cloud bandwidth

**Island** · 08-09-2011, 06:25 PM

Just saw the cloud offering here:
http://steadfast.net/services/cloud.php

First question:
How is the bandwidth of x GB / hour billed?
It says "* - Pricing is based on an average month, 730.48 hours, billed hourly. Hourly pricing is rounded."
and
"1460GB of Monthly Outbound Bandwidth* (2GB per hour)"

But I'm a bit confused by the calculator. Does the above cloud offering mean that if I ordered 2 GB/hour I get 1460 GB per month, or that it needs to average under 2 GB/hour on a 95th percentile, or that I have to be under 2 GB each and every hour or else be charged an overage for that hour?

Or is the calculator simply an estimation tool while you're actually billed at $0.08/GB rounded to the nearest GB per hour and you don't commit to any bandwidth at all but are billed for rounded GB/hour each and every hour? (is this rate listed as an addon the same as the "main" bandwidth rate?)

**Karl** · 09-27-2011, 05:55 PM

It is not billed on 95th percentile, etc. it is just straight data transfer. You are allowed 2GB per hour. Now, inbound traffic is free and traffic going over the internal network is free. This only account for outbound public network traffic.

The 1460GB number is the maximum amount you could use in a month at no charge. The real limit is 2GB/hour. Overages are billed at only $0.08 per GB as well.

Note: While this may be confusing to some, the plans are billed hourly across the board for any resource usage. The $20/mo is basically just a "base commitment" to use the service and cover base costs like credit card processing and support.

**Island** · 11-16-2011, 01:06 AM

Thanks very much for the clear explanation - that makes perfect sense.

Sorry I was confused by the calculator; it takes a bit of figuring to compare the 2GB/hour baseline allowance + exact billing to a standard vps/server with a monthly allowance.

Old dogs... new tricks...