Questions to Ask a Colocation Provider
Colocation is an alternative hosting solution for the webmaster that has outgrown the dedicated server environment. Instead of managing the server’s hardware and software components, they outsource the entire operation to the offsite data facility of another company.
If you’re interested in colocation, there are a few questions that must be asked when looking for a provider.
How Much Will it Cost?
This probably goes without saying, but you should definitely keep your eyes on the price of service. Of course you don’t want to overpay, but as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for”. Because of this, we suggest that you focus your search on quality instead of a service that is merely cheap. The cheap route is quite tempting but downtime is very unappealing and will certainly damage credibility among your visitors.
How is the Support?
As with any type of hosting, the availability of support is crucial in the colocation environment. This matter is one that needs to be taken seriously and should weigh heavy on your final decision. Most reputable companies offer 24/7 support via phone and email while some extend their assistance to live chat sessions and support tickets. Problems can arise when attempting to connect or setting up the server so a fast turn-around time is essential.
Do You Practice Redundancy?
Redundancy covers several aspects of colocation from the host’s connectivity to climate control in the data facility. Efficient systems must be put in place to ensure the connectivity of your website in the midst of hardware failures, ventilation systems to compensate for the heat generated by network equipment, frequent backups to protect your data in case of a disaster and backup generators to restore the operation in the event of a power failure. A reliable colocation host will implement various systems to make sure your site remains operating even if something goes wrong.
Is There a Money Back Guarantee?
The level of competition in the web hosting industry has resulted in numerous perks and guarantees. Many will at least offer a 30-day money back guarantee to demonstrate confidence in their quality of service. If you can find a reliable company that offers such a guarantee, we suggest giving it some consideration. This will come in handy if you are dissatisfied with the service and decide to change hosts.
How Long For the Server Setup?
Here is another factor that will undoubtedly vary in regard to the urgency of your business. With that said, we recommend avoiding any host that requires you to wait more than a week to get your server up and running. If the company takes forever getting you connected online, they will more than likely provide a similar service when it comes to support.
Conclusion
A lot goes into colocation hosting including the fact that you are responsible for providing all the software and hardware components along with other necessities such as the NIC and hard drive. If your financial situation is somewhat precarious, we suggest going with a dedicated server. However, if you are 100% sure that colocation hosting is the best option, take every precaution when evaluating providers to ensure that your business will continue to function in the face of technical adversity.
Related tutorials and articles
Eco-Friendly Web Hosting - Save the Earth!
Powered by 100% Green Energy Web Hosting from HostPapa.com
Good Avocado - Professional Multiple Domain and Reseller Hosting
Leave a Reply
