When you choose a hosting plan with GHost Cloud, understanding the resources and limits allocated to your account is crucial for optimising your website's performance. Each plan comes with specific allocations for resources such as disk space, bandwidth, and more. Knowing these limits helps you manage your website effectively and avoid potential issues.
In this guide
Key resources explained
Disk space
Disk space refers to the total amount of data you can store on your hosting account. This includes all files, emails, databases, and any other content. Managing disk space efficiently is essential to ensure that your website runs smoothly. Regularly check your usage and delete unnecessary files to stay within your limit.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the amount of data transferred between your website and its visitors over a specific period, usually a month. High traffic websites consume more bandwidth. Exceeding your bandwidth limit can lead to temporary suspension of your site until the new billing cycle begins or an upgrade is made.
Inodes
Inodes represent the number of files and directories in your hosting account. Each file and folder counts as an inode. Hosting plans have inode limits to ensure server efficiency. Exceeding this limit can prevent you from uploading new files or receiving emails.
CPU and memory
CPU and memory resources determine how well your server can handle processes and requests. High usage can result from traffic spikes or resource-heavy applications. Monitoring these metrics helps maintain optimal performance and prevent slow loading times or server errors.
What happens when you hit limits
Understanding the consequences of exceeding your hosting plan's limits is important for maintaining your website's functionality:
Disk full
When your disk space is full, you won't be able to upload new files or receive emails. This can lead to service disruptions, and it's crucial to free up space by deleting unnecessary files or upgrading your plan.
Bandwidth exceeded
If you exceed your bandwidth limit, your website may become temporarily inaccessible, displaying a "Bandwidth Limit Exceeded" error. This usually resets at the start of the next billing cycle, but upgrading may be necessary for sustained high traffic.
Inode limit
Reaching your inode limit prevents you from adding new files or receiving emails. Regularly clean up old files and emails to manage your inode usage effectively.
CPU spikes
High CPU usage can cause slow website performance or downtime. This often results from traffic surges or inefficient scripts. Optimising your code and monitoring traffic can help mitigate these issues.
How to reduce resource usage
To ensure your website remains within its resource limits, consider the following strategies:
- Optimise images: Use tools to compress images without losing quality, reducing disk space and bandwidth usage.
- Clear emails: Regularly delete old emails and attachments to free up space and reduce inode usage.
- Delete unused files: Remove outdated or unnecessary files from your server to conserve disk space and inodes.
- Implement caching plugins: Use caching plugins to reduce server load and improve website speed.
- Database cleanup: Regularly optimise and clean your databases to improve performance and reduce resource consumption.
When to upgrade
Consider upgrading your hosting plan if you consistently exceed resource limits or experience performance issues. Signs that you may need to upgrade to a VPS hosting plan include frequent downtime, slow website performance, or rapid traffic growth. A VPS plan offers more dedicated resources and flexibility to accommodate your website's needs.
Troubleshooting resource issues
Resource limits can lead to various errors that impact your website's functionality:
508/503 errors
These errors indicate resource limits have been reached, causing temporary unavailability. Check your resource usage and consider upgrading if these errors persist.
Cannot send email
If you cannot send emails, it may be due to full disk space or inode limits. Clear space by deleting old emails and attachments.
Database errors
Database errors can occur if your server's memory or CPU is overburdened. Optimise your database and monitor resource usage to prevent these issues.
For details on PHP version support dates, see the PHP supported versions page.
Related guides
- Getting Started with Your GHost Cloud Hosting Account
- WordPress Performance Optimisation Guide
- cPanel Overview - A Complete Beginner's Guide
- How to Manage Files Using cPanel File Manager
- How to Create and Manage MySQL Databases in cPanel
For more information on our hosting plans and to find the right fit for your needs, visit our Shared Hosting page. If you need personalised assistance, please reach out via our support ticket system.
