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Peppergal:I would like Front Page Server Exensions added to my Sweet Dreams account.

Dreamhost: Sure, we can do that, but first we have to make sure you understand what this means:

1) There will be upwards of four days after we move the domain where you will not be able to update your site. Until your ISPs DNS servers update it will stay in its current state. <<FOUR DAYS!! GASP~Pepper>>

2) You won' t be able to use any tools other than Frontpage to publish. FTP will not work for the domain. <<okay, that' s fine with me>>

3) You will not be able to use CGI at all. <<Say WHAT?>>

4) You will not be able to use FrontPage email forms. We have a free form mail script that you may use instead.<<What the heck is this nonsense? I thought that' s what enabling FP Extensions was all about???>>

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Hello <Pepper>,

I can answer most of your questions about FrontPage, but what you have to keep in mind is that, to a certain extent, our hands our tied because all we get is a binary from Microsoft. We are limited to what it can do. And it seems to often not work.

Frontpage is correctly configured to use sendmail. It simply doesn' t work. We invested quite a bit of time into the problem and got nowehere, but I assure you we' ve looked into it thoroughly. MS is no help.

Pepper wrote:
Other webhosts (tripod; netfirms) have enabled FP extensions for me in one day. Why do you take four? I must say that it isn' t very convenient! I have people waiting to see their website and they certainly want to see it NOW, not in four days.

Dreamhost: Frontpage Extensions run as part of the webserver (Apache). We don' t have the Frontpage Extensions compiled into all the copies of Apache on our machines. Each machine has a separate copy dedicated to hosting FrontPage domains.

When we enable them, we start pointing DNS for your domain to the FrontPage-enabled copy of Apache. We configure your domain on both your old, plain Apache, and on the new, FP Apache. While DNS propagates, a browser will hit either one.

We can' t control the speed of DNS propgation. Slower ISPs (especially AOL) can take up to four days. While the old DNS info is out there, both webservers will have to be configured.

You will probably be able to update the site in a day or two, but we say four days because, well, sometimes it takes four days.

Pepper: So, everytime I create a website and list a new domain for someone, I will have to wait FOUR DAYS (on top of the 24 hours for the domain to take effect) before the extensions are enabled? That seems to be a really LONG time.

Dreamhost: Yes.

> I could FTP it, naturally...but I understand my custom form, which took me a *lot* of time to create and perfect, WON' T WORK WITH OR WITHOUT THE EXTENSIONS. IF THAT is the case, you should have that stated clearly on your Front Page help page and I would NOT have gone with you guys. (I understood the text on the page to mean that you couldn' t use the FP forms UNLESS you have server extensions, which makes sense) So...needless to say, I' m a little aggravated here. I really like what you offer...BUT I don' t want to use your form script. I like the FP one (that' s why I paid so much money for the FP software--to USE its features!!! I thought that once all the extensions were enabled on a
host, then all the features are able to be used!) I spent a LOT OF TIME getting these forms to client specifications. I do not want to create new ones with an unfamiliar script!!!

Dreamhost: I will update those KBase articles to be more clear. I' m sorry for the trouble.

If you' d like, write back and you can have a full refund under our 30 day guarantee (make sure to mention it when asking to have your account closed).

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Or am I overreacting here?

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Dreamhost: Frontpage Extensions run as part of the webserver (Apache). We don' t have the Frontpage Extensions compiled into all the copies of Apache on our machines. Each machine has a separate copy dedicated to hosting FrontPage domains.

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I can answer most of your questions about FrontPage, but what you have to keep in mind is that, to a certain extent, our hands our tied because all we get is a binary from Microsoft. We are limited to what it can do.

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And it seems to often not work.

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Frontpage is correctly configured to use sendmail. It simply doesn' t work.

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You will probably be able to update the site in a day or two, but we say four days because, well, sometimes it takes four days.

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We can' t control the speed of DNS propgation. Slower ISPs (especially AOL) can take up to four days. While the old DNS info is out there, both webservers will have to be configured.

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Pepper: So, everytime I create a website and list a new domain for someone, I will have to wait FOUR DAYS (on top of the 24 hours for the domain to take effect) before the extensions are enabled?

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Dreamhost: I will update those KBase articles to be more clear. I' m sorry for the trouble.

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Thank you...although your $25 dollar fee seems REALLY stiff for domain registrations...many places sell domain registrations for under $10. But anyhow....

(the capitals below are not shouting; but rather for emphasis)

I really resent the fact that your KBase information on FrontPage was MISLEADING. Had I KNOWN that you did NOT FULLY SUPPORT FrontPage as your KBase LED ME TO BELIEVE (and actually stated.." Dreamhost now fully supports FrontPage Extensions!" ), I would NEVER have signed up for an account, much less register a domain for such a high price. Perhaps you will reconsider the $25 fee. I can see something like $10, but given the fact that your pages WERE MISLEADING and INCORRECT, I think charging me $25 for something that is ultimately *YOUR MISTAKE* is a little harsh. I know your 30_day Guarantee states that the $25 is non-refundable...but given the circumstances here...

You also neglected to state on the KBase regarding FP Extensions that I' d " lose all CGI capabilities." (something which I still fail to understand anyway...I haven' t lost CGI with my Netfirms, Tripod, or Verio...really weird!) You clearly misrepresented yourselves here. I did not find ANY of this stuff out until AFTER I signed up and requested FP Extensions. There is probably something legally wrong with this! (bait and switch??? I' m sure the Better Business Bureau would be able to counsel me here) Frankly, you should give me a COMPLETE refund. I' ve saved screenshots of the two pages I quoted in an earlier email, showing how you misrepresented yourselves and misled me regarding FrontPage.

I looked at my card' s account online and have yet to see a credit for the refund. Hopefully it will be there on Thursday...and possibly you will reconsider the $25 domain registration fee. It' s the least you can do considering how far behind you have put me with my client due to the inaccurate information posted on your Knowledge Base. I know for a fact that it didn' t cost you that much, unless you register through Verisign. Try GoDaddy.com..they' re much cheaper.

Regards,