Thanks a lot.
My current hosting server set up is perfect. Simple and clean. The hosting company set up the LAMP, qmail etc for me. I managed everything from set up a ftp account, web site, email domain, dns record, cron works through shell. Only set up email accounts through web vpopmail interface. And the tech support is wonderful. Only problem is that the traffic charges is too much.
I don't see any other good hosting companies offer the same simple and clean platform. I guess the clients pool like me is small. If you can set up all these web services through shell, most people will just set up their own boxes.
But in my case, we don't have server guy in our team, I can do LAMP set up and updates in my developing box, but for the production box, I will pay the hosting tech guy do the LAMP set up, update, patch. Because if I did 9 of 10 works right, 1 in 10 wrong. The cost of the downtime and the fix for that 1 time will be more than pay the expert to do the 10 works. Plus the time I spend on server would be much less productive than the time I spend on php application.
Specially, when the server has problems, such as spam attempts to the mail server, mysql server crash, updates conflicts with other preinstall system etc. I depends on the hosting tech to solve. And due to I left all the LAMP updates to them before, so the system is all their set up, they will be able to pinpoint the problems quicker. Rather than have my LAMP updates or patch works in their way.
But I do keep track of what they were doing on the server and what the problems were and when new issue pop up, in most cases I can help the hosting tech support to pinpoint the root of the problems.
I cannot find the same simple and clean hosting deal else where. (But I have to pay every GB big money now.)
Then I am turning to my second option. Looking for someone fully manage the server and I will give up my power and freedom of the root access, as long as the managed box will fit in my 85% web services requests and another 10%, we have a way to get around, and the last 5% if we cannot do it, then fine.
I was trying out Mosso's demo and talk to their tech support guys. They were knowledgeable and helpful even I am not their client yet. But their new price matrix on requests stopped me. Our projects are with heavy graphic design parts, and requests (hits) are huge.
Plus, we host dozens sites, most of them are small, target local market, but with great graphic design works in. Meaning visits are low, CPU and memory usage are low, hits are higher.
On the shared space like Mosso, even we have the redundancy protection. But we may pay for the hits and get less share of the server reources.
Now I am going to check all the companies you recommend. I will look for No Outsource Tech Support, plus
1) simple and clean platform.
2) they manage the LAMP updates and patch and trouble shooting.
3) they will offer extra install, update, patch service if I request. (paid of course).
4) I will only focus on php application, and my own application scripts issues. If I have root access, great. If not, I can live with it.
5) good backup service will be better, plan B is I can still download the sites and databaes myself.
In simple words, I need someone to take care of server and I will just have to worry about php application. And I can sleep better knowing if there is a server problem, someone in our timezones can physically walk to the box to fix it, if it is necessary.
I will keep you guys informed after I contact these companies. Please continue offer yoru advices. Thanks!