VM IS NOT FOR EVERYONE ANYMORE!

[adham]

Hi Everyone!
Before any of the developers starts jumping up and down about the title please read.

VM WILL NOT work on 90% of hosting plans most users use.
The reason is the execution time of PHP of 30 sec. Now everyone will simply say just change it to 60,90 or whatever, TRUE but not doable for most users on shared hosting.
The only one that can change that is VPS or dedicated servers, which most users dont use, all others are locked on the 30 sec.

I have been mocking around with this for the last 3-4 weeks. VM works fine but cannot update or save config, it always times out.

Tried the .htaccess trick didnt work. Created a new php.ini, didnt work. Then found out that most hosts on a shared service lock these options out.

This is a very huge issue and should of been in the required section of VM, I started updating my site doing a new install and trying to setup a website for the update, even purchased a new template, just to find out that it wont work.

Now some will say just get a new hosting with VPS or dedicated. Well even if it was an option (for me it is not), we have to think about the cost, because a decent VPS will run you around $70 to $120 per month, in this case why not just use a ready shop software, that charges only $15-$40 per month? no hassle with installation or template or or or.

We use VM because we like to create something unique and from scratch, having full control.

I a very sad to see VM go, I have been using it for the past 7 years. I am a die hard VM fan but there is nothing that I can do right now.
Big thank you for the developers that have supported VM all these years!

[GJC Web Design]

Off the top of my head I can name two shared host providers (bluehost.com- US, digiserv.biz - DE ) who charge less than $6 a month and provide full access either to php settings or via a php.ini in the root - there are many many more...

Vote with your feet - if the host is crap - move -- takes a couple of hours

BTW - I have clients on both these hosts - upgrades work seamlessly on both

I also have clients on other hosts which are a total pain - always problems during backups, installs, upgrades ..

[jenkinhill]

For more than 10 years I have run all my sites on United Hosting where an account at under $8 a month has all the facilities required to run Joomla with VM or Community Builder, such as almost complete control over PHP resources (subject to max limits for obvious reasons) auto-backups etc . That cannot be called expensive.

VM WILL NOT work on 90% of hosting plans most users use.

Most users have static sites that need no resources. Cheap "pile them high and sell them cheap" will be OK for those.  But if you are running a business, such as an eComm business then you use the right host for that purpose.

[Milbo]

The reason is the execution time of PHP of 30 sec. Now everyone will simply say just change it to 60,90 or whatever, TRUE but not doable for most users on shared hosting.

The average time to store the config is 2-3 seconds on a cheap host for 5 euro per month (around $80 per year) . I have no idea, why you hit the 30 sec limit. It is very, very rare, in fact look in the forum, most people use cheap hosts and dont have this problem. Even on godaddy accounts you dont have this problem.

Please check this page, scroll down and see our hosting partners http://virtuemart.net/download

[adham]

Hi!
Thanks for the replies.
Just to clear I am not using a cheap hosting service ( I am with Host Gator). My problem is that I cannot move 50+ websites for the sake of one or two (just takes too much time).

The issue I am having with VM is that I cannot save anything in the config section it always times out, otherwise all is working (as far as I can tell). I did a fresh install used both Joomla 3.3.6 and 3.4.1 same problem. I dont have anything installed but Joomla, VM and VM template that I purchased.
I spent few days searching for the solution and as far as I can tell it was the 30 sec (As didnt find anything else with that errror).

Last time it took me about a month to setup my shop, didnt mind as there wasnt any unsolvable issues, store looked great and worked well (still working).
Was waiting so long for the VM 3 version so can update.

Like I said I wasnt bashing VM I am just sad that cant use it thats all.

Thanks

[Milbo]

Use the fullinstaller with joomla 2.5 latest, OR joomla 3.4 latest! It can have whatever reason. Storing the config usually takes 1-2 seconds.

[Milbo]

did you check?
http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=129343.msg449016#msg449016

[corkys]

50+ sites at $5-8/month each? is that not $250+/month?

I have a VPS for $60/month including full management and 7 days of backup. I can put as many sites on it without increase the price, as long as the data fits on the 75GB allowed.

I only have two sites, but if I had 50, they would be on a dedicated server, VPS at minimum.

[Milbo]

Yes, a typical hosting model

[saviB]

I'm getting gateway timeouts with Siteground after migration to 3. Never happened prior to this. It happens occasionally when installing the core component and usually when attempting to use Install or if necessary update tables tool. And, I believe SG to be a pretty good host?

corkys -

50+ sites at $5-8/month each? is that not $250+/month?

I use Grow Big account and can have as many sites as I want for $8 a month the first year and $14 each year after. I do not have access to time out though as it's a shared account. I've attempted to increase execution time with php.ini - no luck. But, you could get a semi dedicated server with them for $60 a month I believe.

The screen below is after using update tables tool.

[Milbo]

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrormessage/a/504error.htm