What is a Dedicated Server?
A dedicated server is exactly what it sounds like: a server dedicated entirely to your website and its needs. Unlike a shared server, all of the resources are yours alone and no other websites have access to them. This leads to increased speed, reliability and security. In addition, you have full control over how the server gets set up, including hardware configuration and custom software options.
Why Do You Need a Dedicated Server?
A regular server can be hosted from anything that has a connection to the internet, even your own computer! However, if you were to run a server from your own computer, it would inevitably slow down thanks to the processing power going to the server. This would cause it to shut off every time you turned off your computer. If you’re looking to maintain a reliable connection to the server without reduced computer power or the chance of it randomly failing, you’ll want to make it a dedicated server.
A dedicated server is known as one of the highest performance hosting options. We like to think of a dedicated server like owning your own house. No one will bother you and you can do whatever you’d like. Whereas a shared server is much like living in condo where you have to share everything.
Dedicated servers allow for:
- 24/7 uptime
- Faster connection speeds
- Less risk of virus attacks
- Maintenance on the fly
Dedicated servers aren’t specifically designed for one purpose. They can be used to host websites, game servers, or anything that requires a place for multiple computers to store and read files.
What Are the Benefits of a Dedicated Server?
One of the first main benefits that a dedicated server takes care of is security. If you are in a regulated industry and are charged with maintaining the privacy of customer’s data and information, you absolutely cannot share a server with another company. This is because you cannot allow for the possibility that one of these other companies might be able to access your server’s data and customer information.
As a means of maintaining this security, you will be able to install the highest level of security available to you. Not only will your data be secured, but also your applications and your customer database. One aspect that makes this so appealing for business owners is that you will have total control over your site, without having to bend to the needs of other businesses on your shared server or the configurations of your web hosting service.
QuickRDP Hosting provides Managed Hosting services that you can take advantage of, which help you set-up the server to your requirements and help with regular maintenance and updates.
With a shared server, you are at the mercy of the limitations placed by having to share resources. This means that the CPU processing power and RAM are all distributed (and not evenly) with the other sites on the server.
If a website on the server is running bad scripts that eat up lots of memory, then it can impact your website’s performance. The same is true if your server neighbors have a spike in website traffic. This can eat up the bandwidth on the server and slow your website down significantly.
With a dedicated server, however, you don’t have to share these resources. The full capacity of the server is at your disposal and you won’t have to worry about someone else slowing down your site.
With a shared server, you have a “one size fits all” mentality when it comes to server configurations. But with a dedicated server, you can specifically configure your server to work best with your website. This can include configuration for a CMS platform for e-commerce.
Additionally, as you rent your own dedicated server and do not buy one, it is easier to upgrade as your website outgrows your current home. You don’t have to worry about paying for the server equipment, software, or for upgrades nor will you have to pay for IT to run the server.
How Do You Set Up a Dedicated Server?
Dedicated servers can be set up by yourself or by a third party. They’re typically more difficult to set up by yourself since they can require multiple downloads and a lot of preparation on your computer.
By going through a third party, you’ll receive dedicated server basics which typically include features like:
- Maintenance teams for your server
- The ability to customize it
- An online interface
- Stable uptime
How To Choose the Right Dedicated Server Plan
When it comes to choosing the right hosting plan, you must first understand what your needs are and what you’ll be using it for. For instance, a stand-alone blog would require far different resources than a thriving e-commerce store. Some reasons to choose a dedicated hosting plan include:
- Your website experiences very high traffic levels
- You plan on using lots of custom features, like streaming video or high-resolution images
- You have an increased need for security
- You anticipate a lot of growth in the near future
Once you’re certain you need a dedicated server, it’s time to choose the right plan. Here are some of the factors you should take into consideration:
- How powerful do you need your processor to be? In general, the more resources your site will need for features like custom applications or video-transcoding, the more powerful your processor should be.
- How much bandwidth do you need? If you anticipate a huge volume of traffic on a regular basis OR you plan to use HD pictures or streaming multimedia files, you’ll need more bandwidth.
- How much memory do you need? Even if you don’t require a huge amount of memory for what you’re currently doing with your website, you really can’t have too much. In a nutshell, having more RAM helps your site load faster (and speed is always a good thing).
- Do you need a specific operating system? Many website owners don’t really care either way, but if you have a strong preference for either Windows or Linux, know that each one requires a different OS. You will also need a Windows dedicated server if you plan on hosting Microsoft IIS, MS, SQL, or ASP.NET.
How to Choose a Dedicated Server Hosting Provider
Choosing the right dedicated hosting provider can be just as difficult as choosing the right dedicated server. Before making any decisions, you have to be sure that the services they offer fit your needs. Some factors to consider include:
- Server Stability: this is the measure of overall performance, accessibility, and usability. Bottom line? You want to go with a service that offers uptimes of at least 99.95% to minimize the chance of costly outages.
- Customer Support: look for a dedicated server host that offers 24/7 customer support with a variety of contact options (such as telephone, email, and live chat). You will need someone to be available when you have a problem with your server (which you will) and the response time needs to be fast.
- Customization: does the hosting provider offer both Linux and Windows options? Can you allocate space as you wish? Some providers market themselves as providing “dedicated” servers, but limit customization options and even rent space to other users. Make sure that your private server is yours and yours alone.
- Security: dedicated servers are inherently much safer than any of the shared options, but that doesn’t mean you’re 100% safe from hackers. To help ensure your site’s security, look for a provider that offers built-in security features, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Our dedicated hosting guarantees better performance and more storage. With state-of-the-art data centers and a dedicated server hosting team to monitor your machine, we promise you’ll get more flexibility, scalability and reliability. We also feature a 99.999% uptime guarantee, one of the best in the industry, that will give you peace of mind that your website is always up and running for your customers and clients.