Dedicated Servers vs. Server Colocation

What is a dedicated server?

Benefits of Dedicated Server?

• Lower startup costs
  since you don’t buy the server. Often dedicated servers also include the operating
  system in the monthly price. Some companies also offer monthly pricing for additional
  software such as database licensing. This can also lower start up costs.
• Most dedicated servers come with administrator rights just as if you owned the server
  yourself.
• Unlike a colocated server the hosting company is responsible for any hardware
  failures. Often times redundant spare hardware is on hand in case of a hardware
  failure.
• Another advantage of a dedicated server is the ability to upgrade to a more powerful
  server without the startup costs.
• As with a colocated server the datacenter environment provides superior uptime.
• Multiple internet connections eliminate dependence on a single internet connection,
  provide faster connections when used with intelligent routing and provide burstable
  bandwidth. Regulated climate control which maintains temperature and humidity providing an
  optimal environment for your server hardware.

Dedicated Server Options

• RAID options for data storage. RAID levels provide faster data access(RAID
  5, 0, 1+0) or data redundancy (RAID 5, 1, 1+0). We recommend avoiding RAID 0 since
  the loss of either drive means the loss of all data. RAID 5 seems to be most common
  for high use database servers.
• Managed Services such as data backup, server/site monitoring, OS patching,
  firewall services. Many of these services can be performed by the customer instead
  of a hosting company. For example data backup can be setup by the customer to back
  up to their office or home, or a third party can be used for off site backup. (off
  site backup can range from $50 to $200 a month depending on the company) Site monitoring
  can be setup with a third party, often for free. Many companies choose to monitor/control
  their server patching themselves to ensure it doesn’t affect their specific application
  or web site.
• Hard Drive size and speed are also often options. Hard drive types are now
  SATA and SAS (Serial Atached SCSI). Both are newer than IDE and SCSI type drives.
  SAS drives are the highest end of the drive choices are are available in 10,000
  and 15,000 RPM speeds. SATA drives are great for most servers in most cases. A highly
  utilized server like a database server could benefit from SAS drives when drive
  through put is at a premium.
• Another server option is remote management. Remote management allows you
  to control the server as if you were directly connected to it with a keyboard, mouse
  and monitor. Dell calls the card that allows you to control the server a DRAC card
  where as HP calls it a lights out card. These cards allow you to power cycle server,
  turn the on or off, edit the bios and check the health of the server.

Dedicated Server options to compare.

• Dedicated VLANs – which isolate IPs and network traffic from other customers.
• Dedicated bandwidth pipes. Does the datacenter have more than on bandwidth provider? More providers generally means better network uptime.
• Custom Server Configurations.
• Hands free remote reboot or remote management cards.
• Remote hands support.
• Low setup costs, Monthly contracts

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