I thought I would take a moment and duplicate the interview here on David & Goliath just in case the original goes missing. The original interview was done with a Fused Network client many moons ago.
The interview with myself was completed by Linux Tech Daily, you can read more below.
Interview with Fused Network’s David McKendrick
Fused Network is the best webhost, period. When I have a problem, I hear back almost instantly. When my site was flooded, it went offline for four minutes, compared to two days with my previous host. I’ve reviewed them here. Fused’s David McKendrick is amazing work with. He serves as an inspiration.
Of the many great things I can say about David and Fused, two jump right out. Fused Network has offered free web hosting for Open Source projects since 2005.
Can you say that about your web host?
They also recently ended a Holiday Giveway where 100% of proceeds from the month of December went to the charity of your choice. David agreed to be interviewed, after humbly telling me my readers would be more interested in hearing from a coder. I thought you would like to hear about someone that loves Open Source (sorry RMS–Free Software) and puts his money where his mouth is.
Interview with David McKendrick of Fused Network:
1. Fused Network has a generous offer to host open-source projects for free. Can you tell me about the projects you currently host, and give details on the offer?
Well, since our inception back in 2003 under an alternate brand name, we’ve always been firm supporters of open source. Fused Network was primarily initiated to help cover the costs of hosting a couple of existing open source projects like e107 (http://www.e107.org), a content management system that I’ve spent several years using personally.
Since starting the open source hosting program (which is less than official) we’ve hosted the likes of e107, BitComet, mirrors for FreeCiv, Lingua (Chyrp) and a wide range of other projects. We’re always on the lookout for new projects to host, it’s our way of giving back to the community.
Essentially the offer is for any open source project that requires web hosting of any sort, we’re open to any arrangement of any capacity. While most projects these days are satisfied with providers like
SourceForge, it never hurts to have alternatives just in case they want a full-fledged site and a bit more control. Fused Network offers just that along with very reliable connections, gorgeous performance and a small vessel full of features.
2. What is the appeal of open-source to you?
Almost every aspect of open-source appeals to me in some form. There’s a number of key features of the movement itself that really spark my interest though. Primarily, the fact that it’s community driven is one alluring quality. Not only is it powered by people from all different walks of life but in a number of cases they’re developing selflessly for the greater good. The end-users are equally as vibrant though: Open source offers a wide range of benefits all the while being free in most cases!
The second reason is the fact that it’s open. The ‘open’ aspect of it allows there to be greater security (ironic, isn’t it?) in that masses of people can audit the code, add & subtract from it and develop it to fit their needs. If they need a specific feature they can add it in;
Likewise, if they don’t need a specific feature they can remove it to lessen the bulk of the software itself.
That isn’t to say that closed-source or proprietary software doesn’t have its’ own benefits as well but it’s simply not as selfless. There’s a great deal of downsides to closed-source as well including lack of 3rd party code auditing and in the end if a company goes under, the entire project tends to cease. Anyone left holding a license is essentially left holding a worthless piece of paper.
Open Source tends to alleviate a lot of those fears because projects can continue on essentially forever. In a nutshell, Open Source is freedom.
Freedom from obscene licensing fees, freedom from oppressive licensing structures & with it comes the ability to contribute, use & spread software freely.
3. What open-source software do you use the most? Do you have favorites?
One of the benefits of open source software is the ability to try multiple projects. At any given moment I’ve got at least ten different audio players, browsers & operating systems floating around on my pc and laptop. I’m a kid in the candy store when it comes to options. On the larger scale, there’s a wide range of ‘internet only’ open source applications I’ve been utilizing as well. To merely say I’m addicted would be a far cry from the truth.
These days, wordpress & e107 are my current favourites on the web. Both projects have excellent leadership, development speeds and goals. While each has an entirely different purpose, to me each are gorgeous in their own respects.
Wordpress allows the easy dissemination of information & e107 allows communities to be effortlessly constructed. There’s a number of other projects out there like Filebrowser, Vanilla & SMF that I also consider works of art.
On my desktop, Ubuntu’s release of Linux is probably 3rd in line for my love: It’s a feature-packed distribution that makes it very easy for end-users to utilize the product. Aeons ago, I recall being reprimanded for destroying our home computers with my horrible linux administration skills. At the time, we were floating around on the slowest dial-up in existence so I kept finding copies of redhat in the bargain bin at walmart to supplement my needs.
These days, I’ve had everyone from my aging grandparents to family members try out Linux. It’s impressive to watch them try it for the first time & see just how easy it is for the end-user. They themselves are surprised at the ease of use. Most find it easier to wrangle than Windows!
Beyond the operating system itself, I’m a huge fan of XMMS, Audacity, gnuCash, Ktoon, Songbird, Firefox & most of all the SWORD project. All of the software I enjoy using fills a need in my life that never could have been fulfilled in a closed source operating system: The licensing fees alone would have bankrupted me long ago. There’s hundreds of other projects that I could mention and use frequently but I’ll spare that for another time.
4. Tell me the history of Fused Network.
Fused Network has been involved in the web hosting industry since February 2006. Prior to 2006, I had operated a smaller web hosting provider that merged with Fused Network. Since our inception, we’ve had absolutely insane growth rates. Just this year, we’ve tripled our clientbase and now host almost 1,000 domain names — a far cry from the 150 we hosted at the beginning of this year.
A large part of our success can be attributed directly to open source projects. A great number of users from every project have signed up as clients after hearing about us supporting their projects selflessly.
It’s great seeing the community rewarding those involved.
5. If you don’t mind, tell us about yourself.
How in depth one could go on about this question, I was born in the woods & raised by wolves? Not quite, but close. I’m just a regular ol’ joe, since about 2003 I’ve been involved in web hosting, web development and online media.
After having spent a number of years handling support for web hosting companies like HostGator, Hostingplex & several others I decided it was time to launch a solid provider for a change. At the time while working my full-time job, I had a small ‘hobby provider’ but there was always a limit on how much time I could really devote to the project. In April of this year, I went full-time with Fused Network and haven’t looked back since.
Every day since our inception we’ve experienced explosive growth and there’s always something different going on. As far as myself — I’m fairly regular. I enjoy sailing, technology, scuba diving & piloting small cessnas are on the top of the list of the things I enjoy most though. I spent most of my childhood living in a number of diverse areas like Florida, Costa Rica & Prince Edward Island.
In 2001 I returned to Canada for University and spent a couple of years hacking away at an Economics degree at the lovely Carleton University in our nation’s capital, Ottawa. It wasn’t for me, so I tried web hosting instead: Less math that wasn’t directly related to cashing cheques.
The majority of my days are spent helping clients and exploring the big city of Toronto while chowing down on more raw fish than any man should intake.
6. What prompted the Holiday Giveaway Promotion?
Well, since our meager beginnings, Fused Network has always been involved in charitable activities. I would consider myself a philanthropist of sorts, and I’m always on a quest to help others no
matter how small or large the cause.
In Toronto and any large city we often see the needy strewn across sidewalks & sleeping under stairwells. We’re reminded daily that there are others out there that are not as blessed as we are — so that’s one place these programs launch out of, pure need.
Spending twelve hours a day helping clients & generating revenue simply isn’t enough, each of us has a responsibility to help those around us. Since I can’t get out there as frequently as I would like to myself, this program simply offers a way for myself and my clients to help in whatever way we can, no matter where we’re at in life.
7. What do you find the most challenging in web hosting? The most rewarding?
Technology is always a challenge. The beauty of it, is every day there’s something new going on. That’s also a downside, though. The entire industry seems like it changes on an almost daily basis — what users might want today, will be entirely different tomorrow. Technology can be fun on the other hand in that it’s quite exciting to work with something or someone new, all of the time.
The most rewarding aspect is definitely the giant smiles & the thank yous. Client satisfaction is what I got into the industry for and it’s what has kept me here. Just recently, a new client from Germany
overnighted me a bundle of chocolate and a postcard telling me about her city — the mere thought of having someone from halfway around the world thank you from the bottom of their heart — ah, that’s what keeps me going :)
My web hosting clients are blessings.
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