What Is A Dedicated Server?

Sometimes, special terms can take us by surprise. Such services with unclear names, provided by many hosting companies mean nothing to not tech savvy people. However, here, we will open the curtain of obscurity.

So, what is a dedicated server, and what is it used for? Literally, a dedicated server is used for a so-called dedicated hosting, i.e. a hosting where the client gets a separate server for his full use. There is a virtual hosting as opposed to a dedicated hosting. A virtual hosting server can contain several sites (from dozens to hundreds).

What is a dedicated server used for?

Firstly, a dedicated server provides considerable benefits to users.

There are definitely a lot of advantages. The most important thing is that the whole server and all its resources can belong to only one user. In a nutshell, it is your own data center. It means that the user can:

• choose the type of operating system that will be installed on the server;
• install programs more preferable on his opinion;
• intervene in the server configuration such way that he thinks fit for solving his issues.

The virtual hosting makes all this impossible because the user shares technical resources with other users, and he has to fit into a definite server configuration that the hosting gives.

The dedicated server can be also used when your site requires a lot of resources. An extra advantage is that the dedicated server gives you much more confidence in a stable and trouble-free performance, in contrary to the server containing dozens of different sites.

However, it is not the only scope of dedicated servers. In addition to convenience solving some specific issues, maximum accordance with client's desires and requirements, dedicated servers often solve a number of technical challenges.

For example, a database installed on the server can consume as much capacity as able to disturb web application work. In this case, it must be also placed on a dedicated server. Frequently, a dedicated server can be used for separate placement of a database and a web server. If they are located on different machines, the database will be available to customers on the web server during all technical work. It means customers will get an uninterrupted access to necessary resources. The best hosting within one site!

One more task that dedicated servers solve is to restrict an access to unauthorized information. For instance, a hacker, who has gained an access to a web server, won't be able to get a full entrance to databases if they are saved on separate servers.

Thus, a dedicated server (a dedicated hosting accordingly) gets an upper hand over a virtual hosting. Naturally, this impacts on its price: a dedicated hosting is more expensive, but, the same time, its options offer a lot of opportunities. Therefore, choosing between a dedicated hosting and a virtual one, the user has to answer two questions: ‘What are requirements?’ and ‘What are advantages that users really need?’

When is a dedicated server needed?

As a rule, an individual or a business entity use a dedicated server if they need high traffic for a productive website or a web app. The virtual hosting does not give you full capacity of the server. It will be normal until your requirements exceed its abilities.

Look at the real situation when you definitely feel the need of a dedicated server

The bigger your business becomes, the higher traffic on your site, and, accordingly, the more capacity the server consumes. The website with high traffic requirements starts to pile the common hosting server. Soon, your site and other sites of web server co-owners will slow down, but you don’t need to share traffic with them if you use a dedicated server. All 100% of traffic is yours.

If you are disappointed, trying to understand these all, the hosting company inxy.com will be happy to discuss your needs. At least, be sure that the cost of redundant bandwidth is not exorbitant and that the host will guarantee bandwidth availability if you move the site organization to a higher level package.

Margo Geras, marketing manager of the INXY.COM