Overview of Co-location Hosting
Collocation, often spelled as “colocation” or “co-location”, is defined as the process of moving or grouping things together. On the web, this term describes the provision of space for a client’s communications equipment on the premises of a specific service provider. For instance, web hosting companies often place their servers on the premises of an ISP (Internet Service Provider) who provides a co-location service.
Who Benefits from Co-location Hosting?
Someone who has complete control over all areas of their website is better suited for a dedicated hosting plan. Those who want the ability to implement hardware or remove and relocate a server are better suited for internal hosting, meaning they host their sites and pay a provider for connectivity and networking resources. Clients who meet the requirements above but aren’t able to fully host the sites themselves are well suited for co-location hosting.
When using a co-location hosting service, the server is often provided by the client. This typically refers to a server that is fully configured and loaded with data, ready to be delivered to the co-location provider. A few providers offer services that allow you to purchase an additional server, or have one custom-made by them. There are however, limitations and cost differences in regard to the size of your server. For example, rack-mount servers come in various sizes depending on their manufacturer and the hardware they contain. A 1U server will be less costly to co-locate than a 2U server as it is half the size. Mid to full-sized towers have similar limitations. Some co-location provers only have facilities that support rack-mount servers while others have additional space for tower cases.
Who Takes Care of the Equipment?
Many customers often wonder if a co-location provider will make sure their servers stay online. The answer to this question all depends on the provider. These services usually offer a Server Monitoring contract, which basically makes them liable for watching your system and making sure it functions properly. The condition is they are responsible for everything that may occur under their watch. If a previously installed application on your server is causing performance issues, it’s your responsibility to repair it.
Additionally, most co-location hosts offer Hardware Support contracts, ultimately making them responsible for making sure your servers stay running. If your server requires additional hardware components, you are generally required to purchase them in advance and supply them to the provider. If you purchase a server through the provider, hardware components are usually available on hand. Although the provider is responsible for repairing the machine, you may be required to pay for the associated parts. If no hardware agreement is involved, you can either pay the provider to diagnosis and repair the device or send out your own technician to the hosting site to handle it.
Before selecting a co-location host, there are a few things that need to be considered including the following:
• the amount of bandwidth
• rack space
• hardware support
• internet connectivity
• uptime
• server monitoring
• number of static IP addresses allocated to your servers
• the level of backup and restoration services
Keep in mind that not all co-location providers offer the exact same service. For instance, the Concentric Networks co-location plan features network monitoring, fire suppression, redundant power and air conditioning while others simply offer storage. Most of them do offer contracts to maintain your server and it’s connections. This type of service will usually guarantee a decent uptime per month and may increase fees as the uptime increases.
Loading ...
