Bluehost Web Hosting Help

Server Status FAQs

Summary

Bluehost's system administrators constantly monitor our servers and act quickly to prevent any possible problems, or correct any that have may have occurred. This article will explain some of the most common reasons that we might need to work on a server.

My website is down, can you move my account to another server?
Why do you perform these updates in the middle of the day?
What is a rebuild tree?
Why don't you have server redundancy?
Can I get a prorated refund for the down time?

My website is down, can you move my account to another server?

We apologize for the downtime you experienced and any inconvenience this may have caused. Our first priority is to get the server up and running as soon as possible so you experience no more down time. The resources and time it would take to move you to another box is far greater than the resources currently being used to bring your server back on line. Unfortunately, at this time, because your account is on a server that is undergoing maintenance, we cannot move your account. Even if it were possible to migrate your account to another server, it would take 24 to 48 hours for DNS propagation in addition to the time of moving your files. Doing this would also pull valuable resources and increase the length of time to resolve any issues currently being addressed.

Why do you perform these updates in the middle of the day?

We notify our customers in advance, by email, of any maintenance which we expect to cause downtime. We also schedule these updates during a time when it will impact the least amount of customers. There are times, however, when emergency repair and security fixes need to be done immediately. Due to the nature of this situation it is not in anyone's best interest to delay action.

What is a rebuild tree?

A shared web host server contains millions of files. Given the amount of traffic to a shared server, corruption occasionally occurs. A file systems check or rebuild tree is the way a server corrects this corruption. Because of the number of files on the server this process can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours and in some cases on other file systems can take 4 to 8 hours.

Why don't you have server redundancy?

We have invested millions of dollars in providing as many redundant systems as possible, such as: routers, Internet connectivity, ups power backups, and backup generators. However, the shared hosting environment does not allow for us to offer redundant or clustered servers while keeping our customers' costs low.

Can I get a prorated refund for the down time?

Due to the complexity and nature of a shared webhosting environment, downtime occurs. Unfortunately, we do not offer compensation for any down time. We are sorry for any inconvenience or loss which resulted from your website being down. For any questions about our policies and procedures, please see our Terms of Service.

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