Friday, February 22, 2008

Dedicated Servers: Managed Versus Unmanaged

Have you decided to switch to a dedicated server? Should you use a managed server or an unmanaged server? This article will show you the difference, and then you can decide which is better.

There are generally two types of dedicated servers: managed dedicated servers and unmanaged dedicated servers. What is the difference between the two? First, an unmanaged dedicated server will leave all the management responsibilities in your control. As the customer, you will have to update the software on your own, apply necessary patches, perform OS restores, and install the software. You will also be responsible for monitoring your own security.

With an unmanaged dedicated server, you are going to be the only one responsible for the day-to-day operations and maintenance. Your service provider will monitor your network, repair any hardware problems, and fix any connectivity issues. This type of dedicated server may be best for you if you have ever had any server management experience.

A managed dedicated server, on the other hand, is monitored and maintained by the service provider. If you rent or lease a managed dedicated server, then your service provider will take over the responsibility of any software updates and patches, make sure security is in place, replace hardware, and monitor the network. This type of dedicated server works best for you if you don’t have a lot of experience managing a server or don’t have the time to do what is necessary to keep your server up and running and online.

Which one is right for you? Do you have the time to manage your dedicated server yourself? Would it be better for someone else to manage it for you? Either way, the choice is yours.

How To Choose A Dedicated Server

Have you decided to switch to a dedicated server? How do you choose the right dedicated server for your needs?

If you want a good dedicated server, then you should choose one that will provide you with everything you need for your specific use. You will want to make sure that your dedicated server has enough bandwidth to support your needs. You don’t want your site to go down or to get charged high prices for overages.

You will also need to decide if you want an unmanaged dedicated server or a managed dedicated server. Do you think you can handle managing, updating, and maintaining your server all by yourself? Do you have server management experience? If not, then maybe you should choose a managed dedicated server and let someone else manage it for you.

You will also need to decide how much you want to spend on your dedicated server. Are you on a budget? There are budget friendly dedicated servers out there, but if you can afford it, then you should probably spend the money on a higher quality server and receive better service. It is entirely up to you and your budget constraints.

This gives you some idea of what you need to decide in order to choose the right dedicated server. Once you have made your decision on which one to choose, then you need to contact a good dedicated service provider and get the ball rolling. The sooner you get your site moved, the quicker you can get your business back on the right track.

Web Hosting On Dedicated Servers

It may seem too expensive to host your websites on a dedicated server, but when you compare it to shared hosting, the end result is worth it. With your own dedicated server, you can be assured of having a more reliable and stable server. You won’t have to worry so much about overload, bad codes and scripts from other users, and too many applications being uploaded.

You will only install the software and applications that you need and want to use on a dedicated server. This lessens your dependency on web hosts and bypasses the time delays and expenses accrued from them. You can supply instant support to your clients whenever they need it. This is a vital part of any successful business. If you provide reliable service to your clients, then they are going to be loyal and give you good word-of-mouth promotion. This will help your business continue to grow, and that is the ultimate goal.

You will have 24 hour access to your dedicated server, and this will allow you to adjust, correct, or update anything you need to in mere minutes. You won’t have to worry about visitors leaving your site because it wouldn’t load fast enough or wasn’t available. If your website is able to download quickly and is always available, then the visitor will be encouraged to use your services and come back if they need you again. This will be good for your overall image and will make the customers want to refer you to all of their friends.

Benefits of Using a Dedicated Server

Shared web hosting may seem like an inexpensive hosting option, but they are very limiting. Have you ever considered using a dedicated server? The benefits to using a dedicated server are many. After reading this, you may want to switch your web hosting to a dedicated server.

The performance of a dedicated server is far superior to that of shared hosting. This is due in large part to the fact that you are not sharing your processor power, memory, or disk space with other sites using the same server. Since you don’t have to worry about the server being slowed down, overrun with traffic, or crashed by another site, a dedicated server is more reliable than a shared server.

You will feel a lot more secure with a dedicated server than a shared server. No one else will have access to your server and you can be positive that you are secure. If you ever need to install some special software or need to configure your server to your needs, then a dedicated server will give you that option.

With a dedicated server, you can run your own custom firewall. This will enable you to enforce your own control policy that will only allow people you want to be able to access it. Something else you get with a dedicated server that you don’t get with a shared server is your own IP address. You won’t have to share it with anyone else.

If the need arises, you can always add more memory, disk space, or extra processors. With shared servers, you can’t do this. Dedicated servers also allow you to have a Service Level Agreement. With all of these benefits, how can you not want a dedicated server?

What Are Dedicated Servers?

Do you want to host your website on the Internet, but you don’t want to share server space with anyone else? Have you ever heard of dedicated servers? These could be the perfect solution for you if you don’t want to share your server space.

A dedicated server is a type of Internet hosting that allows you to lease an entire server and not share it with anyone else. This is a more flexible option than shared hosting because it will give you full control over your server or servers. You will get to choose your operating system and your hardware. Your hosting company can provide you with server administration as an add-on option.

Dedicated servers are usually housed in data centers and can offer less overhead with a larger return on your investment. A dedicated hosting service will also provide you with system administration, since they own the server itself. Some useful features that may be offered to you at an additional fee are serial consoles, automated restores of OS, and remote backup spaces.

The operating systems that are offered on dedicated servers are usually determined by the availability, price, and the employees’ familiarity with that operating system. If you are on a budget, you can still lease a less expensive dedicated server, but the quality might not be as good as one of the higher quality providers.

The administrative maintenance of the operating system will sometimes include upgrades, security patches, and daemon updates. Some levels of management may also include the ability to add users, domains, daemon configuration, and custom programming.

There are a few limitations to dedicated servers. Most of the providers don’t allow IRC, which can overwhelm their networks, and this can lower service quality for all customers. Adult content is prohibited due to the questionable legality of it and because it can consume large sums of bandwidth. Also, “spam” is generally disallowed by the acceptable use policy.

Now that you know what a dedicated server is, do you think it is right for you? If it is or isn’t, it is up to you and what your needs are. Do your research and make the decision that is right for you and your company.