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Some might agree, others won't. Each of us are entitled to an opinion, so here's mine.
Whilst working on setting up my server, I've been referring to Linode's Guides. Unlike a lot of people here, I am not an expert at setting up a server, but I am interested and capable. Also, I CANNOT afford to employ a professional to do the job for me, but that's not going to stop me from succeeding!
Whilst following the guides, I've come across a number of mistakes and short-comings. But I must say that considering how much I've been able to get done with their assistance is awesome.
An area for significant improvement is in customer service during the initial setup of a Linode. I paid Linode a lot of money, and now I want something in return. An IDLE Linode is not what I signed up for.
I am frustrated by SOME Linode support staff that take every opportunity to remind me that their service is UNMANAGED and decline to help me. I think that Linode Management needs to make a distinction between what is covered and what isn't. Otherwise, they could save a lot of money by getting rid of the ticket system all together.
In the less than dozen tickets I've raised over the 8 months I've been here, all my queries and questions have been in relation to the initial setup of my Linode. And not once have I asked them to 'do it for me'.
The last ticket I raised and was refused help related to getting phpMyAdmin working through HTTPS instead of HTTP. Before I raised this ticket, I had spent a number of hours searching the net on how to achieve this, and I haven't found out yet though I know others have achieved it. Why isn't this issue covered in the Guide? And more importantly, when I raise a question about it, why is it considered to be beyond the scope of the support they provide. Imagine a news headline "Linode server hacked ....."
In my mind, I wouldn't even consider raising a ticket that for example asked for assistance in setting up a Joomla Template, or configuring osCommerce, or managing my forum. These things easily fit into the 'un-managed' service sphere.
Personally, I think that it is in Linode's interests to see their customers get their sites up and running.
I've had some really terrific support from support staff that are probably getting chastised by their managers, and I hope that's not the case. But I've reached the end of my tether, and as far as my position is concerned, when my pre-paid time is up, I will be moving my server elsewhere.
I was referred to Linode by a good friend (and customer of Linode) who knows a lot more about Linux than I do, but I certainly won't be encouraging anyone else to join.
_________________ My VPS system: (Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Kernel 3.15.4-x86_64, Apache 2.4.7, MariaDB Server 5.5.40, MariaDB Client 5.5.41, PHP 5.5.9, ISPConfig 3.0.5.4p5, Webmin, PureFTP & Quota, phpMyAdmin, postfix, dovecot, amavis, clamav, spamassassin, awstats, fail2ban, Jailkit, bind9, vlogger, webalizer)
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