| What is Dedicated Web Hosting? | | | | Server administrators must be able to apply |
| Dedicated web hosting can alleviate the need to | | | | kernel upgrades, service packs, and software |
| share hardware or software with any other sites | | | | patches, as well as provide ample security, |
| or web pages. Webmasters are given the | | | | monitor traffic, update server applications, balance |
| autonomy to decide on applications that are | | | | server loads, and configure email, FTP, and DNS |
| installed on the server to create specific | | | | services. |
| configurations for their web needs, and have the | | | | * In exchange for competency in the above |
| ability to provide a secure environment for their | | | | functions, the best uses for a dedicated web |
| site. As compared to a shared-server | | | | server environment would be: mission-critical sites |
| environment, dedicated web hosting offers a | | | | requiring custom server management and |
| peace of mind that a site will be delivered in a | | | | software implementation. |
| reliable and secure manner. | | | | * dedicated hosting resellers, web developers and |
| There are major benefits of dedicated web | | | | designers who need greater flexibility, reliability and |
| hosting, as discussed below. However, the major | | | | security for their clients |
| disadvantage, cost, is quickly being overcome. | | | | * backbones of corporate intranets |
| Because of continual growth in the dedicated web | | | | * robust and dependable servers for streaming |
| hosting industry, the rates for dedicated server | | | | media, online gaming, and e-mail or chat |
| plans are rapidly declining. A competitive | | | | applications |
| environment drives up the level of service and | | | | * complex application sites with high traffic and |
| decreases cost. This reduction is powered by an | | | | secure information such as ecommerce, database, |
| increase in small and medium-sized businesses | | | | and multimedia sites. |
| gaining an online presence and the rapid | | | | * enterprise-level web sites |
| proliferation of web hosting providers. | | | | * Web sites which may have content restrictions |
| Advantages of Dedicated Web Hosting | | | | if hosted elsewhere (e.g. adult targeted sites.) |
| Dedicated server hosting is favorable because of | | | | How to decide: |
| 2 major assets: control and reliability. | | | | Overall, the cost, security of data and equipment, |
| Since a dedicated web administrator has more | | | | bandwidth availability, the knowledge and integrity |
| control over a dedicated server, it tends to be | | | | of the web-hosting provider, uptime, hardware |
| more secure, compared to a shared web server. | | | | maintenance, and any technical support offered |
| By knowing what exactly is installed on a | | | | by the dedicated web host are important deciding |
| dedicated server through full root access, a | | | | factors. Although your specific dedicated web |
| system administrator is able to confidently make | | | | hosting needs may be unique in a few ways, |
| decisions on the software and application updates | | | | generally, one can make a decision on a dedicated |
| necessary to maintain the dedicated web server | | | | web server provider by considering the following |
| and keep it running in its most optimal | | | | things: |
| configuration. | | | | Data Transfer Rates: |
| Increased reliability is another major asset of | | | | Data transfer will need to be determined based |
| dedicated server web hosting, as a server | | | | on the amount of information that will be |
| administrator has the self-sufficiency to optimize | | | | downloaded, as well as the type of content a site |
| page loads by tweaking variables such as page | | | | will be sharing (general text vs. high resolution |
| load speed and general server resource allocation. | | | | graphics and multimedia). A dedicated web host |
| This server reliability translates to customer | | | | will generally have various packages that will allow |
| satisfaction and an increase in the bottom line | | | | one to choose the data transfer level, normally |
| goals of a web site's presence. | | | | measured in "gigabytes per month". Higher levels |
| DisAdvantages of Dedicated Web Hosting | | | | of data transfer rates normally mean more cost, |
| While the benefits of dedicated web server | | | | so utilization of the first few months to correlate |
| hosting is apparent, the bottom line consideration, | | | | data transfer rates and traffic patterns is key. |
| especially for business purposes is cost. Dedicated | | | | Platforms: |
| web hosting is significantly more expensive | | | | The two most common systems available are |
| compared to shared or virtual web hosting, and | | | | Windows based servers versus some flavor of |
| until recently, could most commonly be quoted at | | | | UNIX (Linux and Solaris). Windows is historically |
| several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars | | | | more expensive, but is generally regarded as |
| per month. Although cost may still be exorbitant, | | | | more user-friendly, especially with the ubiquitous |
| most businesses are able to justify the use of | | | | presence of Windows-based pc's and |
| dedicated servers through a true web analysis to | | | | administrators. Linux, on the other hand, is less |
| weigh the resources necessary to run applications | | | | expensive to install, but harder to maintain, as a |
| and code. | | | | steeper learning curve exists for those unfamiliar |
| Another drawback is the need to be able to | | | | with it. Therefore, the operating system installed |
| monitor, install, upgrade and configure programs, | | | | on a dedicated web server should depend on a |
| add sites, deal with potential hacks, and | | | | couple of factors. |
| troubleshoot systems. Therefore, the necessary | | | | First, the platform should be conducive to the |
| system administration skills, if one does not | | | | coding in which the website and necessary |
| possess them, may definitely inhibit the successful | | | | applications are developed. Next, since |
| implementation of a web site hosted on a | | | | administration of the dedicated server will be done |
| dedicated web server. | | | | by the subscriber, the necessary skill base to |
| Benefits: | | | | support the platform must be in place. Commands |
| The direct benefits of a dedicated web hosting | | | | and administration techniques are definitely |
| plan surround the ability to totally administer a | | | | platform-specific. |
| web server. The advantage to be able to | | | | Monitoring: |
| effectively maintain a dedicated server lies in | | | | Dedicated server monitoring works to prevent |
| one's ability to control the variables associated | | | | service interruptions. The web host will provide a |
| with reliability and stability. In a dedicated | | | | service that can, at a pre-set frequency, check a |
| environment, server overload, malicious scripts | | | | website to see downtime. |
| from other users, and too many installed | | | | Automation: |
| applications are variables which can be controlled, | | | | Although dedicated web servers may require a |
| as compared to this loss of management in | | | | greater degree of skill, certain dedicated web |
| shared server hosting. | | | | hosting companies may offer software that will |
| Furthermore, a dedicated server allows one to | | | | automate common procedures, thus lessening the |
| only install applications or software that applies to | | | | high level knowledge necessary to maintain |
| the major hosting goal at hand. Conversely, | | | | servers and implement new services. |
| shared web hosting has installed software that | | | | Data Backup: |
| may or may not be related to the web hosting | | | | Some dedicated web hosting providers assist the |
| goals. | | | | web hosting subscriber with data backups. Finding |
| Reliance on the web host repair services and time | | | | a dedicated server provider who will assist in this |
| delays of platform repairs can be minimized, as | | | | process could alleviate the hassle of doing it |
| one may intervene and provide solutions to | | | | yourself and can allow one to devote time to |
| existing problems with dedicated web hosting. | | | | other things. |
| Having the option to add patches, upgrade | | | | Scalability: |
| software, or tweak performance is invaluable and | | | | Dedicated web hosting providers should be able to |
| allows the dedicated server administrator to work | | | | account for major growth. Progressive expansion |
| with 24 hour access to perform adjustments, | | | | can be accounted for by asking a web host if |
| corrections, or updates. | | | | modules of extra space, bandwidth, or better yet, |
| Lastly, speed of downloads can be determined | | | | larger packages can be purchased to allow easy |
| through the amount of bandwidth that is | | | | transition to better hardware and software. |
| dedicated to just your website. Statistically, | | | | Service Level Agreements: |
| visitors will quickly leave a site if the load time | | | | More dedicated web hosts are publishing their |
| was long. Dedicated servers allow quick delivery | | | | SLA's, which thoroughly documents what they will |
| of web pages, which increases the probability of | | | | do in exchange for what the customer is |
| keeping web site visitors on a site that may | | | | responsible for. For instance, some dedicated |
| convert them to paying customers. Furthermore, | | | | server hosts are offering features such as: 100% |
| quick loading pages enhance the company's image | | | | uptime guarantees, unlimited live answer technical |
| and may encourage existing customers to refer | | | | phone-based support, free upgrades of patches, |
| your web-based services to others. | | | | hot-fixes, personal Dedicated Sales account |
| What is the best application of a dedicated web | | | | managers, maintenance staff with spare parts for |
| hosting service provider? | | | | all server configurations, and more. A full |
| Utility of a dedicated server environment is best | | | | understanding of the commitment that a |
| suited to those with a working knowledge of | | | | dedicated web host is offering will help in a |
| server operating systems and those who don't | | | | decision to utilize that service. |
| mind troubleshooting problems which may arise. | | | | |