When choosing a dedicated server..

When choosing a dedicated server, there are several things to consider:

* Operating System
* Data Backup & Monitoring Service
* Hardware options
* Space
* Bandwidth
* Technical Support.

Operating System

The Operating System of a server is similar to that on your own personal computer; once installed, the operating system enables one to perform tasks more simply. There are a bevy of server operating systems available today including Linux-based and Windows-based software.

The operating system you choose should be directly relational to what operations your server will be performing, which types of software you'll need to install and also, what you're more comfortable with. Some common operating systems used for hosting at present are Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), FreeBSD, Fedora (previously known as Red Hat Linux), Debian, and many other flavors of linux.

Data Backup, Monitoring and Automation

If you run a site, which is constantly being updated, you will need to back it up frequently. This can be a hassle. Many dedicated hosting providers will provide a back up service for you - usually for an added fee, but the convenience may be worth it. Your server will need to be monitored constantly to prevent service interruptions.

Check to see that your host can provide such monitoring, and how frequently it is done (e.g. every 5 min.), and what measures they use to deal with problems, which are detected.

Running a dedicated server does usually require a greater level of technical knowledge than shared hosting. However, those who lack technical expertise may still be able to operate a dedicated server --- if the host offers some form of web-based automation to simplify the process of managing a server. Check to see if your host can offer such automation (if you think you may need it).

Hardware Options

Hardware Options are also something to consider when choosing a dedicated server. You'll need to pick a processor that's up to the task. Regarding the amount of memory you wish installed, firewall options, and the size of the hard drive.

Celerons in general do not perform well when you start hosting several large powerful applications or web sites, Pentium 4's (P4's), perform much better as they also have a larger cache, Xeons on the other hand can perform much better, especially Dual Xeon processors. One should also take into consideration the AMD option, Dual (and single Options) have been shown to outperform Dual (or single) Xeons by a margin of 30% or more in some cases. These are quite often cheaper to purchase, so therefore a more suitable solution.

When looking at hard disks, you should remember that all hard disks fail at some point or other so it is a necessity in a server environment to have off-site backups or onsite backups of some sort. Having a second mirrored (RAID-1) is a great solution. If you require fast access and high reliability and are willing to pay more it is a very good idea to go for SCSI as they have much lower access time and much lower failure rate.

Bandwidth

A certain amount of bandwidth is generally included when renting or leasing a dedicated server. Once you have ascertained how much bandwidth you will require, you can adjust that limit with your service provider. The space you'll be given is generally directly relational to the size of your hard drive. Some hosts also give clients the choice of uplink port speed (usually 10Mbps/100Mbps but can go up to 1000Mbps). Bandwidth can be provided using the 95th percentile rule, or simply the via an alloted bandwidth (which is quite often around 1000GB/month).

Technical Support

Are you a novice or an expert? This is a question that you need to seriously think about. For the novice, a managed provider with 24/7 support is for you. You most definitely do not want to find an unmanaged provider that does nothing but point you in the directions of the "FAQ or Documentation Pages" when you need help. Not only will it upset you, it will cost you money that should have never been spent in the first place as you have no business being with an unmanaged provider.

When your monitors suggest a fault or possible fault occurring, you will need highly skilled and qualified resource to deal with the problem. The minimum number of support staff required to deliver a robust 24 x 365 support is 8.

5 tips before choosing a hosting provider

Getting a website up on the net is relatively easy to do these days but the trick is deciding where and how it will be hosted. Given that, you need to have a good understanding of what you are planning to do with your site.

For instance, if you are just going to throw up a few pages about your kids that only your family and friends will see, you likely can get away with using free platforms like Blogger or Xanga (and a ton of others). However if you have more enterprising needs there are a number if things to look out for:

1. Uptime - To put it in simple terms, uptime is the amount of time your site is available for your visitors to browse, place orders, make comments, whatever. Obviously, you want your site to up as often as possible. Now, uptime is typically measured as a percentage of the total time in a month, like 99.99%.
2. Security - If you are collecting someones personal information, like addresses or credit cards and such, security is crucial! Matter of fact, your customers have to feel confident that you are treating their information securly or they just won't do business with you. Security is also linked directly to uptime.
3. Redundancy - On top of having good security standards, a good host will have built in redundance in its operations. What that means is they have back up systems, like back up servers, in place just in case the main system goes down. Having back up servers, for example, will help to ensure that your website stays up and running.
4. Facility Maintenance and 24/7 Monitoring - To protect against disaster and other threats, a good host will maintain a locked, temperature-controlled facility that has fire protection and an back up power source. The building should be monitored on a 24/7 basis. Monitoring should include an established hacker detection system to guard against security breach.
5. Technical Support - The amount of technical support you receive from your hosting provider is usually dependant on how much you pay them for the service. Some low-cost providers offer no technical support at all, while others in the low-to-mid-cost range offer email or online chat support. Some of the best hosting providers offer phone support (sometimes toll-free, but not always) in addition to online support.