Hostmonster has lost all of my files. All my sites are down. They didn't even email me that my sites are down and that they can't restore them from their back up system so I can start working. How is this possible a web hosting company to rely only on one back up system? They should have at least two in two different locations. I am so pissed at them.
Sorry to hear this! How come is this possible? Mate, even 3rd world hosting companies have 2 backup systems!
I guess users will never learn to be responsible for their own backups...this is what happens when you rely on someone to do the job you should of did from the start.
I do have them backed up. You are missing the big point though. There is no excuse for a webhosting company to lose your data. Hostmonster does not have reliable Database Servers and back up systems.
This is not true. I do not know where you got that number. There are not that many accounts. There was a server that had an issue and a backup had to be used. One server, maybe 500 accounts affected and partial data loss from the backup restore.
And you present that as almost "nothing extraordinary"? This company is a joke to have only one back up system. Hostmonster sucks! Your files at hostmonster are at a great risk. This is what they should tell you before you register with them if they want to be honest with you. They should have told everybody they have only one back up system unlike the best in the industry who have 2. And that they DON'T GUARANTEE THEIR BACK UP SYSTEM WILL WORK!
Then back up your own bloody files. Who friggin cares if the host loses your data? They shouldn't be responsible in the first place. If you put faith in anyone elses backups except your own, I daresay its your own problem. And for, what $6.95 a month? What do you expect? Next your gonna be complaining that you've filled up their "unlimited" hard drive. It isn't. It happens every day to many companies - big or small. Happened to me multiple times. Then reupload them and quit whining.
AFAIK,big hosting company do have a backup,that the normal practice of the industry. HM is a terrible company,they oversell and customer support is not friendly. So now you plan to switch to which company?
According to page here http://www.hostmonster.com/hosting-features.htm hostmonster seems that they have to keep backups. Also there is something called "data recovery", simply they can save datas on harddisks.
Thats why I believe that if your online business is growing then go for VPS or your hire a dedicated server. These days the cost of hiring a server has reduced a lot..
It is insane that you cannot trust on them to backup ; it is their business and they should know how to work with and protect your data. But because they are overselling their resources, chances are they are overselling their backup resources as well and thus not have it arranged properly. I agree that you should keep your own backups, but when you buy a service you do want to rely on that. Otherwise they shouldn't sell it.