optimize the site for speed

[basnyd]

Hi -

I've built a site for my client and we have had several issues along the way as since we launched it 5 weeks ago. The biggest issue is the speed of the site. It seems to bog down. I don't know if that is because of the number of products / the server / the connection / etc. I need an expert to take a look and give some advice on what needs to be done to bump up the performance of the site.

Here is the site -- International Flags - Flags of the World @ The Map Shop : All sizes of outdoor, indoor and miniature international flags

Please let me know what you think. All advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Barb

[ALElder]

This would be due to your server

Is it shared hosting?
Who are you using?

Could also be the connection they have upload download speed.

Adam

[basnyd]

This is a VPS (virtual private server) through Webintellects. We moved off the shared hosting hoping this would improving things.

Barb

[ALElder]

This would be a case of you get what you pay for I just went to WebIntellects - Virtual Private Servers, Managed Dedicated Servers, Shared Hosting it also has lag so I think you need to move to a completely new hosting company.

Thanks,

Adam

[basnyd]

Do you have a recommended host? They need to provide phone support in addition to all the normal goodies of great speed, uptime, etc. The client is very particular, so if I move the site I need to be able to guarantee better than he has now.

Barb

[met00]

I have been very happy with 1and1. They offer a managed server option that is very reasonable (if you don't want to maintain the server yourself - if so, get a root server). I have found that I can put 4 stores with each doing about 3,000 uniques a day on the business server with no problem (there is one store that has 30,000 products and that does slow down the HTTPD process and mysql can get mangled in a query a bit with that many products, but even then, we have seen the CPU on the business II server never go above 80% utilization, even under the most harsh conditions).

[disclaimer: I get nothing for recommending 1and1]

[basnyd]

Thanks for the information. Is there a way to test server response times for a domain?

Barb