again... :(

In short, if I pay for example two Basic packages, may I have just one Silver package (paying 2 x $19.95/mo instead of $29.95/mo), but with two normal, no-IRM, domains with <font color=#FF0000>one</font> login?

Thank you very much for considering this. :)

[This message has been edited by Juan G (edited 04-29-00@12:17 pm)]

Juan G
04-30-2000, 01:35 AM
Another possibility would be to allow 1 normal domain for Basic packages, 2 normal domains for Silver packages, 3 for Gold... Maybe this is asking too much. ;)

But, as I've said, I would be as well happy paying 2 Basic ($40) and getting 1 Silver ($30) with two normal, non-IRM, domains.

Juan G
05-06-2000, 07:02 PM
A week later...

It has been a long and hard search... (For example, sorry about too many questions before on FQuest; thanks for your patience and replies, I was simply looking for a good place for some listings of nonprofits).

Well, I surrender. FutureQuest truly seems to be one of the very best web host companies on this crazy planet -probably the best one. Maybe it's a little subjective, but this is what I've found. So... I am transferring two domains to new accounts at FutureQuest. Thank you for this excellent service. ;)[nbsp]

Juan G
05-10-2000, 09:17 PM
As Justin said, there is for example an easy workaround (for the IRM trailing slash problem) posted by zmax at http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000510-1.html

By the way, about my recent change from &quot;visitor&quot; to &quot;site owner&quot; status, now I have two normal domains and other two IRM domains at FutureQuest. Astonishing quality web host, I must say. :)
[This message has been edited by Juan G (edited 05-10-00@8:20 pm)]