# Best setup for shared hosting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [September 27, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-setup-for-shared-hosting/70273 "2006-09-27T21:35:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/bc79bd/32.png) [@jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jjkiesch)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-setup-for-shared-hosting/70273/1 "2006-09-27T21:35:56Z")
is fcgi/apache still the best thing for shared hosting environments, or is there something better? mongrel sounds awesome, but i’m wondering how it does with multiple apps on multiple domains since it sounds like you have to run a mongrel server for each application. ---
**Author:** ![jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/bc79bd/32.png) [@jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jjkiesch)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-setup-for-shared-hosting/70273/2 "2006-09-27T21:49:59Z")
Here’s an easy way to look at it: One Mongrel server equals one instance of fastcgi. Say your shared host allocates 2 fastcgi servers (dispatchers) for your application. That’d be like having two mongrel instances running. Roughly the same memory footprint. Mongrel instances can be clustered using the awesome mongrel\_cluster gem… you choose how many instances you need along with the starting port and it will start / stop the various processes. At that point it’s just a matter of forwading requests from Apache to Mongrel. I don’t know how many shared hosts go the mongrel route. A few do though. ---
**Author:** ![jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/bc79bd/32.png) [@jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jjkiesch)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-setup-for-shared-hosting/70273/3 "2006-09-27T22:22:04Z")
On 27 Sep 2006, at 21:45, Brian H. wrote: > processes. At that point it’s just a matter of forwading requests > from Apache to Mongrel. > > I don’t know how many shared hosts go the mongrel route. A few do > though. a2hosting does for example. You need to make sure your app runs in CGI mode first, then post a ticket on the support site and they’ll proxy your app to a mongrel. If you do have a bit of cash, I would still advise using a VPS instead of a shared host. E.g. send\_file in its default setting (streaming the data) will crash your mongrel instance. Why? No idea, it just does. Also, any plugin or class that extends one of the Rails classes, will make your mongrel crash, you need to freeze rails in your vendor folder. I wouldn’t use a2hosting anymore (although they provided me with good support), just because Rails isn’t their main target audience. For shared hosting, I would certainly tend to look at railsplayground now (they use fcgi i believe). Best regards Peter De Berdt ---
**Author:** ![jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/bc79bd/32.png) [@jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jjkiesch)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-setup-for-shared-hosting/70273/4 "2006-09-28T02:34:31Z")
On Sep 27, 2006, at 12:45 PM, Brian H. wrote: > I don’t know how many shared hosts go the mongrel route. A few do > though. Mongrel is what we recommend[1] when you’re a hosting customer at PLANET ARGON. We automatically proxy your unique ports through our main proxy servers[2], so you’re able to manage your own front-end to mongrel with Pound[3], Nginix, or Lighttpd. …and we encourage you to do it all with Capistrano! For more information on our hosting services, visit http:// > **[Planet Argon](https://www.planetargon.com/hosting.html)** > > Planet Argon is a Ruby on Rails development agency specializing in maintenance and support for existing Rails apps. Based in Portland, OR, Planet Argon has been a member of the Rails community since 2004. [1] [http://www.dgibbons.net/articles/2006/8/8/why-you-need-multiple-](http://www.dgibbons.net/articles/2006/8/8/why-you-need-multiple-) mongrel-instances-with-rails [2] [http://docs.planetargon.com/wiki/show/ProxyOverview](http://docs.planetargon.com/wiki/show/ProxyOverview) [3] [http://docs.planetargon.com/wiki/show/Pound+and+Mongrel](http://docs.planetargon.com/wiki/show/Pound+and+Mongrel) Cheers, Robby – Robby R. Founder and Executive Director PLANET ARGON, LLC Ruby on Rails Development, Consulting & Hosting > **[Planet Argon](https://www.planetargon.com)** > > Planet Argon is a Ruby on Rails development agency specializing in maintenance and support for existing Rails apps. Based in Portland, OR, Planet Argon has been a member of the Rails community since 2004. [www.robbyonrails.com](http://www.robbyonrails.com) +1 503 445 2457 +1 877 55 ARGON [toll free] +1 815 642 4068 [fax] ---
**Author:** ![jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/bc79bd/32.png) [@jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jjkiesch)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 8:39am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-setup-for-shared-hosting/70273/5 "2006-09-28T08:39:12Z")
I used Litespeed + Ruby LSAPI as an experiment at [http://freeonrails.com](http://freeonrails.com) and it’s been far more better than Apache/fcgi. It’s surely worth a shot. Thanks, Pratik On 9/28/06, Brian H. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > > > > > > …and we encourage you to do it all with Capistrano! > > > – rm -rf / 2\>/dev/null - [http://null.in](http://null.in) Dont judge those who try and fail, judge those who fail to try… ---
**Author:** ![jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/bc79bd/32.png) [@jjkiesch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jjkiesch)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 8:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-setup-for-shared-hosting/70273/6 "2006-09-28T08:17:10Z")
Robby: I didn’t want to speak for you but I hoped you’d chime in. 🙂