About Dedicated Server Colo
Introduction To Dedicated Server Hosting
A machine dedicated exclusively to the hosting needs of one customer is called a dedicated server. With shared hosting, many users compete for resources on the same server, there are access limits and very little or no administrative privileges are provided. With a dedicated server, all these limitations go away.
Even so, there are degrees of control and flexibility depending on the type of server. The customer can opt to either take complete administrative charge or take partial responsibility, with duties split between the web host and customer. Whatever the choice, a server still offers a great deal more in terms of root access, reboot privileges, choice of OS and installation/upgrades for scripts and software.
With regard to the OS, the choices are pretty simple. The customer can opt for either a licensed windows server which involves a fee, or go for a free UNIX installation or an open source Linux variant. A third option, suitable for large to medium scale organizations with security and stability concerns, is to install an enterprise version of Linux which comes with support. The choice ultimately depends on the nature and size of the business and online setup, and the type of dedicated server.
Dedicated servers, as mentioned above, can be either fully managed, partially managed or unmanaged. For partially managed servers, the division of work between the web host and customer can vary depending on the company and hosting package. The customer usually gets super user rights and root access, which means the ability to install or upgrade just about everything required. In such situations, the OS is usually handled by the hosting company.
With a fully managed server, the host takes care of all administrative functions. The customer simply makes use of available tools and resources to manage content and run the website or websites. With an unmanaged server, the customer takes charge of everything, including administration of the operating system.
End of the day, dedicated servers offer a huge amount of control over installation and use of software and scripts and the ability to modify server settings as required. Since the customer is the only one using the machine, the server's full resources and settings can be devoted towards the company's online operations. This makes the setup more powerful and secure, and offers inherent capabilities to handle growth and site traffic.
With so many premium aspects, a dedicated server doesn't come cheap. As compared to VPS or shared hosting, the costs are quite steep. The exact charges the customer needs to pay per month depends on the machine's configuration, the OS (enterprise, licensed or free) and the bandwidth (unmetered or metered).
