Thermit
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 272
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| Is Colocation the Right Solution? |
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If you own a server and want to connect to the Internet, there are companies that will handle the connection for you. This service is known as colocation. Companies that want to have complete control over their server configuration often choose the colocation route. The difference between a colocated server and a dedicated server is that in a dedicated environment the web hosting company owns the server.
Before deciding if colocation is right for you, there are several factors to consider. First, you must look carefully at the fee structure. Colocation, unlike dedicated servers, requires payment of both rental and connection fees. You will pay a rental fee for the physical space your server will occupy at the host company. The rental fee will be based on the height of your server which can be anywhere from 1U to a full rack. Most servers are 1U or 2U configurations, but can be as large as 4U if they have a large number of hard drives.
Your monthly colocation connection fees will be based on the average number of gigabytes transferred. This average can be figured in one of two ways. The first method measures the amount of bandwidth used and divides it by the number of seconds in the month. The second method figures the average by looking at the 95th percentile. This is determined by measuring the bandwidth every five minutes. At the end of the month, the reading that ranks at the 95 percentile is used for billing. Ask potential web hosting companies which method they use.
Security, Speed and Service: The physical safety of your server and the security of your data are two primary considerations. Before you select a colocation host, find out what plans they have to protect servers during a flood, fire or other disaster. Ask about the security of the building and find out who will have access to your server.
Also be sure to check into the bandwidth offered by the host company you are considering. Bandwidth measures the rate of data transfer in gigabytes. Some companies offer extremely fast connections that often come with a high price tag. You can save money by choosing a provider that has slower bandwidth. To test a potential host company's response time, visit their website at different times of day. How fast does their site load? A slow-performing website may indicate the company's bandwidth is already overloaded.
Discuss any special features you use with the colocation provider. Can the host handle such features such as private nameservers, anonymous FTP or game servers? Can the company
provide multiple IP addresses?
Technical support can be the defining factor in you colocation experience. Be sure to select a host that has a knowledgeable staff. Ask about IT certifications and other qualifications. Also determine how easy it is to access customer support and how fast they respond to problems.
You rely on your server so uptime is critical. Ask the company what kind of guarantee they offer in terms of uptime and get that guarantee in writing.
Get that uptime guarantee along with other important considerations in writing. Make sure the contract carefully spells out the terms of service, length of contract, level of service and payment terms. Don't be afraid to negotiate for the service and guarantees you need.
About the Author
Archivo Ospite is the owner of ABWebHosting.com, a site that provides useful information about web hosting. Visit AB http://www.abwebhosting.com Web Hosting to find all of his articles and web hosting tips.
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Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:22 pm
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Euler
Joined: 02 Sep 2004
Posts: 109
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Good article. Nice find, man!
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Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:27 pm
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