| A dedicated server web hosting package provides | | | | * The dedicated server hardware can be configured |
| you with a physical server for your sole use. The | | | | to your requirements. |
| server will be maintained in a data centre which has | | | | * The hardware configuration can be updated as |
| good security, a controlled environment (air | | | | your requirements evolve. |
| conditioning etc.) and secure services (e.g. multiple | | | | * You get root access (or full administrative access) |
| power sources). Colocation can be similar to | | | | to the server so have full control. |
| dedicated server web hosting. In the former case | | | | * You can load whatever software you want and |
| you pay for space and services so you can put your | | | | configure it as you require. |
| own server in a data centre. In the latter case you | | | | In the case of shared hosting the hosting company |
| rent the server from the hosting company who are | | | | looks after everything except your website. |
| responsible for the hardware and may or may not | | | | Unfortunately the position is not so consistent with |
| provide some software management services. | | | | dedicated server web hosting. There are unmanaged |
| Despite the many benefits of dedicated server web | | | | services and managed services (and degrees of |
| hosting when compared to shared hosting there are | | | | management) but one hosting company's definition of |
| two negatives to bear in mind: | | | | "management" may differ from the next. It is |
| 1. Cost - The step from shared to dedicated server | | | | therefore important to decide what you want to do |
| hosting is quite large in cost terms and you need to | | | | and what you want your hosting company to be |
| be sure this is worthwhile. VPS (Virtual Private | | | | responsible for, for example with regard to: |
| Server) hosting is an intermediate step that is worth | | | | * maintaining the operating system |
| considering as it provides many of the benefits of | | | | * maintaining application software |
| dedicated hosting at a significantly lower cost. | | | | * monitoring the server |
| 2. Technical Expertise - The selling points of dedicated | | | | * protection from the internet |
| server web hosting largely concern the control and | | | | * taking of backups |
| flexibility it offers. The negative here is that you | | | | * support and assistance provided. |
| need a certain level of technical expertise to take | | | | There are a range of prices for dedicated server |
| advantage of this. If this is not available you will have | | | | hosting and the lead in price advertised may well be |
| to have a managed service which necessarily limits | | | | an unmanaged service. |
| what you can do (and increases the cost). | | | | Given the options available it is difficult to find the |
| Some of the advantages of dedicated hosting are: | | | | best balance of services and price with a good |
| * Your site cannot be affected by the actions of | | | | reputable company. The latter is important as you |
| third parties so its performance and security are | | | | want a supplier who in likely to in the business for |
| improved. | | | | the foreseeable future. |