Learning the fundamentals of a dedicated server may appear complicated at first, but it’s actually quite simple once you comprehend the terminology.
You’ve likely heard of computer servers before, but did you realise that there is a distinction between a standard server and a dedicated server? Both server varieties perform nearly identical functions. Both interconnect computers and transfer data. However, a server typically requires a host in order to function; this is what differentiates them.
What Is A Dedicated Server?
A dedicated server is precisely what it sounds like: a server dedicated exclusively to your website and its requirements. In contrast to a shared server, all of the power and resources are yours alone, with no other websites able to access them.
This increases efficiency, dependability, and security. Additionally, you have complete authority over the server’s configuration, including hardware configuration and software customization options.
Why Do You Need a Dedicated Server?
A dedicated server is one of the hosting options with the maximum performance. We like to compare a dedicated server to having one’s own home. No one will disturb you, and you are free to do as you please. In contrast, a shared server is comparable to residing in a condo where you must share everything.
Dedicated servers enable:
- 24/7 service
- Enhanced network rates
- Less risk of pathogen attacks
- Maintenance on demand
Dedicated servers are not intended for a single function. They can be used to host websites, game servers, and anything else that requires multiple computers to store and access files.
Dedicated Server Plans start from $39.99 from 99CloudTech
What Are the Benefits of a Dedicated Server?
Estimated Expansion and Increased Traffic
If you have upgraded to a dedicated server, you may have done so in anticipation of your company’s growth. This may be the result of increased traffic, an increase in the number of products to display, or a need to provide consumers with more functionality through the server.
The dedicated server gives you the flexibility to adapt to your website’s increased traffic while also improving page load times. This may come at a premium price, but you receive greater value for your money and more satisfied customers.
Security and Administration
Security is one of the first major advantages that a dedicated server provides. If you operate in a regulated industry and are responsible for protecting the privacy of your customers’ data and information, you must never share a server with another business. This is because you cannot enable the possibility that one of these other businesses could access the data and consumer information on your server.
If your website shares a server with a spammer or a malicious website designed to propagate viruses or other malware, security issues may arise. If the authorities confiscate the server hardware due to the presence of a malicious website on the same server, your website could be shut down permanently. If your website processes credit card transactions or other sensitive data that must be encrypted and carefully protected, a dedicated server is preferable.
Each server has a unique IP address. Therefore, if your website is hosted on a dedicated server, it has its own IP address. However, if you are using a shared server, your website’s IP address will be shared with the other websites hosted on the server. And if one of these other sites is known to be a spam source, your website’s Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) ranking may be negatively impacted due to its association with suspect content. Your website may be prohibited from search engine results.
You will be able to implement the utmost level of security available so as to maintain server security. Not only will your data, but also your applications and customer database, be protected. You will have complete control over your website without having to accommodate the requirements of other businesses on your shared server or the configurations of your web hosting service.
Managed Hosting
You can take advantage of InMotion Hosting’s Managed Hosting services, which include assistance with server configuration and regular maintenance and updates.
No Resources Are Shared
With a shared server, you are subject to the restrictions imposed by sharing resources. This indicates that the server’s CPU processing capacity and RAM are distributed unequally among the domains.
If a website on the server employs inefficient routines that consume a great deal of memory, it may affect the performance of your website. The same holds true if your server neighbours experience a traffic spike. This can take up server bandwidth and significantly slow down your website. Moreover, consumers may associate sluggish load times with inferior quality. If your website takes too long to display, consumers may instead visit the websites of your competitors.
However, a dedicated server eliminates the need to share resources. You have access to the server’s maximum capacity, so you won’t have to fret about another user slowing down your website.
Enhanced Site Speed
With more available resources, elements can render quickly. Additionally, site performance provides a number of additional benefits.
It is common knowledge that site performance is one of the ranking factors Google employs to determine search engine rankings. In addition, research indicates that “time to first byte” may be the official unit of measurement. What does this entail? A faster website will help you rank higher in Google’s search results, whereas a slower website will likely cause you to rank lower.
Conclusion: Site speed has direct effects on conversion rate, revenue, and user experience.
- Return visitors are less likely to re-visit a site that loads slowly.
- Every additional second of loading time results in a 7% decrease in conversions.
- A one-second delay in response time can reduce page views by 11% and decrease customer satisfaction by 16%.
- 46% of shoppers who abandon their purchasing carts cite slow website performance as the cause.
- More personalization options: If you have an entire server’s worth of resources to yourself, you can likely add many custom features (such as video streaming or MP3s) without slowing down your website. And your highly customised website will not only appear amazing but will also create a memorable experience for visitors.
Customization Possibilities
With a shared server, there is a “one size fits all” approach to server configurations. With a dedicated server, however, you can configure the server to function optimally with your website. This may involve the configuration of a Content Management System (CMS) platform for eCommerce, such as WordPress, Drupal, or Magento.
Additionally, because you rent rather than purchase a dedicated server, it is simpler to expand when your website outgrows its current home. You will not have to pay for server hardware, software, or enhancements, nor will you have to pay for IT support to administer the server.
Common Dedicated Server Problems
Hosting Provider Discretion
Privacy is one of the most essential aspects of any dedicated server. When storing sensitive data online, it is crucial to know that you can rely on your hosting provider to keep inquisitive eyes away. Look for hosting features like two-factor authentication, strong firewalls, and regular security updates to ensure the privacy and security of your server.
In addition to protecting your data from hackers and malware, you should verify that your hosting provider is transparent about how your data is stored and deleted. This information is typically included in your hosting agreement’s Terms of Service. When evaluating the Terms of Service, give close attention to specifics such as the length of time data is retained after hosting services are cancelled, the type of backup services provided, and whether or not they comply with industry security standards.
Conforming to Privacy Standards
Users desiring to process credit card transactions or medical data on a dedicated server must ensure that the server complies with Payment Card Industry (PCI) or Healthcare Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards. Custom configuration of server security protocols is typically required by these standards in order to limit exposure to potential security risks. Before committing to a hosting plan, you may want to confirm that your provider meets these requirements.
Performance Throttling
What is the Throttle?
In addition to privacy concerns, throttling is another potential issue with dedicated servers. Through throttling, online services are deliberately slowed down in response to increased system demand. For instance, an internet service provider may throttle the services of a specific user or group of users if they exceed a certain consumption threshold or if the network is under excessive strain. The end result is sluggish internet performance, which causes websites to display slowly, videos to buffer frequently, and other connectivity-related issues. Everyone involved can understandably find throttling to be an aggravating experience.
Avoid Throttling: Be Aware of Your Limits
To guarantee that your online service is never degraded due to unanticipated throttling by your web host, you should review the Terms of Service for any hosting provider you are considering. Generally, the Terms of Service define the limitations that apply to your dedicated hosting plan, especially in terms of bandwidth. Bandwidth is the utmost rate at which data can be transferred over a given network path, so the greater the bandwidth, the more Internet traffic your server can accommodate without experiencing degraded service. Having state-of-the-art dedicated server hardware is meaningless without the corresponding bandwidth. When signing up for a dedicated hosting plan, it is crucial to pay close attention to the bandwidth limit.
Migration of Data to Your New Host
The issue of migrating data from previous hosting solutions to the new dedicated server is an additional common dedicated server pain point. Even for relatively basic data migration projects, many hosting providers charge exorbitant fees. In addition, the time required for data migration can vary based on the quantity and type of data being transferred. A cPanel account, for instance, can be relocated relatively quickly, whereas a complex non-cPanel website can take days or even weeks to transfer in its entirety. This means that migrating to a new dedicated server may incur unanticipated costs and delays.
Consider the fact that some hosting providers make it difficult to access your website’s data, prolonging the migration process and prohibiting the transmission of certain aspects of your website. Despite the fact that data migration teams frequently make their best effort to migrate site data, security features and software compatibility issues may prevent a 1:1 migration of all site data.
Free Migration Services
To avoid this, search for hosting companies that offer free or inexpensive data migration services. These services typically involve the transmission of website data, including web pages, images, and any associated databases. In certain instances, email accounts can be migrated in their totality, meaning that your website and email can be transferred with minimal effort on your part. Review the specifics of any data migration service you wish to employ, as the scope of migration services varies from provider to provider.
Cost-Prohibitive Dedicated Hosting
Another common issue with dedicated servers is that they are typically more expensive than virtual private servers or shared servers. This may be prohibitively expensive for some users, while others may not be able to justify purchasing a dedicated server. Unanticipated fees and additional costs can rapidly tarnish even the most favourable initial user experiences.
To avoid squandering valuable financial resources on subpar dedicated hosting, carefully examine the specifications and configuration of any dedicated servers you’re considering purchasing to ensure you’re receiving value for your money. Look for hardware of the most recent generation, industry-standard transfer rates, and other common hardware and software performance metrics. By becoming familiar with modern data centre infrastructure and web hosting technologies, you can ensure that your investment in a dedicated hosting plan is not wasted.
Avoiding Dedicated Server Pain Points
It is possible to find a web host that can help you avoid these common dedicated server pain points that many users encounter when signing up for a dedicated hosting plan by conducting adequate research. Moving to a new server or signing up for web hosting for the first time can be stressful and burdensome, but with the right hosting company and adequate preparation, you can get started with a dedicated server and begin your web hosting journey painlessly.
How Is a Dedicated Server Setup?
You can set up dedicated servers on your own, or a third party can do so. They are typically more difficult to install on your own because they may require multiple installations and extensive computer preparation.
By utilizing a third party, you will obtain the fundamentals of a dedicated server, which typically include the following:
- Support personnel for your server
- The capability to customize it
- A web-based interface
- Constant maintenance
How to Pick the Appropriate Dedicated Server Plan
Prior to selecting an appropriate hosting plan, you must determine your requirements and how you intend to utilise it. A standalone journal, for instance, would require vastly different resources than a prospering eCommerce store. Among the factors for selecting a dedicated hosting plan are:
- Your website experiences extremely elevated levels of traffic.
- You intend to utilize numerous customized features, such as streaming video or high-resolution images.
- You have a greater need for safety.
- You anticipate substantial expansion in the near future.
Once you have determined that you require a dedicated server, it is time to select the appropriate plan. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- How powerful does your processor need to be? The more resources your website will require for features such as custom applications or video-transcoding, the more potent your processor should be.
- What bandwidth do you require? If you anticipate a large volume of regular traffic or if you intend to use high-definition images or streaming multimedia files, you will need more bandwidth.
- How much memory is necessary? Even if you don’t need a lot of memory for what you’re doing on your website at the moment, you can never have too much. Simply put, more RAM helps your website load quicker (and performance is always a plus).
- Do you require a particular operating system? However, if you have a strong preference for either Windows or Linux, you should be aware that each requires a distinct operating system. If you intend to host Microsoft IIS, MS, SQL, or ASP.NET, you will also need a dedicated Windows server.
Other Applications of Dedicated Servers
Hosting An Audio Podcast
Attractive is the marketing potential of a successful podcast. Imagine weekly engagement from thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of listeners with your content. The low production costs of creating regular audio recordings entice both amateurs and professionals to participate.
There are costly web-based podcast hosting services that charge you a premium for storing your audio files and syndicating your episodes. On a WordPress-powered dedicated server, however, you can do all of this for a fraction of the cost and get all the bandwidth and storage space you require. Installing a few plugins will allow your WordPress site to syndicate the episodes to whatever platform your listeners are using.
A list of good tools for Audio podcast hosting: 40+ Podcast Tools for Successfully Creating a Top-Quality Show
Host Your Own Website
Every company requires a website. What if you could earn money through the sale of hosting space? As an agency, you can administer tens of thousands of websites for clients on a single dedicated server. Similarly, reselling hosting space is an excellent method for designers and developers to increase their income and better manage their clients.
All reseller hosting plans from InMotion Hosting include cPanel and WHM. But if you do not wish to use cPanel or wish to implement custom scripts and applications, a dedicated space can provide you with greater control. This is not feasible at the Reseller level, but upgrading to Dedicated Hosting grants you root access so you can make the necessary modifications.
Create a Private Git Repository
You may be thinking, I could simply use GitHub, since it’s free and you can now create private repositories (repos). However, bear in mind that GitHub recommends keeping repositories under 1GB and enforces a 100GB limit. This restriction is intended to prevent enormous files from cluttering their servers. However, what if your undertaking contains numerous large media files?
With a dedicated server, storage is not a concern. For instance, the introductory dedicated hosting package from InMotion Hosting includes a 500GB SSD drive. And if you run out of space, you can readily upgrade to twice as much.
Prior to even considering space, security considerations should take precedence. Even large-scale Github projects have lost a password and had to scramble to mitigate potential security risks. Why risk it?
You may read more about Git repositories by clicking here : Git – Getting a Git Repository
How to Choose a Host for a Dedicated Server
Choosing a dedicated hosting provider can be just as challenging as selecting a dedicated server. Before making any decisions, you must ensure that their services meet your requirements. Among the factors to consider are:
- Server Stability: This is a measurement of the server’s overall performance, accessibility, and usability. Bottom line? Choose a service with an uptime of at least 99.5% to reduce the likelihood of expensive disruptions.
- Customer Support: seek out a dedicated server provider that provides round-the-clock customer support via multiple channels (such as phone, email, and live chat). When you have a problem with your server (which you will), you’ll need a quick response time and someone who is readily available.
- Customization: Does the host support both Linux and Windows? Can space on a hard drive be partitioned as desired? What hardware alternatives are available?
- Security: Dedicated servers are inherently safer than shared options, but that does not mean you are completely protected from criminals. To help ensure the security of your website, search for a host with built-in security features.
Our Dedicated Hosting ensures increased performance and storage space. We guarantee that you will enjoy greater flexibility, scalability, and dependability with our cutting-edge data centres and dedicated server hosting staff. In addition, we offer a 99.999% uptime guarantee, one of the finest in the industry, to ensure that your website is always accessible to your consumers and clients.
