Dedicated Server Website Hosting

What is the difference between Managed and Unmanaged dedicated hosting services?
Managed Hosting is for customers who prefer to have their web host provider maintain and monitor their dedicated web servers, operating system and all supported applications. Companies or individuals who do not have the required system administration resources on-staff commonly choose this option. Unmanaged dedicated web hosting is for customers who have extensive system administration expertise to maintain and manage their own dedicated servers. This option generally provides hosting customers with full access to their website server allowing them to customize various configurations and install add on specific programs and scripts.

What is the difference between a dedicated server and co-location hosting?
A dedicated server is a server provided by a web host for you to rent. You have remote access to the server and you can customize the server to your own needs. The web host retains ownership of the server and you don't have actual physical access it. Co-location hosting means you store your own server at a facility of a co-location hosting provider. A co-location provider provides an Internet connection to your web server and allows you physical access to your own server when you need it.

Hosting your web sites on your own dedicated server may seem a little expensive in comparison to shared web hosting, but the end result is more advantageous. Shared webhosting, (many sites are present on the one servers hard drive) no matter how well managed, cannot be 100% reliable and stable. On a dedicated server you will install only software and applications you need, while on a shared hosting server you will find a host of other software and applications installed for all other web server users.

Why would I need a dedicated server?
While simple html type sites are better suited for a shared server, enterprise-level and business web sites operate much more efficiently on a dedicated server because the dedicated hosting environment provides higher reliability, increased performance, greater security and exclusive use of system and network resources. Therefore, those sites that have high traffic, secure information, a high number of visitors or complex applications (e-commerce, dynamic content, database applications and multimedia applications) are far better suited hosted on a dedicated server.

If you have or plan on having just one web site and have absolutely no programing knowledge, then Shared webhosting is the recommended and economical way for you to go. A shared hosting plan can cost anywhere from $5 - $50 a month for an account, rather than $100 or more for a dedicated server.

Advantages of Dedicated Server Hosting
You do not have to purchase or maintain your own server equipment. Better website performance due to dedicated machine(s). No chance of your website being affected by another website on the same server box, as in shared hosting. You also have the ability to remotely administer your web server and its associated applications, depending on the web host provider. Tools such as PC Anywhere and VNC are excellent tools when working with a dedicated Windows server, while shell access is generally used to administer Unix and Linux type servers. It is the web host provider’s job to maintain the hardware for their dedicated servers. It is very important that the provider has the ability to obtain server replacement parts quickly.