A dedicated web hosting server is a server that is used by one, and only one, client. Usually the server is rented, or leased from a web hosting provider for a monthly fee. A dedicated server hosting solution is the fastest, most robust, secure hosting solution available.
Compared to shared or VPS hosting, performance is better because only one client uses the server. All the system resources are available for that owners website(s). There is no competition from other sites. There is also no possibility that one user can install a script or, due to weak security, allow his site to be hacked, which may affect security or reliability of another client’s site. This is very important to large corporations where security and reliability are taken very seriously.
Dedicated Server Operating Systems
Usually, a client has options as to the operating system they have installed. There are free variations of open source projects Linux and Unix, such as CentOS, Fedora Core, Debian, FreeBSD, and more. In addition there are commercial operating systems including Red Hat (a version of Linux), and Microsoft Windows Server. The commercial software has licensing fees, while the open source software operating systems do not.
Dedicated Server Control Panels
A dedicated server is usually controlled through a control panel such as Plesk, or cPanel that allows the owner to control all aspects of his server. Most dedicated hosting providers offer various performance options for a monthly fee. The higher the performance you require, the more it costs. The client can buy a faster processer, more RAM, and larger/multiple hard drives, etc. The network can be configured with additional ports, more bandwidth, a hardware firewall, and other features that are not normally available with a shared or VPS service.
Dedicated Server Management
Management of the server usually falls to the dedicated server account owner, but updates, service packs, security fixes, and patches, to the operating system are often handled by the web hosting provider.
Many web hosting companies offer managed server packages where the hosting company manages much of the regular maintenance of the server for an additional monthly fee. This allows the server owner/leaser to manage only the server data, not the server software and configuration, simplifying maintenance for the owner/leaser.
Management services may include:
- Operating system updates
- Intrusion detection
- Technical support
- Firewall monitoring
- Anti-virus updates
- Load balancing
- Disaster recovery
- Backup management
- Tech support
- Software installation
- User management
There is no industry standard as far as what constitutes a managed service, or what services are included. It is up to each hosting company to spell out what’s included in their managed hosting packages, and the definition of managed can vary greatly from one web hosting provider to the next.
Advantages of a Dedicated Web Hosting Server:
- Control every aspect of your server configuration
- Install any software required
- Increased security
- More robust
- Better performance
Disadvantages of a Dedicated Web Hosting Server:
- Expensive
- Server management may be more complex in cases where management provided by the hosting company is minimal or non-existent
See a list of dedicated web hosting providers at Ten Star Web Hosting Directory and Reviews.
By: Web Hosting Review
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