You may have seen advertisements for different types of web hosting. Ads for a dedicated server vs server co-location may be difficult to understand and you might feel that you are comparing apples and oranges. However, with a bit basic information about these two services you may be able to finally make that decision and host your site in a way that is best for you and your company.
At its most basic level, web hosting provides access to a special computer which can broadcast your web site information. This computer is a server and they are generally faster than an ordinary computer and this makes it possible for them to transmit a lot of information at one time. This keeps your website from slowing down. There is always a charge for the transmission of information, but the way a dedicated server and the way server co-location calculates these costs is different.
With a dedicated server, you are in control of an entire server. You lease an entire server from a web hosting company and therefore you can make more decisions about the operating system and any other software which is being utilized. However, if your website is popular and receives a lot of web traffic you may find that your bandwidth, or transmission charges, are quite high and this can be a problem for many smaller businesses.
You may need to pay for the bandwidth that you are using, but you do not need to worry about dealing with regular updates, software issues and other problems of that type since that is part of what the fees you pay will cover. It can be well worth the bandwidth rental fees if you do not need to worry about performing or paying for regular maintenance and server upkeep like you do with server co-hosting.
Unlike a dedicated server, server co-location is listed as being an affordable way for small business to maintain and broadcast their website. Unlike a dedicated server, with co-location you physically own the server itself. This may mean a larger initial outlay to pay for the hardware. You then take the server to an information centre which is run and maintained by the co-location company. You are basically renting space in a warehouse, and therefore bandwidth is not charged, simply rental space. The company you are renting space for gives you an IP address that allows your site to be accessed and then you are responsible for the rest.
If you like the idea of not worrying about the building your server is housed in, server co-location may be a good idea. They usually have back up power supplies which can keep your website from being inaccessible during a power outage. They also have better security than you might in a home or office setting and so your server will be more physically secure than it may be with a dedicated hosting company.
If you are someone who does not want to be responsible for the maintenance and updating of your server, co-location may not be the best for you. Because it is your server, updating the operating system or any programs becomes your responsibility and many people do not care for that overly much.
It can be difficult to decide whether a dedicated server is better for you than server co-location. Ultimately, it is a good idea to get prices from both types of hosting companies and compare costs to see how each will impact your bottom line. Finding ways to make money from your online presence is critical to your success as a company.
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