Frequently Asked Questions

The NearlyFreeSpeech.NET FAQ (*)

Our Service (*)

What is adjunct access?

What is the fine print on the "two cents" free trial?

What is a resource accounting unit?

How do I set up TLS (HTTPS) for my web site?

What is an alternate emergency contact?

How exactly are storage charges calculated?

Will bandwidth charges apply to my ssh usage?

What are the default directories created when I set up a new site?

Each site has a home directory that lives somewhere on our network, called the site root. Inside the site root, there are several subdirectories:

conf
This directory can be used for configuration files that shouldn't be in the public web directory. It can be used to customize PHP or to store configuration files for custom web servers and other daemon processes.
logs
This directory is used for your access and error logs (both current and archived) if you choose to enable them.
private
This directory is yours to use for files that you do not want accessible via the web at all. For example, if you're compiling a custom C++ or Go application, putting the source code in this directory would be appropriate. This directory is also your "home" directory for Unix shell purposes.
protected
Files in protected are accessible to scripts and daemons but cannot be directly downloaded over the web. For PHP and CGI applications, this should include libraries, frameworks, config files, data, or other support files that the scripts in the public folder need to operate. For daemon processes, everything but static content typically goes inside protected.
public
This directory is the heart of your site. All of the content in this directory is directly accessible via the web. Put all your static HTML files, images, .htaccess files, and directly-accessed PHP or CGI scripts in this directory and, to the best of your ability, absolutely nothing else.
tmp
This directory is for transient (temporary) files, like files uploaded via PHP before they get processed, or for session-handling files.

Old sites may also have a symbolic link from htdocs to public. htdocs is a historical name for the same directory. It is not used by our system.

What is resource billing?

How do I transfer something to another member?

How do I set up two-factor authentication for my membership?

How do I set up TLS using my own key and a third-party certificate?

The IP addresses listed for my site have changed since I last looked. Should I be concerned?

How do I cancel my membership?

To manage services for multiple entities, should I create multiple memberships or accounts?

How did my account get overdrawn?

Can I change the name of my _____?

How can people contribute funds to support my site?

If I want to start my site over, should I delete it and make another with the same name?

Why was I warned that my PayPal deposit is nonrefundable?

How come I can't ping/traceroute stuff on your network?

How do I sign up my friend for NearlyFreeSpeech.NET?

I tried to change my contact email address but I never got a confirmation email. How do I get another one sent to me?

You forwarded me a DMCA notification affecting my site. Now what?

What is maintenance mode?

How do I transfer something from one account to another on my membership?

How can multiple people manage services hosted here?

Why does my bank's website say you charged my credit card even though your site said the payment(s) failed?

What is the "Excess Non-Production Sites" charge?

I don't log in to your site all the time. How do I stay up to date on news and announcements?

How do I remove or replace my two-factor device?

How do I hand over control of hosted services to someone else?

How do I see what users I have granted adjunct access to my site?

How do I transfer funds between accounts on my membership?

How do I remove TLS?

What are the IP addresses of your name servers?

Is my website non-production, production, or critical?

What is unbilled storage?

What is account sharing?

Why can't I cancel my membership?

How do I change the contact email address I gave you when I created my membership?

How do I get a receipt for a deposit I made?

Is penetration testing of sites hosted here allowed?

How can I send funds to another member's account or site?

Since your service is prepaid, how do I know when to add funds?

Do you provide refunds for services already rendered?

What do I do if I find a typo or mistake in your documentation?

What is NearlyFreeSpeech's backup strategy for user content?

Will my site still incur charges if it is disabled?