NEEDED: hosting for 130 gb's of sermons (server)

sermonindex Apr 3, 2007

Saints,

There is a need for someone or someone that runs a hosting company to help host the 130 gb's of sermons at sermonindex. The current host is working but is very slow at times and I am looking for possibly an additional 2 download servers to be established for the sermons.

If you run a christian school, company, server hosting, etc and are intested in helping this ministry then people do contact us.

I ask all the saints to pray that this will work out and God will allow this site to grow as He permits.

K

KingJimmy Apr 3, 2007

Just a suggestion, but if you are hurting for space some why not just trim out the fat? I mean, there have to be hundreds if not a couple thousand sermons on this site that simply generate little to no interest, and are probably of little profit?

I

iansmith Apr 3, 2007

KingJimmy, you missed the point... part of what makes this site great is that you can find a diamond in the rough. You can find a sermon by someone like George Verwer or Brother Andrew that may not be available on any other site, listen to it and get blown away -and your neighbor could think nothing of the same sermon.

Greg makes all these sermons available as a resource to believers, people are going to respont to different speakers with different ammounts of impact. You know, I love Leonard Ravenhill, but there are times when I'd rather listen to his son David. I doubt many people on this site would come out punching to save David Ravenhill's sermons in light of his fathers, but I really don't think that it is up to anyone to decide what is better or worse as far as the word of God is concerned in the sermons on this site.

sermonindex Apr 3, 2007

Just a suggestion, but if you are hurting for space some why not just trim out the fat? I mean, there have to be hundreds if not a couple thousand sermons on this site that simply generate little to no interest, and are probably of little profit?

The main reason for having a newer hosting situation firstly is "security" secondly is a "need of space" and the reason why I want multiple servers with the content is multi-fold also, firstly so there will be "multiple download links" which will help as site traffic increases, this has too be done also because of bandwidth issues. Secondly to be able to offer these sermons to other websites so I can host those materials on servers such as are going to be setup.

This is a important need and I do hope the saints at SermonIndex pray that God will guide the right people to help me with this process. That God would lay it on certain people's hearts to help this ministry in hosting these materials.

P

PassingThru Apr 3, 2007

Although it won't save storage space, implementing BitTorrent on the popular downloads would allow users to reduce SermonIndex bandwidth costs and make downloads more responsive. I imagine most users have idle bandwidth, especially off hours.

It should be possible to set it up in a fashion that preserves the download statistics, especially since the Sermonindex server(s) would initiate each download and then indicate peers to the user's BitTorrent application.

PassingThru

sermonindex Apr 3, 2007

Although it won't save storage space, implementing BitTorrent on the popular downloads would allow users to reduce SermonIndex bandwidth costs and make downloads more responsive. I imagine most users have idle bandwidth, especially off hours.
It should be possible to set it up in a fashion that preserves the download statistics, especially since the Sermonindex server(s) would initiate each download and then indicate peers to the user's BitTorrent application.

I have spoken to some people on this issue and the problem with bittorrent is to maintain the file credibility of it still being the sermonindex file. Abuse and tampering could make it a futile process. I could have setup a private peer to peer network but I would need help with that in every aspect. It would be alot of work!

W

winthrup7 Apr 4, 2007

Just wanted to confirm/clarify:

1. Sermonindex needs more adequate space for content/storage (If you are going to set up something new, I would suggest starting at 400GB as a minimum seeing that you are at 90% plus capacity now)

2. You would like to have 1 or 2 mirror sites with all the sermons and other downloaded content.

[Q: Do you have any stats on how much bandwidth you currently take up? I ask because of hosting limits, etc.]

3. You want new hosting for security. Although you grateful for the current blessing you have, could you elaborate on what security would be adequate? Meaning, is a typical hosting company sufficient? Wasn't quite sure what you meant.

4. Also, what are the server's requirements? Can it run on linux, or is it Windows right now? DB: Sql server? or mysql/oracle/etc. (For some mirroring software, this makes a big difference).

thanks.

-w

sermonindex Apr 4, 2007

1. Sermonindex needs more adequate space for content/storage (If you are going to set up something new, I would suggest starting at 400GB as a minimum seeing that you are at 90% plus capacity now)

Good suggestion brother.

2. You would like to have 1 or 2 mirror sites with all the sermons and other downloaded content.
[Q: Do you have any stats on how much bandwidth you currently take up? I ask because of hosting limits, etc.]

Yes, I think it would be good to get up at least 1 mirror of ALL the media content on sermonindex. 130 gb's.

3. You want new hosting for security. Although you grateful for the current blessing you have, could you elaborate on what security would be adequate? Meaning, is a typical hosting company sufficient? Wasn't quite sure what you meant.

Right I am running a dedicated server myself which is secured but it might be better to get hosting in a more secure enviroment where security is taken care of by professionals. I am praying that some big christian organisation will take the MAIN hosting of the sermons.

4. Also, what are the server's requirements? Can it run on linux, or is it Windows right now? DB: Sql server? or mysql/oracle/etc. (For some mirroring software, this makes a big difference).

I have hosting for the SQL and PHP with gospelcom.net which is on a different server. All I need is hosting ~~[b]~~strictly[/b] needed for the media files. It does not matter if its a linux or windows box. Right now I am using a windows box. Yes, it might be easier to have the "mirror" server to be linux to backup the content.

K

KingJimmy Apr 4, 2007

Maybe you could consider approaching somebody like YWAM (Youth With A Mission) or the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association? They are pretty big groups, but have a dedication to preaching, missions, revival, etc. Not to mention, they have very deep pockets, and a lot of tech. support. For them to host your content would probably be a very small thing for them to do.

sermonindex Apr 4, 2007

Maybe you could consider approaching somebody like YWAM (Youth With A Mission) or the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association? They are pretty big groups, but have a dedication to preaching, missions, revival, etc. Not to mention, they have very deep pockets, and a lot of tech. support. For them to host your content would probably be a very small thing for them to do.

Great ideas brother! I recieved a email that I should contact ccel.org which I did also. I will seek out these organisations and others that I come across. This is really the reason I posted this thread is to get the consensus and thoughts of the saints that visit this resource. I thank God for everyone over the last 4 years that have given great input and thoughts to help this resource grow to what it has become. God has used all the body of Christ to provide a resource for all the body of Christ. His ways are perfect.

I

iansmith Apr 4, 2007

The only problem about approaching larger Christian organizations is that they may not necessarily agree with every preacher hosted on SermonIndex... there are a lot of people who may shoot down the idea because they disagree with the theology.

sermonindex Apr 4, 2007

The only problem about approaching larger Christian organizations is that they may not necessarily agree with every preacher hosted on SermonIndex...

I agree that is definetly a problem, but perhaps a good one :-)

C

Compton Apr 5, 2007

The only problem about approaching larger Christian organizations is that they may not necessarily agree with every preacher hosted on SermonIndex

Ian makes a good point...One of Sermonindex's unique functions is a critique of modern Christianity. In my opinion it is free to do so because it is not formally aligned with any organization.

Still, if said organization interested in supporting SI would not tinker with her inner workings, it might be a worthwhile conversation!

MC

K

KingJimmy Apr 5, 2007

The only problem about approaching larger Christian organizations is that they may not necessarily agree with every preacher hosted on SermonIndex... there are a lot of people who may shoot down the idea because they disagree with the theology.

A lot of these larger organizations tend to be interdenominational in nature, and thus, not as quick to crack the whip.

K

KingJimmy Apr 5, 2007

Perhaps even consider approaching a conservative evangelical seminary that is not officially associated with any denomination, such as Fuller Theological Seminary, or Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Perhaps you could "partner" with them in some way that could make the site beneficial to the students there in an academic sort of way. Especially consider that some of these schools have doctorate programs dedicated to issues regarding renewal/revival.

sermonindex Apr 5, 2007

Perhaps even consider approaching a conservative evangelical seminary that is not officially associated with any denomination, such as Fuller Theological Seminary, or Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Perhaps you could "partner" with them in some way that could make the site beneficial to the students there in an academic sort of way. Especially consider that some of these schools have doctorate programs dedicated to issues regarding renewal/revival.

Brother,

Some great ideas. I was actually thinking of this also for awhile to get hosting by a bigger run seminary or college. www.ccel.org is run by calvin college and hosted. I would love the same sort of deal to work out. And possibily in the future sermonindex.net could be a historical archive as part of the college, seminary or institution that hosted it.

As for the students and the site being geared to them, I am not sure how profitable that would be. But it could definetly be promoted amongst the college for the research potential on revival and maybe even myself get involved with providing a index of revival related materials to help faciliate this research.

Good ideas. I will keep praying about this and prayerfully contacting some websites and institutions. Please do pray for this saints, that God's will would be seen manifestly and perfectly.

P

pastormarcy Apr 11, 2007

I found this to be a good hosting place...this is where I am moving my web site too.

www.bluehost.com

It has many features like video and audio streaming, web mail and lots of space (300 gigs of space is advertised by this site)...and other items are unlimited like subdomains...and a free domain, and many other features
the hosting price is advertised as 6.95 a month.

They host church and ministry sites with no problem...maybe you can check this place out and see if it fits your needs.

P

PatSieler Apr 17, 2007

Greg,
I emailed a friend of mine that may be able to help. He's a great IT guy, manages some servers. He actually help us set up the Calvary Toronto website and is a great brother.

sermonindex Apr 17, 2007

I emailed a friend of mine that may be able to help. He's a great IT guy, manages some servers. He actually help us set up the Calvary Toronto website and is a great brother.

Thanks brother, still looking for some bigger organisation to help make this possible and give a alternate better hosting situation and backup solution.