Dedicated server hosting provides businesses with their own physical server that is not shared with any other customers. This type of hosting offers complete control, enhanced security, maximum uptime and superior performance to serve critical workloads and applications.
As your business grows, dedicated hosting allows seamlessly scaling with your needs while meeting security and compliance requirements. This makes it an ideal choice for enterprises and large organizations.
This comprehensive guide will provide you an in-depth understanding of dedicated hosting and help choose the best dedicated server for your business needs.
What is Dedicated Server Hosting?
A dedicated server is a single physical server leased to one customer. It hosts only your websites and applications with resources fully allocated to you.
Since no resources are shared, dedicated hosting guarantees:
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Top performance – No competition for server resources enables meeting traffic spikes easily.
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Enhanced security – Physical isolation and dedicated firewalls prevent attacks from affecting other clients.
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Maximum uptime – With no neighbors competing for resources causing downtimes, dedicated servers promise over 99.9% uptime.
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Full control – Root access to server allows complete configuration flexibility as per needs.
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Scalability – Can be upgraded by adding resources like RAM, bandwidth as website grows.
Dedicated hosting is suitable for large, resource intensive websites and mission critical applications which need high traffic capacity, speed and airtight security at all times.
Managed vs Unmanaged vs Hybrid
Dedicated hosting is available in three management models:
Managed Dedicated Hosting
The hosting provider handles setup, security, updates and maintenance for servers as well as provides support for server issues.
Unmanaged Dedicated Hosting
You have full responsibility for managing and securing server as well as installing software and OS. Support focuses only on hardware and network.
Hybrid Dedicated Hosting
Combination of both models where routine maintenance and updates are handled by provider while you manage applications and software.
Key Benefits of Dedicated Server Hosting
Let‘s look at some of the important advantages offered by dedicated hosting solutions:
1. Blazing Fast Speed and Performance
With entire server resources dedicated just for your use, dedicated hosting can handle enormous traffic spikes easily. top-tier hardware coupled with optimized network infrastructure enables meeting performance intensive needs.
Dedicated servers have faster processors, abundant RAM and storage alongwith gigabit internet bandwidth enabling faster loading and response times.
2. Maximum Uptime and Reliability
Dedicated hosting guarantees exceptional uptime of 99.9% or more by ensuring no disruptions due to activities of other clients on server.
Robust enterprise grade hardware components also prevent downtimes resulting from hardware issues. Network uptime SLAs assure high availability.
3. Heightened Security
Dedicated hosting provides superior security for your sensitive data and critical applications in many ways.
Your websites and data enjoy physical isolation from other clients through dedicated resources. Customized firewall policies offer airtight network security. Intrusion prevention with dedicated protection against DDoS attacks prevents malicious activities targeted at other clients from affecting your server.
4. Full Admin Access and Control
Dedicated hosting provides root access allowing you complete control in configuring server as per your specific needs – choice of OS, software installation, security policies, updates etc.
Rebooting your server for updates or maintenance will not disrupt other sites. You can fully optimize server to seamlessly support your workloads.
5. Meeting Compliance Needs
For highly regulated industries like Healthcare and Finance, dedicated hosting enables meeting data security and privacy needs through total control over data and infrastructure.
Custom server settings, data encryption, access controls help achieve HIPAA, PCI-DSS and other compliance mandates.
6. Scalability On Demand
Dedicated hosting offers flexible scalability to easily expand storage space, RAM and computing capacity on demand to accommodate application growth and traffic spikes.
Upgrading to advanced processor, additional bandwidth or 100 Gbps network is possible without any disruptions.
7. Support for Critical Apps
Dedicated hosting guarantees the performance, availability and compliance critical business applications need 24/7.
Sensitive data and crucial workloads like ERP, CRM, databases and real-time apps benefit immensely from dedicated environment.
Disaster recovery needs can also be met with dedicated servers at secondary site replicating data in real-time for RPOs nearing zero.
Key Considerations for Choosing Dedicated Hosting
With wide range of options available, selecting dedicated hosting for your business needs careful evaluation of several aspects:
1. Server Configuration
One of the top criteria is identifying server configuration matched to your workload requirements – RAM, storage, bandwidth and backups.
While more resources increase costs, insufficient specifications can severely impact the performance and availability needs of your sites.
2. Network Reliability
Dedicated hosting is centered around meeting guaranteed SLAs for network uptime between 99.9% to 100% depending on choice of provider.
Look for service credits if uptime falls below specified minimum. Redundant network and power infrastructure also improves reliability.
3. Performance Capabilities
The server components like processor model, RAM speed and network bandwidth determine ability to handle usage spikes easily.
Faster disk I/O and abundant storage are vital for IO intensive applications. Benchmarks help compare different hardware performance.
4. Security Standards
Evaluate the firewall, DDoS mitigation, encryption and redundancy levels given for safeguarding sensitive data.
Intrusion detection, custom security rules are extras adding an extra security layer over regular measures.
5. Support Reliability
Server uptime can still get impacted unless technical issues are swiftly addressed. Review quality and response time of assistance for hardware, network or OS issues.
Options like 24/7 support plans and experienced onsite engineers help near-zero downtimes.
6. Scalability Options
Assessing upgrade capabilities for storage space, RAM, bandwidth or adding servers/replicas allows seamlessly meeting growing resource needs.
Look for ability to switch hardware components like RAM & SSDs for improved performance.
7. Data Center Facilities
The hosting environment encompassing data center design, infrastructure equipment, redundancy capabilities, power backup and physical security decides reliability.
Global locations allow reducing latency by locating closer to you or users. Disaster recovery requirements also influence data center choice.
8. Setup, Migration and Management
Ease of launching and transferring existing data/workloads to new hosting under expert guidance cuts business disruptions.
Control panels simplifying software installs, updates, monitoring and backups ease server management. APIs add automation capabilities.
9. Budget Considerations
Dedicated hosting costs more than shared options but offers greater control, flexibility and resources justified for revenue generating sites.
Compare pricing of monthly/annual plans for different hardware configurations, data traffic, IPv4 addresses allotted etc. to get more value.
Top Dedicated Server Hosting Providers Compared
Here is a features comparison of some of the leading dedicated hosting providers against key selection criteria:
Liquid Web
Liquid Web is a premium dedicated hosting provider with high performance Storm Servers, top notch hardware and exceptional support service.
Managed services, custom server builds, AWS Direct Connect, hybrid cloud hosting add immense value specially for enterprises.
Their dedicated servers leverage latest Intel processors, NVME storage, ample RAM and 10Gbit uplinks for blazing fast speed. Instant provisioning and automated migration minimize downtime.
Unmatched support with 15 minute hardware replacement SLA and highly trained tech experts ensures maximum uptime.
Overall Liquid Web provides an unbeatable hosting experience through cutting edge technology and fanatical support.
A2 Hosting
SwiftServer platform offers optimized speed up to 20X faster page loads. Turbo Boost feature further accelerates performance using caching.
Their custom configured dedicated servers provide excellent uptime and scalability to absorb traffic surges easily.
Unmanaged AMD and Intel dedicated servers give excellent value while managed servers provide full service management.
OVHcloud
OVHcloud provides excellent price-performance ratio by leveraging their infrastructure capabilities as a host and cloud provider.
Latest Intel and AMD processors, NVMe SSD storage, anti-DDoS protection deliver speed and security needed for critical workloads.
Global network of data centers offers low latency by locating closer to you and users. Hourly billed cloud dedicated servers offer more flexibility.
Bare Metal Servers
For meeting the most demanding workload needs, bare metal servers provide exclusive access to dedicated hardware resources without any virtualization layer.
They excel in hosting data sensitive applications needing unmatched security and performance compared to even dedicated servers.
Benefits of bare metal servers:
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No Hypervisor virtualization enhances speed, security and reliability
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Leverage advance hardware with cutting edge components
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Achieve IOPS up to 5-10 times higher
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Ideal for running proprietary appliances or legacy OS unable to run on virtualized hardware
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Meet stringent security, latency and consistency demands of workloads
Leading providers like Liquid Web, InMotion Hosting, A2 hosting, Vultr and Hyve offer bare metal server hosting with latest hardware configurations to power most intensive applications.
Dedicated Server Pricing
Dedicated hosting costs vary primarily based on choices of:
Hardware configuration – RAM, processor cores, SSD storage etc. Popular configs range from 8 GB RAM/ 4 cores / 500 GB storage to 96 GB RAM / 28 cores / 10 TB storage
Uplink bandwidth – 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps
Number of IPv4 addresses – 1 to 10+ IP allocated
In addition, costs differ based on:
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Managed services vs limited management
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Software licenses inclusions
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Frequency discounts for long term plans
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Addon features like managed firewall, SSL certificates, DDoS protection
While entry level dedicated servers start at around $80 per month, fully loaded high performance servers can cost upwards of $1000 per month. Bare metal servers cost more due to higher hardware expenses.
Cost Saving Tips
- Start with minimum resources needed rather than overprovisioning
- Look for unmanaged hosting needing fewer management services
- Check special deals, coupons for first-time users or prepaid plans
- Avoid bandwidth overages with higher monthly traffic limits
- Leverage automation capabilities for self-maintenance
Migrating to Dedicated Server Hosting
Migrating existing applications from shared hosting or virtual private servers to a dedicated environment require careful planning.
Here is a simplified process to ensure a smooth transition:
1. Audit and Estimate Resources Needed
Assess current workload and growth projections for expected traffic, storage, memory and IP addressing needs. Discuss with hosting provider to finalize an appropriately specced dedicated server.
2. Select Migration Option
For a large site, work with the hosting provider to schedule a convenient low-traffic time where DNS can be changed to new server with minimal downtime. Smaller migration can move through network or local backup restore.
3. Transfer Data
Use rsync data sync tools for easier transfer of site files and databases to new location. Confirm all components have been correctly copied over after migration.
4. Update Configurations
Update name servers to direct traffic to new dedicated IP. Make adjustments to software settings in the new environment and confirm functioning.
5. Post Launch Checkup
In the first few weeks after cutover, closely track uptime, performance metrics and user feedback. Fine-tune any configurations needed for improved functioning.
Proper planning, working closing with experienced provider and phased switchover minimizes chances of any business disruptions during server migration.
