Dedicated Servers

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  1. Dedicated Server Hosting Overview
  2. Does This Sound Like You?
  3. Unmanaged vs. Managed?
  4. Popular Managed Service Options
  5. How Much Bandwidth Do I Need?
  6. What To Look For In A Data Center
  7. Questions To Ask Dedicated Server Providers

Dedicated Server Hosting Overview

For many businesses, dedicated server hosting can be a good investment for hosting corporate websites, e-commerce sites, high traffic sites and sites requiring a high level of security and reliability.  Dedicated servers offer the security, control and stability of colocation without the initial capital outlays associated with purchasing server hardware and equipment.
 
What is a dedicated server?  A dedicated server is a leased server located within a secure data center environment that is dedicated only to your website and applications.  There are often many different server hardware configurations available from low cost value to enterprise class servers with all of the bells and whistles.  A few of the important hardware considerations include the following: processor type and speed, RAM, storage, operating system (OS), firewall, bandwidth, managed service level.
 
Dedicated server hosting can be viewed as an alternative to colocation hosting, cloud server hosting, virtual private server and fully managed server hosting options.
 

Does This Sound Like You?

Moving from Shared Hosting to a Dedicated Server Hosting
You are currently using a shared hosting environment and are ready to take your website or application to the next level. Your website or application has grown popular enough to require the additional support and control that dedicated servers provide.  The user experience is being negatively impacted by slow load speeds, slower response times and downtime.  Reliability has been an issue.  You foresee additional performance issues arising in the long run.  Your shared server is simply overwhelmed.  You share an IP address with several other sites putting your site at risk of being included with spam or adult sites in the view of the search engines.  You are concerned about the security of your site, data and potential threats such as hacking.
 
Moving from In-House Hosting to Dedicated Server Hosting
You are currently hosting your server in-house.  Your server is located in a spare closet or telco room where you are running out of space.  The temperature of the room and equipment is becoming a concern.  Your utility bill is becoming increasingly expensive as a result of power consumption from the server and equipment.  You have access to a limited number of bandwidth options and providers.  You require more bandwidth to meet demand.  Reliability has been an issue.  Your IT staff is working hard to keep your server up and running.   When your internet or power goes down, your website or application goes down causing a loss of productivity, customers and it is business impactful.  There are no back-up systems in place for redundancy.  Performance is an issue.  You’re experiencing slow load speeds, response times and downtime.  It’s time to upgrade your server and equipment.
 
Dedicated Hosting for Industry Standards and Regulations
You are in an industry that is highly regulated and has very high standards in terms of data security, integrity and privacy.  You’re in the health care industry and are limited by HIPPA.  You are in the financial industry such as a credit card processor, shopping cart or e-commerce site and are required to be PCI compliant.  You require a cost effective hosting solution that meets specific industry standards.  You may or may not have IT resources available for the administration of the server.  Hosting a server in-house is out of the question.  The process to become PCI compliant or HIPPA compliant is not possible due to time constraints, lack of resources and costs.  The threat of a data breach is possible and could result in severe consequences including permanent loss of data, fines and lawsuits.  
 
Do any of these scenarios sound remotely similar to your situation?  If so, dedicated server hosting may be an option worth exploring.  When it comes to selecting dedicated servers, there are literally thousands of providers, solutions and equipment options available.  Everything from low cost dedicated servers to enterprise class dedicated servers available in the world’s most secure data centers.  
 

Unmanaged vs. Managed Dedicated Server Hosting

One of the most important aspects in selecting a dedicated server is whether to select a managed or unmanaged solution.  With a managed dedicated server, the data center or provider will provide some or all of the software and technical support needed to keep your server up and running.  With the unmanaged dedicated server option, the provider is obligated to keep the power on and the network connected which leaves you with a lot more responsibility in terms of software updates, virus scanning, load balancing, and other administrative tasks.
 
For most end users, the decision is fairly easy.  The unmanaged server option is typically appealing to businesses with in-house expertise in server management with the resources to handle the workload.  These users value the ability to maintain control over their dedicated servers and are not interested in the extra costs associated with hardware or an onsite technical support staff.  
 
On the other hand, a managed dedicated server allows small and midsized businesses to enjoy all of the benefits without the need to hire additional employees to manage their servers and equipment.  Unless you have a full time IT department to manage your server, you are probably going to want to go with a managed option so you can focus your time and resources on running your business.
 
With that in mind, the question may not be "managed or unmanaged," but rather "how managed?" Most good dedicated server providers now offer an a la carte approach to server management – meaning you can purchase the specific management services you need.
 

Popular Managed Services for Dedicated Servers

  • Server Monitoring – the provider will track your server’s performance and depending on the managed service, will either notify you or resolve the issue for you.
  • Disk Cleanup and Backup – the provider will backup your data and remove old or unnecessary files from your server on a regular basis.
  • Virus Scanning – the provider will run routine virus scans on your server’s hard drives.
  • Security Audits – the provider will assess your system and report any potential security issues they identify.
  • Operating System Updates – the provider will apply all patches and updates to ensure that your server is running as quickly and securely as possible.
  • Email Management – many hosting providers offer to set up, manage, and filter email accounts associated with your hosted domains.

How Much Bandwidth Do I Need?

Bandwidth is yet another important factor to consider when selecting a dedicated server provider. So, how much bandwidth do you actually need?  There are several calculations for this depending on the website and content.  A simple calculation for a website without download capabilities is as follows:
 
Bandwidth Needed = Average Page Views X Average Page Size X Average Daily Visitors X Number of Days in a Month (30) X Redundant Factor.
 
Average Daily Visitors: The total number of monthly visitors divided by 30.
Average Page Size: The average size of your web page.
Average Page Views: The average page viewed per visitors.
Redundant Factor: A safety factor ranging from 1.3 – 1.8.
 
The calculation for websites that allow large file downloading is similar to the equation above. The only exception is that you’ll need some extra bandwidth for the download process. Thus, the bandwidth used for website usage and downloads should bring you to the answer.
 
Bandwidth Needed = [(Average Page Views x Average Page Size x Average Daily Visitors) + (Average Download per day x Average File Size)] x Number of Days in a Month (30) x Redundant Factor
 
Average Daily Visitors: The total number of monthly visitors divided by 30.
Average Page Size: The average size of your web page.
Average Page Views: The average page viewed per visitors.
Average File Size: The total file size divided to the number of files.
Redundant Factor: A safety factor ranging from 1.3 – 1.8.
 
If you've been shopping around for a dedicated server, you've probably noticed that bandwidth allotments and bandwidth charges vary greatly from provider to provider.  Some providers include 10TB or more per month with their servers, even entry-level machines, while others provide a fairly low amount (say, 100GB) and tack on hefty fees for additional usage. It's no exaggeration to say that getting the right amount of bandwidth and paying the right price for it is a key element in the success of your website or application.  Contact a Data Center Mapping.com dedicated server expert  to answer questions by calling toll free (877) 406-2248.
 

What To Look For In A Dedicated Server Provider

Location
Is location an important factor in the decision making process?  It depends on who you ask.  Some would argue that it is very important while others would say that it is far less important than other factors.  Will you and your staff be hands on in managing and administering your dedicated servers?  If so, location may be an important factor.  This goes back to the question of managed dedicated server hosting versus an unmanaged hosting solution.  Furthermore, finding a data center that meets your requirements within close proximity to your location may prove to be difficult.  Many dedicated hosting providers and data centers offer remote hands and 24x7x365 technical support, office space and a la carte managed services.
 
Security
For many IT managers and businesses, security plays a vital role in selecting a dedicated server hosting provider.  Not all data centers are created equal when it comes to security.  The question then arises as to what security features matter most to you.   Many dedicated server hosting data centers have strict check-in policies, employ security guards and utilize biometric scanners, video surveillance and server rack locks to ensure that only authorized personnel are near the server area.  
 
Depending on the provider and your needs, a tour of a datacenter before you sign-up makes a lot of sense.   Schedule a data center tour today by calling us toll free at (877) 406-2248.
 
Environment
Another very important consideration is the hosting environment, controls and redundancy.  The optimal hosting environment is cool and dry with temperatures in the 60-70 degree range with humidity levels around 40-50%.  This is the optimal climate for server hardware and equipment which increases longevity and limits downtime.  However, if the air is too moist, condensation can form on the equipment, and if it’s too dry, static electricity can build up.
 
Power 
Datacenters build redundancy into many of their systems, and power supply is no exception. Many dedicated hosting providers connect their datacenters to two separate power supplies, so that if one city’s power goes out, the center can continue to operate on the other grid.
 
If the power does go out, a good datacenter will have at least one, and preferably two, backup systems to keep the lights and servers on until the municipal power supply comes back online. Typically, a datacenter will have a battery-based backup system intended to take over instantly when the normal power goes out, along with a generator-based system which starts up in a minute or two and takes over for the batteries until the power is restored.
 
Racks, Cabinets and Cages
Inside a datacenter, the dominant features are the rows of 19-inch racks which hold the servers and other computing equipment. Each rack contains a power distribution unit (or two), servers, and the network switches which connect the servers to the datacenter’s internet connection. Depending on individual customer needs, server racks may also contain supporting equipment like load balancers and hardware firewalls.
 
With the need for redundant connections to ensure connectivity, datacenters use miles and miles of networking cable. Hosting providers need to employ rigorous cabling protocols to keep all those wires under control and allow engineers to trace cables from connection point to connection point as easily as possible.
 
Evaluating a Hosting Provider’s Datacenters
Hopefully you’ve found our little datacenter tour interesting, but the real point here was to tell you what a high-quality dedicated hosting or VPS hosting provider’s datacenter should look like. You may not be able to visit one in person, but most reputable providers’ websites contain information about their datacenter connections and system.
 
When you’re choosing a hosting provider, don’t be afraid to ask for details regarding power backups, network connectivity, or security measures—after all, security and reliability are two of the main reasons you're choosing a dedicated server in the first place.
 

Questions To Ask Dedicated Server Providers

This checklist of questions to ask dedicated hosting service providers will help you get exactly what you need and avoid unnecessary expenditures. Remember, dedicated hosting services are somewhat negotiable. If you don’t hear everything you want, ask what it would cost to add it.
  1. What hardware configurations are available?  What operating systems and software are available?  What are the associated costs of each?
  2. What physical access to the server will we have? 
  3. Does the hosting provider offer access during limited hours or 24x7x365?
  4. If you need additional emergency services, how readily will their support team be available and what will they cost? 
  5. What managed service add-ons or plans are offered by provider?  What are their associated costs?
  6. Is the data center carrier neutral?  What bandwidth options and providers are available?
  7. What remote monitoring tools are available and who monitors them?
  8. What sort of applications will the provider not allow on its servers?
  9. Are there discounts available for long-term leases?
  10. What uptime guarantee does the hosting service provider offer, and what compensation will you receive if the guarantee is not met?
  11. What business continuity and disaster recovery services does the hosting service offer?
  12. How often does the provider upgrade its leased hardware? 
  13. What kinds of tenants does the hosting service have currently?
  14. What do present and past tenants say about the hosting service? 
Visit our data center forum for reviews and additional information on dedicated server hosting options or speak directly to one of our Data Center Mapping.com dedicated server experts for questions, help or advice by calling toll free (877) 406-2248.

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