First Day With RackSpace Cloud Server – Unbiased View

So, we finally decided to try RackSpace Cloud. RackSpace Cloud Server service is known for their uptime and fanatical support. We will share how this RackSpace actually is, from a customer’s point of view.

Why we have chosen RackSpace Cloud Server?

It must have to be noted, we are still on the old server, not on RackSpace Cloud Server, sometime without caching as migration process is going on. So, it is a bit slow now. Also javascripts are not minified.

First Chat for RackSpace Cloud Server

We went to have a chat with VPS.NET around 1 P.M. IST. Found no one online on the chat. It is quite alarming fact to see no one online, we checked twice or thrice.  I am not saying VPS.NET is worse than RackSpace Cloud, I have not used, as a consumer I felt one person should be always be available on the chat.

So, the next so called expensive option was RackSpace Cloud Server. I hit the chat button, I can can not recall the support personnel’s name rightly, most probably he is Faroukh. Faroukh gave me around an hour time to understand what is my need, how much I can spend and offered a demo, which will be continued as full time service. Yes, this is RackSpace. I got disconnected twice because I was using a mobile broadband service from Reliance India and at the 11th floor, enclosed space. Just to be in the chat again, a mere saying, “I was talking with Faroukh…” was enough to forward the conversation from another chat executive to Faroukh. This is I love. I have seen this quality of service with only few brands – Apple, Google Premium Products, HP and Microsoft. Yes, Microsoft might have questionable or debatable Licensing model, but they do care their premium customers rightly. So, the claim, “Fanatical Support” is really true.

Within 5 minutes, an ISD call from Monica, Rackspace to confirm my presence. It was a bit painful part as Monica had problem to pronounce the jaw breaking Indian names and I had a problem in understanding when she accelerated the speed of her typical American accent.
At 2 P.M., this person, Monica from RackSpace Cloud was talking with a foreigner with ISD beeps from my cell phone’s service with a definite time lag, I have not felt any change in her tone when I said “pardon me”, her point was just to serve the work, by any means. Professionalism.

Let us login to RackSpace Cloud Server

First thing is that, if you are in a hurry to move your website to RackSpace Cloud right now, you should use the managed service from RackSpace Cloud, which is around $ 100 plus some extra for the work hours. Unmanaged means RackSpace Cloud means, you will not get any in person support for the software part. RackSpace Cloud will give you an account, you can do what ever you need. The hardware part of RackSpace Cloud is however always managed and the chat, email, tons of videos (I liked the videos from Chad specially), unofficial blogs are there to help you. You can go to RackSpace Cloud website, you can see lot of video demos there.

No cPanel? What? What this heck is RackSpace Cloud?

Oh yeah, there is no cPanel in Rackspace Cloud Service. You will be provided an account and install literally whatever OS you want, build your own Cloud Server from the scratch. Have I said, you can soft and hard boot your server on RackSpace Cloud just on one click?

Setup WordPress on RackSpace Cloud Server

It is better if you install one WordPress installation on one server on the RackSpace Cloud. Yes, multiple can be done, it will need a bit more steps.

As we are doing everything from the scratch, it is quite time consuming, but it is rock solid and you know what you are doing.

If you delete a server then create a new on RackSpace Cloud, you will get a new IP. No cheap sayings, “One free IP with our service”.

Verdict on RackSpace Cloud Service

Simply, RackSpace Cloud is for people like me, who likes a good tone from the supporting team. If you are using a Mac (unfortunately my one is at service, so its Windows 7 now), there will be no problem as you can do the ssh works from the Terminal. I guess it will be so easy for Linux as well. For Windows PC, you will need a small free app, named PuTTY to do the ssh on RackSpace Cloud. Oh yes, you can access the cloud files on RackSpace Cloud from your idevices.

I do not know about Windows server deployment on RackSpace Cloud. CentOS or Debian ion on your RackSpace Cloud should be perfect for the most.

Value for money, a standard Cloud service which RackSpace Cloud offers. A bit hard to start as you have to start from the scratch if you are not willing to pay more for the managed service or Cloud Sites from RackSpace Cloud. Cloud Sites of RackSpace Cloud is the best easy option for WordPress, bust it is a bit costly for the medium bloggers.

CDN is actually of Amazon, so its just speed which you need.

I have intentionally not left any affiliation link to RackSpace Cloud. As I have said at the beginning, this one on RackSpace Cloud is from a consumer’s point of view.
You can read about Cloud Server to understand how Rackspace Cloud Server Works.