4 OMC servers arriving in a box.
We talked in my last installment about the private cloud, and how Mick Jagger once asked Keith Richards to get off his. Jagger did so in tribute to the Stones’ song and because Richards was eating all the potato chips. Let’s look today at dedicated hosting (which we, ahem, offer here at Atlantic Hosting) and figure out what’s on my chin.
In theory – and, in a sense, in practice – dedicated hosting is a simple concept. Your site is contained within its own server. The word “dedicated” is used because your site and that server are mixed together like peaches and cream … or like peaches and anything that you could possibly mix with them.
Shared hosting is another standard type of hosting that is used. As its name implies, you must share your server with other businesses. This option may not be for you if you want the entire bag of potato chips for yourself, but it is less expensive. Other types of hosting include VPS (virtual private server), which could be considered a type of shared hosting with stronger delineation between users, and cloud hosting.
Below, let’s look in detail at the dedicated hosting option to see if it might be right for you. We’ll discuss first the positive aspects, then the not-so-positive (or “negative” if we want to get all negative about it). Before we start, hey, what’s that on my chin?
What’s That on My Chin? (Part I)
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, both of those options are unlikely. It probably doesn’t fly, though it could be a bug – a very still and silent bug. It’s also possible that it’s a trick of the eye. This thing on my chin could be a sign that it’s time to see an optometrist. I also just ran into my mailbox while trying to park in my driveway, but that may be unrelated.
Five pros of dedicated hosting for your company
As stated above, dedicated hosting is more expensive than a standard shared option. Why might it be right for your company? Here are several advantages:
- Speed – In a dedicated hosting environment, your website will typically load faster when visitors access your site, because nothing else is competing for the attention of the server.
- Performance – Not only will the site load more quickly, but it will become more reliable. This facet is also connected to being the solitary occupant of a server. If it’s just you, when traffic spikes on another site, your site never feels the impact.
- Security – Is your data feeling a bit insecure? Show it you care. Dedicated servers mean you are the only one logging on and off (other than routine maintenance by the web host).
- Email protection – If you use a dedicated server, no one can send spam emails from it. If you choose shared hosting, and another user sends spam from her/his/its account, the entire server gets blacklisted, your site included. Until the host identifies and boots the malicious user and gets the server back into the clear, your email will be blocked.
- Freedom – You will have more ability to customize your account, because you and the host won’t have to worry about affecting other users’ settings.
What’s That on My Chin? (Part II)
Wait, wait, I think I know what it might be. I remember vaguely that I was eating a hot fudge sundae when I parked in the driveway. That explains several things: why I hit the mailbox, where the $5 from my suit-jacket pocket went, why there’s ice cream all over the floorboards of my car, and, of course, the thing on my chin. It’s fudge. Hm, this could be a great makeup line.
Two cons of dedicated hosting
Now let’s look at a couple of cons. Dedicated hosting is of course not all good. Of course your server wants dedication and commitment from you, you stallion, but don’t give in; “neigh,” know the facts. Here are two disadvantages:
- Cost-prohibitive – Dedicated servers are a more expensive option than shared hosting, by far in many cases. Additionally, while shared hosting is typically designed with everyman in mind, managing a dedicated server requires expertise (although, uh, well, I know of a guy who’s great at what he does).
- Quick Resolution of Problems – Similarly, in a shared hosting environment, because management is typically standard, you don’t have to worry about figuring out the nature of any problem that arises and finding solutions.
What’s That on My Chin? (Part III)
No, no, I’m thinking all wrong here. I didn’t crash the car. That was a nightmare – well, except for the sundae part. I got a great big bite before making impact with the mailbox. Let’s see: remind me, did we rule out a bug yet? Oh, man! I … I just wiped it off! I can’t see it on the ground! I can’t go on without it. Please remember me, Matilda.
Conclusion
Well, that gives you a basic sense of the pluses and minuses of dedicated hosting. The downsides are primarily the expense, system administration, and hardware maintenance. Those problems are all solved with finances but make shared hosting a better upfront choice for many companies. Along with the dedicated options, we have a full range of general hosting services and cloud services as well. Plus, my chin thing is gone now, and I’m a ghost, for whatever that’s worth.
by Kent Roberts
