Dedicated Server Hosting

These days, you can get a website started with an inexpensive hosting service on a shared server for under ten bucks a month. But what do you do as your site grows and your needs change? Should you opt for a bigger hosting plan on a shared server or should you step up to dedicated server hosting? There are pros and cons to both approaches, without a doubt.

I've been considering dedicated web hosting for my little string of sites, but I'm not completely convinced I need to take that route (yet). Although going with a shared server might be lighter on the wallet, you may end up being disappointed with the lack of control. And if you spend a (good) bit more on dedicated server hosting, you'll get the control, along with a whole raft of responsibility.

Lets take a look at the reasons why you might want to make the leap and switch to a dedicated server (or not).

I'm lucky, as I don't have to face this decision alone. A bunch of my friends run their businesses on dedicated boxes. Seeing that I'm new to the game, I asked my pals for some pointers on dedicated server hosting.

To start, lets look at the differences between a shared web host and a dedicated web host:

A shared web host is a single computer that hosts multiple web sites--multiple being anywhere from a few to a few hundred--for a variety of customers. When you sign up for hosting on a shared web server, your website lives on the same physical machine with many other sites and many other businesses, with whom you have no relation. With many plans, you might even share an IP address with other unrelated web sites--this is never a good idea, but it’s often the case with plans on the less expensive side of spectrum.

A dedicated web host is a single server that is controlled by a single customer. Control is the key word, here. With a dedicated host, you own the neighborhood. You can put a slew of sites on your server, but no one can put a site on your box without your permission. With a dedicated host, you don't have to worry about unscrupulous neighbors who may bring your server down with bad coding or get your IP banned for something out of your control. As Paul explains, "a dedicated IP helps to avoid getting caught in overzealous block lists."

Advantages to Dedicated Server Hosting:

Control - Don't just think control, but complete control. "To me, the aspect of 'control' that's most important: knowing who else is on your server," my friend Randy writes. "Trust me: if I had a 'virtual server' and was on YOUR box with MINE, and I got some good publicity, you wouldn't like the slowdown on YOUR site(s). If it were ONLY you and me, it probably wouldn't be an issue; but if there were 50 *other* sites and just a few were getting good hits..." In this instance, server slowdown could be a monstrous issue. With a dedicated server, "your site isn't subject to the vagaries of traffic generated by other sites on a shared server," explains Paul. "Meaning: You don't get hit if they suddenly get swamped with traffic."

Server OS and Control Panel - Religious OS wars aside, the dedicated web host's operating system and control panel might be considered as personal preferences. "If you're a *nix gearhead, it doesn't matter," Randy explains. "If you're like me (read: only enough *nix to get into trouble), a good CP is a must. My advice: stay away from Ensim (neat, but not powerful); cPanel is good (powerful, but a bit clunky -- though runs nice once it's up and going)."

Flexibility - Running your own server lets you do thing the way you want. It allows for "more flexibility in the types of things you can install," says Paul. "Because the host doesn't have to worry about YOU swamping their other customers or chewing up 'excessive resources.'" This also means that you can centralize your projects on one machine, rather than having your web site spread out across a bunch of different hosts. And more so, you can, as Paul puts it, "tailor your complete enterprise in ways that are most convenient for you."

Dedicated Server Specification Tips:

Bandwidth - It's absolutely essential that you get a plan that allows enough capacity to serve your audience. Choose a plan that's short on bandwidth and you may end up paying through the nose for overage charges.

Adequate Hardware - While processor speed might not be the biggest issue, memory certainly qualifies. Make sure you get plenty of RAM and a sufficient amount of hard drive storage.

Backup Strategy - A dedicated web server allows for easier backups. Cover your rear and make regular server backups part of your routine.

Service - While dedicated server hosts are thought to provide better service overall than share hosts, all hosts are not created equal. Check around and look into a number of hosts before you sign up for the service. Be sure to talk to existing customers to get their feedback.

Dedicated Server Hosting Caveats:

My friend Don came up with an interesting caveat for cases where multiple sites run on the same dedicated host. "With most dedicated servers all of your sites will end up in the same IP range, so that search engines using Hilltop will see that they are all coming from the same person and could take your whole business out in one fell swoop by penalizing your IP block. Dedicated server companies definitely need to look at providing multiple totally different IPs as an option."

Like the line from the Spiderman movie goes, "with great power comes great responsibility." If you're thinking about getting a dedicated server, you want to make sure either that you're up to the task or that your managed host will provide a higher level of support. "Somebody's got to work the thing, and if you're not a programmer, you're liable to get yourself into trouble," as Don put it. "Once you get yourself into trouble, you're in serious trouble." With a dedicated server, you're the one that must watch for and install any updates. If something goes wrong (heaven forbid horribly wrong), you're the one that's responsible, unless you have a managed hosting solution that provides support for said installs and emergencies.

Then again, if you have some serious (and seriously reliable) geeky friends, you might just be covered ...

Posted by geekbooks at March 17, 2004 09:10 PM

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