Introduction to Dedicated Server Hosting

Dedicated hosting has been a popular option for many SMEs (small-to-medium enterprises) and businesses wanting the control and flexibility of a single server (or more). This type of service requires minimal responsibility for the hardware and software aspects. In most cases, the web hosting companies provide both hardware and software installation and configuration. This may include binding IP addresses, set up of firewall or filters, installation of Apache or DNS to the server(s). Initial set up has always been a struggle with many losing the grasp with installation procedures especially when it comes to UNIX operating systems.

The web hosting company provides both hardware and network set up for the initial phase of the service. When compared with server co-location, it seems to be more expensive but there are a number of advantages. Firstly, there is a legal responsibility for the web host provider to replace faulty hardware within a reasonable time period. The cost savings can be reimbursed back into your business.

Network connectivity will also be offered with the dedicated plan's service. This is often a high bandwidth link to the Internet. If for any reason the connectivity is lost, there is an obligation for the web provider to repair it. Compared to dedicated lines, resolving connectivity issues can cost a great deal.

Hardware upgrades are a common cycle among the web hosting industry. When upgrades occur, it can be a bothersome process. Fortunately for dedicated servers, web host providers often charge less for upgrades. This is due to the fact; they own the hardware and have the expertise to operate the upgrade the process in a professional and efficient manner.

Selecting a web host provider that is multi-homed is a decisive factor if redundancy and reliability is vital to your organization. Multi-homed service providers are a feature referring to the networking consisting of more than one single link to the Internet. If one link went down, data can be rerouted to the other link(s).