Is Zen Cart slow ? Or is it just me ??

I have forwarded info to 1and1 concerning the DB being slow... We will see when I move to another box. In the mean time... With OSC and ZC running (probably on the same box, the result is OSC renders the index page in 1 -2 seconds while ZC renders in about 10 seconds.. both stock out of the box... so when I move what do you think I will see ? Both as fast ? Well, no..obviously the one with less options will fly while the other does better... I am hopeing it will give enough breathing room so that I can actually use ZC... Here's hoping...

Steve how many threads do you need to say the same thing

This is the ONLY thread concerning how slow ZCart appears to be that I started.. The other thread about ZCart being Slow was not started by me and I did not see it when I placed mine... If I had, I would have used it !
... and I am still trying very hard to get all this ironed out with ZC functions and 1and1 ! I am NOT trying to under rate ZC ! I want very much to use it if I can get some SPEED !

so can someone please check my site - it's not launched yet, has 2 products and is wtupidly slow - I'm with Dreamhost who say they can not do anything!
www.caferoyal.org/groceries

1st hit to your site is a dog as your hosting site does not cache the information needed for the gethostaddress ...

NOTE: click home and that 41+ second delay is not there ...

Next click on say a Category is slow ... reclick the Category and still slow ...

NOTE: your site in intermittantely slow ... your hosting site either throttles your site, or you are on an over loaded server or your hosting site is not properly caching the MySQL querries and database optimization is sorely lacking ...

This site is very very sad ... Dreamhost must be confused as to how to configure this server properly for php and MySQL let alone anything else ...

/www.caferoyal.org/groceries
Rotating header images, mouseovers, sidebox image at 57k
will all help to slow down site IMHO

I've got a couple of ZC sites running on Dreamhost that load in less that 5 seconds nearly all of the time. IMO, neither Dreamhost or ZC are the whole problem. (I love Dreamhost personally, but I will concede they have speed problems sometimes. I'm just prepared to take the trade off for the low cost of hosting with them.)

Misty pointed out a couple of things that I think would be suspect... as well it looks like you're loading a WordPress blog in at the same time. I'm not versed enough in the server tech to tell you for sure, but I'd think that would slow it down some as well, seeing as it's also a database driven app with its own query times...

A quick check on the speed report shows me the total image size on one load of your home page is 314K. Compare that to one of my sites (http://citydweller.net/shop) which loads 6 featured items at the home page and total image size is 56K. Granted, your site is much prettier - but if it's going to take so long to load (on broadband), how many people will actually see it? The speed report tells me that it would take more than 70 seconds to load on dial up - just based on the filesize (that doesn't consider query time). Ouch.

Sacrificing art for commerce is the question here. At the very least you might consider optimizing all those images a bit. I ran through a couple of your header images and most of the ones I saw are greater than 30K (one was nearly 60K).

as well it looks like you're loading a WordPress blog in at the same time. I'm not versed enough in the server tech to tell you for sure, but I'd think that would slow it down some as well, seeing as it's also a database driven app with its own query times...
Can confirm... have zencart test site, with Wordpress module installed, which loads at least 3 times slower than straight zencart install, with optimised images
and basic template.. so adding bells and whistles to zencart NOT a good idea if maximum loading power required.
HTH

steverf:

This is the ONLY thread concerning how slow ZCart appears to be that I started.. The other thread about ZCart being Slow was not started by me and I did not see it when I placed mine... If I had, I would have used it !
... and I am still trying very hard to get all this ironed out with ZC functions and 1and1 ! I am NOT trying to under rate ZC ! I want very much to use it if I can get some SPEED !

I just went through this with 1and1 for a customer of mine. They gave us no real explanation so I moved his site to my server. He is much happier because my server loads his site is a second or so, 1and1 was taking up to 15 seconds.

I can supply you with hosting if you like and are not getting proper support with 1and1. Good Luck!

folks can also take a look at the hosting link at the top of this page.

I am also using 1and1 and there are so SLOW!!!! I tried to call them and ask to be moved to a less populated server and I got this reply

Thank you for contacting us.

This is with regards to your call earlier. Unfortunately, we don't move
database to another database
server. If your site is slow, then the only option that you have is
optimize your script. You need to
use this method as your site is querying the database too many times per
visitor. And not closing
connections? or making unneccessary connections. You need to do this so
that the server is not
stressed when large traffic connects.

They are saying it is Zencart which is CRAP!!!

My other options is to move it to another hosting company. any suggestions.

Thanks

just to take a look at the hosting link in the top nav bar here,
all the companies listed there are certified to run ZC

I'd vote for move to a Certified Hosting site with a clue and have a happier life ... :cool:

Rwatson626:

I am also using 1and1 and there are so SLOW!!!! I tried to call them and ask to be moved to a less populated server and I got this reply

Thank you for contacting us.

This is with regards to your call earlier. Unfortunately, we don't move
database to another database
server. If your site is slow, then the only option that you have is
optimize your script. You need to
use this method as your site is querying the database too many times per
visitor. And not closing
connections? or making unneccessary connections. You need to do this so
that the server is not
stressed when large traffic connects.

They are saying it is Zencart which is CRAP!!!

My other options is to move it to another hosting company. any suggestions.

Thanks

I've been using 1and1.com hosting for over 5 years now and I have been absolutely very happy with them for about 4 and a half of those. In all honesty I think that are growing a little too fast for them to keep up or maybe it is because they are trying to cram too many sites onto each server. I switched from 1and1.com to camelot-hosting.com on Friday. I can already tell a WORLD of difference. The best thing is, Merlin switched everything for me in a matter of minutes (literally). I didn't have to do a thing. After the DNS propogated the whole process took maybe a day or so.

Sure, my site was down for about a day but that doesn't matter because it was barely usable on 1and1 servers. On 1and1 my site averaged about 15-20 seconds load time on a 6mbps road runner connection. Now it loads in 2.5-4 seconds. It is really unbelievable how much better the new host it.

And I am using the silver package (the least expensive one they offer). I just wished I would have switched when I first thought about doing it (right before the Christmas season in which I know for a fact that I lost a number of customers because of site issues/downtime).

You can check out my site at http://www.shoptomlinsons.com/ to see for yourself how fast it loads. Hope you have a good day.

-ajcannon

ajcannon:

I've been using 1and1.com hosting for over 5 years now and I have been absolutely very happy with them for about 4 and a half of those. In all honesty I think that are growing a little too fast for them to keep up or maybe it is because they are trying to cram too many sites onto each server. I switched from 1and1.com to camelot-hosting.com on Friday. I can already tell a WORLD of difference. The best thing is, Merlin switched everything for me in a matter of minutes (literally). I didn't have to do a thing. After the DNS propogated the whole process took maybe a day or so.

Sure, my site was down for about a day but that doesn't matter because it was barely usable on 1and1 servers. On 1and1 my site averaged about 15-20 seconds load time on a 6mbps road runner connection. Now it loads in 2.5-4 seconds. It is really unbelievable how much better the new host it.

And I am using the silver package (the least expensive one they offer). I just wished I would have switched when I first thought about doing it (right before the Christmas season in which I know for a fact that I lost a number of customers because of site issues/downtime).

You can check out my site at http://www.shoptomlinsons.com/ to see for yourself how fast it loads. Hope you have a good day.

-ajcannon

By the way, if you go to my site and you get the "Down for Error" display then you are on 1and1.com's servers. If you get a live shop then you are on the new camelot hosting servers. Apparantly the dns hasn't finished updating all the way yet. It's a good chance for you to see the difference though if you can happen to catch both of them at the same time.

-ajcannon

One of my clients has 1and1 and his speed sucks at certain times in the day. It's not a Zen Cart store either. If you get a Zen Cart certified host, your Zen Cart won't be slow.

ajcannon

Thanks took a look at your site and its a world of difference on how quick it loads.

ajcannon
Did 1and1 give you a hard time to canel. My client only been with them for a few months, I'm not sure if there is a contract.

Thanks

Hi All
I have the similar problem as Steve's description, I have two different domains for two different website, but the one with zen cart installation is very very slow, sometimes, it is time out, I am not sure how to fix this problem? :frusty:

Long Nguyen

steverf:

Hello All,

I have a ZenCart Test system set up on a Stable Dormant Domain.
The setup is totally STOCK with 2 products loaded. I have followed ALL of the FAQ's concerning SPEEDING up your site.

The Front Page (INDEX) loads in .8 -1.0 seconds....
The MyDomain/ZenCart System takes .. get this: 5 to 8 seconds before displaying anything... The 2 product images I have are 2k each.

Is this unusual ? or Expected ? Customers tend to leave sites that do not display something rather quickly. :down:

SteveRF

are both of your domains dynamic mysql database drivin sites?