Dedicated Hosting Server: The Dedicated Managed Server Guide

The Dedicated Managed Server Guide
By Michael Collins

When shopping around for web site hosting services, one of the decisions you'll have to make is whether or not to pay for a dedicated managed server. In this article I'm going to explain what a dedicated managed server is so you can decide if its right for you.

Imagine that your web server is a giant pizza. When you have shared hosting you get just one slice for yourself. The rest of the pie is split up among other web site owners (possibly thousands of them). By splitting up a server into many smaller pieces, a web hosting service can afford to charge very low prices. You only pay a small percentage of the overall cost of maintaining the server.

Of course there are also some downsides to shared hosting. No matter how big a server is there's a limit to how much its CPU and memory can handle. If some of the other users sharing your server are using scripts or services that use lots of processing power there can be a bottleneck and your website's performance will suffer. Shared servers also tend to go down more often than dedicated server.

A dedicated managed server usually outperforms a shared server in terms of speed and reliability. Plus there are few, if any, limitations as to what you can run on it. Going back to our pizza example, a shared hosting provider may limit you to only two toppings like pepperoni and sausage. But with a dedicated server you can add anchovies, pickles, chicken breast, fried eggs, and anything else you may want. Plus, you don't have to worry about someone else's anchovies stinking up your slice of the pie!

Dedicated Managed Server vs Dedicated Unmanaged Server

If you're looking for a dedicated server its vital that you know the difference between managed and unmanaged. With an unmanaged server you get the actual hardware, operating system, and internet connection. The rest is up to you. You are responsible for maintaining the server and installing patches and upgrades.

With a dedicated managed server, the host takes care of those details for you so you can concentrate on building and updating your websites. Though managed servers are more expensive, they usually make more sense from a business point of view.

Choosing a Dedicated Managed Server

Since dedicated servers are more expensive than shared hosting, you'll want to be extra careful when picking one out. You should find out what it costs for additional storage space if you need it down the road. Ask how they calculate bandwidth and how much it will cost if you go over your limit. Find out how many IP addresses you get and how much it costs if you want more. And find out if they guarantee uptime or offer a refund for times when the server is down.

Reliability and customer support are of utmost importance. Remember that whenever that server goes down you stop making money. Don't settle for anything less than 24/7 phone support. And don't take their word for it. Check with their current customers to see how they really feel about their hosting services.

Go to http://webhosting.youcompareit.com to read web host reviews written by actual customers. See what they have to say about various hosts before you pick one to host your dedicated managed server.

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