CGI Servers - User areas deleted

The CGI servers at Plusnet had all of the usernames beginning with "a" and "b" deleted. We were constantly told by PlusNet that they would restoring these areas. They restored the directories but none of the files that were in them. Today finally they have admitted that they will not be restoring these areas and that we have to re-upload all of the files. It has taken them over 4 days to come to this conclusion. They still have not explained why these areas were deleted, and it would seem that they never will. I have asked them what they are doing to stop this in the future. The normal zero response. I can now only recommend moving away from this company. For the near future they will remain my ISP. I am now moving my website as they are unable to explain when things go wong what the problems were how they are going to rectify them etc. I will then be looking to move my ISP. Any suggestions anybody as I have been a long standing customer of Plusnet's and this is the way they treat you. It is deplorable.

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I am now moving my website as they are unable to explain when things go wong what the problems were how they are going to rectify them etc. I will then be looking to move my ISP.

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Depends what you mean by ISP.

You are right to move your website, there are plenty of hosting providers who can give you far better facilities and reliability than PN, both for website and email.

That then just leaves a broadband connection. Why do you need an ISP for that? ADSL connections are rapidly becoming a commodity bundled with other things, eg Talk Talk, Sky etc.

Personally I'm moving all hosting and email away from PN, and I'll wait and see what happens with ADSL connections.

Why don't they just restore from a backup tape ...

Oh .. no sorry .. wait .. I'm in the PlusNet area ain't I ..

The backup tape solution fund went on Shareholders champagne .. silly me.

Amazing how 1 company can loose so much customer data....

Maybe when they lose 20,000 force9 customers details at some point in the future, they'll email a few people at random asking if they can forward that customer database email back to them *rolls eyes*

LOL .. Yep

Bet they backup their billing system..

Hi Tam

fyi have u seen the info posted re the investment in their network?

I know you have predicted so many proiblems etc was just wondering whether you had seen this info and what your thoughts were?

I remember a suggestion of mine a wee while back (last comment):

http://bbs.adslguide.org.uk/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=plusnet&Number=2423934


Should have listened.

You couldn't make it up, I've never heard of any company moving from one self inflicted disaster to another.

It seems like they have no control over how their services are run and it's actually a miracle that anything works at all, without them accidently deleting stuff, or accidently pulling the plug on something or whatever...

Does anyone at Plus.net actually have any clue about how to run an ISP?

It sounds like the

Edited by caesar_salad (Tue 15-Aug-06 22:50:35)

Was that an open question to everyone, or just to Tam?

thats just a smile before Don locked it, the thread made me chuckle tho. i remeber that well that nite

Here's a thought.

Let me start with an example. Where I work, we have a finite amount of backup 'space' and a narrow window in which to back data up in. If we start getting too much data to fit in with the above we 'archive' historical data that hasn't been touched for a while knowing we can pull it from tape if required.

Maybe, just maybe, plusnet are using the recent email and website deletion as a way of creating space and thus reducing the need to purchase additional storage and reduce the impact on their backup systems (if the exist).

Just a thought.

Rich

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Maybe, just maybe, plusnet are using the recent email and website deletion as a way of creating space and thus reducing the need to purchase additional storage and reduce the impact on their backup systems

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They wouldn't be so underhand, would they? ;-)

That would seem too far fetched even for Plus.net...

Would anything really surprise you nowadays?

Again :rolleyes:

I think PlusNet need to pull the Delete Keys from the Techs Keyboards

I see the problem is reported in the register

HERE

I was very lucky. With PN restricting a residential account to not hosting business sites, my PN use has been for leisure purposes. As a result, what limited use I've made of the servers has been completely expendable, and other hosting has been used for serious stuff.

I never got as far as moving a domain to use PN webspace, and having seen comments 2+ years ago about loss of websites, CGI problems, and so on, I've fairly frequently suggested keeping options open (domain stays with a separate registration firm, for a start), using PN for connection only.

Sure, there are plenty of other options, especially if one wants to take a chance with BSkyB or TalkTalk or Orange, but before much traffic calming/ quotas, and problems with LLU/DSLMax, there were relatively few reasons to switch from PN anyway.

Personally I wouldn't use their CGI with a bargepole - I remember speaking to one customer who had a car parts business and searches on his site brought up data that was someone else' - completely unrelated to car parts. I understand that just before I left they were planning on introducing a new, 'more secure' (as if the existing was secure at all! LOL!) CGI server - whether they actually did change the server I have no idea, but the one that they used during my tenure there was completely insecure.

Yup

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/16/plusnet_deletes_cgi/

I think PlusNet need there own tab with the amount of content getting added