The Pros and Cons of Hosting on a Dedicated Server
Utilizing a dedicated server is one of several options in the world of web hosting. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you should your website hosting option based on your site’s needs and your budget. As a general rule, a dedicated server is most likely to be utilized by larger websites with a high web traffic load, who don’t want to deal with the potential pitfalls of shared hosting or virtual private networks.
Definition of Dedicated Server
For all intents and purposes, a dedicated server is a separate computer with its own CPU, hard drive, and operating system. While it may be housed in a rack with dozens of other dedicated servers, it’s completely independent in every aspect. For example, Liquid Web’s dual processor dedicated servers include a Dual Xeon E5506 Quad Core processor, 4GB RAM, a 5GB hard drive, and 8TB of bandwidth. This machine is dedicated solely to the use of the customer who purchases the service.
Understand that the power and speed of a dedicated server is completely dependent on what the hosting company is willing to offer. The most basic of plans will usually run a business a couple of hundred dollars a month, while the top-of-the-line plans can go for as much as $800 to $1000 per month. The advantage of not having to invest in one’s own equipment or dedicated IT staff is what drives many companies to utilize the dedicated server option.
Operating Systems for Dedicated Servers
Most web hosting companies, like LiquidWeb, offer Linux and UNIX-like operating systems free of charge. That’s because these operating systems are almost always free and open-source products which don’t cost the web hosting company a dime. Users who prefer a Windows operating system or an enterprise Linux solution, such as Red Hat, will often have to pay a little extra for that option.
Regardless of the operating system you choose, a quality web hosting company will be able to provide the proper support for your dedicated server. As long as the IT people on your end have the skill necessary to work within the operating system you’ve chosen, you should have no trouble managing your website, applications, databases, etc. If you choose to utilize a Linux environment, you have the added advantage of being able to modify the operating system to meet your specific needs.
Controlling Bandwidth
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of utilizing a dedicated server is the ability to control your own bandwidth. In case you don’t know, “bandwidth” is a term used to describe the total amount of information transferred from one point to another. Having the ability to control bandwidth can provide both financial and stability benefits unrealized with shared hosting or VPS solutions. Bandwidth is controlled through several different methods depending on individual needs. In addition, this control also enables dedicated server customers to stay within the limits of the plan they’ve chosen.
In the previous example of Liquid Web’s dual processor dedicated servers, we saw that they provided 8 TB of bandwidth. The bandwidth number refers to the amount of information that can be transferred on a monthly basis. Low-end dedicated servers may offer as little as 4-6 TB per month while high-end packages can provide 10 TB or more. In a limited number of cases, there are companies that provide unlimited bandwidth for some plans.
Best Dedicated Server Hosting Canada
If you’ve read the previous paragraphs, you won’t be surprised to hear that he highly recommend Liquid Web’s dedicated servers. We believe they offer great value for the price compared to other services. Liquid Web is known to be reliable and their customer and technical support is top of the line.
The dedicated server option is not right for every business. However, if you’re running a large website, or require a level of security and efficiency higher than usual, it is an option which gives owners total control over their web servers, maximum up-time, and resources that are not shared between other users like with shared hosting.
