Dedicated IP web hosting, also known as “static” web hosting, refers to web hosting that provides the user with an IP address which is used solely by their website’s server space and domain. If you are interested in using dedicated IP web hosting, you’ll find plenty of options online, some paid and some free.
In the past the paid services have been far more popular, but recently even the free hosting services have made attempts to offer the same quality of service, if not better in some cases. Regardless of whether you choose a paid or free service, using dedicated IP web hosting offers a number of advantages over dynamic IP web hosting. Below we have covered the three main benefits of using dedicated IP web hosting.
1. Speed and Security
Similar to any other form of web hosting, your web site’s visitors will still be able to access the information on your server via a standard Internet browser, but the speed and security of your web site will be substantially improved. If you are operating a larger business or an e-commerce site then dedicated IP hosting is by far the best option for you. Having your own dedicated IP will allow you to you avoid pesky issues such as spam. Also, sharing an IP with other websites can possibly be dangerous because you could be sharing your IP with illegal websites. Having your own permanent IP address offers a sense of security as well as improved browsing speeds for the end-user.
2. Flexibility and Control
Using dedicated IP web hosting also allows you to have more flexibility when it comes to controlling and editing your web site. You will have access to your own private SSL certificate as well as an anonymous FTP client. Private SSL certificates ensure that your website remains fully secure, which will put your customers mind at ease if you are using your website for e-commerce.
3. Plenty of Options
Having a dedicated IP address for your web hosting offers a number of benefits, so of course the fees are going to be higher than those charged for dynamic IP hosting. However there so many hosting companies to choose from online, so it is not hard to find fairly priced dedicated IP hosting. You can even use your current hosting company, simply call them or email them and tell them that you would like a static or dedicated IP and they will help you make the switch to dedicated IP hosting. Having so many options is another reason why switching to dedicated IP web hosting is so appealing.
Choosing a Hosting Provider
It is very important that you take the time to do the necessary research before deciding on a web hosting package. Consider factors such as customer service and support, security and price before you make your final decision. Taking the time to do the necessary research will save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.
The time has come; you have finally decided to get yourself a website on the internet. After conducting some research via your preferred search engine, you probably came across a countless number of sites offering hosting service for rock-bottom prices that appear too good to pass up. So what does this low price get you? In most cases, you receive space on a server along with a variety of tools that will help you build your website. The main problem is that you are forced to battle it out with other customers who are hosting their sites on the same machine. If your needs call for more than the typical web hosting arrangement, this environment may not be suitable for you. The lingering threat of performance and security issues can be very damaging to your web presence. When this is the case, you are probably best suited for a dedicated server.
PC vs. Server
Though it is essentially a computer, a dedicated server differs greatly from the typical home-based PC. The major difference lies in the operating system. This type of computer runs specialized versions of operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Unix, platforms that are optimized for network operations. While your computer is made to run word processing applications, video games, and other related applications, a server is designed to run programming packages, databases, web services and other technologies associated with a website. And although both types of computers have similar resources such as CPU, memory and disk space capacity, a server tends to have greater amounts of each, enabling it achieve a level of performance your PC could never reach.
Dedicated Servers and the Hosting Business
It has become very common for web hosting firms to lease server space for hundreds and sometimes even thousands of accounts on the same machine. Depending on various factors, some of these websites may begin to experience problems as the server nears toward its limitations. It is also important to note that is even though you generally have the ability to manage your website, the service provider has control over the entire server. Therefore, if there are configurations and software applications that you really need, you just could be out of luck. A dedicated server lifts these limitations and several more by providing you with complete control. From server configuration to software technologies, you have the freedom to incorporate the components you feel are best fit for your website.
Do You Need Your Own Server?
If you plan to run an online business with a website that contains mission-critical data and receives high volumes of traffic, a dedicated server could be the solution for you. If your business cannot afford to compromise performance and reliability, then you probably should opt for this sort of arrangement. Whether or not you choose to lease a dedicated server or run your own in-house depends on your budget and IT resources. When factoring in all the costs and technical hardships, many find that the hosted option is the best way to go as it is requires substantially less upfront investment and tends to be less complex as well.
Many webmasters are unsure of when it is time to move along from their existing shared hosting platform and upgrade to a dedicated server. It is a significant decision and should you conclude that is the right move, note that there a number of key factors to consider to ensure a successful migration. Before planning the move, keep the following aspects in mind:
Overall Expense
Investing in a dedicated server is usually far more expensive than shared hosting. However, fierce competition across the market has led to a shift in cheaper services with many packages available for under $100 per month. While the overall quality depends on the hosting provider, as the old adage goes, “you get what you pay for.” With that said, there are more than enough respectable hosts on the market to ensure that you can find a dedicated server solution that comes at a reasonable price and great value.
Hardware Specification and Redundancy
One of the most important yet overlook aspects of choosing a dedicated hosting solution is the specifications of the actual server hardware. This is where you want to carefully access your requirements and determine exactly what your server needs to thrive. Do you need a single, dual or quad core server? How much RAM and hard disk space capacity do your require? This depends on personal requirements but one type of hardware you may want to avoid is legacy equipment. Old hardware is not recommended for anyone looking to get a couple years of a quality use out of their server. If want a long lasting solution that requires few upgrades, be sure to learn more about the hardware specifications.
Hardware redundancy is equally important for the simple fact that you are probably upgrading to a dedicated server to eliminate as many points of failure as this environment will allow. You can better assure this by choosing hardware equipped with RAID hard drives. In addition to hard drives, you also want to consider redundancy through the use of dual power inputs and multiple UPS (uninterrupted power supplies), as this will provide for continuity should an outage occur. When investing in dedicated hosting, the solution you end up is only as good as the hardware and its related components
Network Reliability
Unknown to most, but the hardware component that is the most likely to fail is the NIC (Network Interface Card) installed in the server. For this reason, you need to strongly consider a piece of hardware that offers more than one or your could suffer when the original unit fails. Although the host is responsible for replacing hardware components, that does nothing to reverse the downtime you are bound to endure because of it. Other critical network features that deserve attention are bandwidth and the carriers providing connectivity. You could have the best breed of server hardware but without a reliable network, consistent availability may be a rarity.
Migrating to a dedicated server is a move not to be taken lightly. If you want all the performance, flexibility and reliability this environment offers, you need to do your homework and find a host that can provide you with the best service possible. Look at the hosting firm as a business partner and you can enjoy a long successful tenor with your server.
Though similar in many ways, managed and shared hosting are two entirely different breeds of service. Shared hosting is ideal for most individuals and small businesses, but there are many instances in which it simply cannot meet your needs. If you have been struggling with the decision of which service to choose, this article will let you know when shared hosting is sufficient and when it is time for a managed hosting solution.
Sharing Can be Sufficient Yet Not Always Enough
Shared hosting represents the most common type of web hosting there is. So, what makes it suitable for most customers? Well, if you don’t already know, a web server is a large and very powerful computer. This essentially means that the machine is quite capable of providing enough disk space and bandwidth to support multiple websites. The fact that a number of customers are paying for most of the server’s resources makes shared hosting a cost effective option. In most hosting environments, you will have sufficient disk space and bandwidth to meet the needs of your website along with a host of basic and in many cases, advanced features. However, this is not always the case.
A shared hosting plan can get you started on the right foot, but there are many signs that indicate when it is time to upgrade. For example, once your site starts to grow and traffic picks up, the resources provided by your current host may no longer be enough to support your needs. When this occurs, you are typically creating more content and bringing in more visitors so your storage and bandwidth requirements will shift dramatically. While some hosts will allow you to upgrade to higher allotments, several do not. Even for the ones that do, there is only so much you can additional procure. When no upgrades are available and you still require all the extra care and attention shared hosting provides, it just may be time to consider managed hosting.
Getting the Most from Managed Hosting
Websites that receive a high volume of traffic and contain mission critical or highly sensitive information can benefit tremendously from managed hosting. You get all the perks of a dedicated server plus the advantage of having a professional hosting company take care of the complicated technical aspects. This type of arrangement is ideal for the business or individual who doesn’t know a thing about server administration and all the other challenges that come along with dedicated hosting. Maintaining a server on your own can be costly from a time and financial aspect. In the right scenario, managed hosting can be the solution you need to bridge the gap between the shared and dedicated server.
Managed hosting can be a cost effective solution that provides you with more control and better security than a shared hosting platform ever could. However, it isn’t the best arrangement for everyone so do your homework before making the decision to upgrade. If the requirements of your website or business do not call for managed hosting, a flexible shared hosting plan will probably suit you just fine.
Investing in a dedicated server is a big step underestimated by one too many customers. This is very unfortunate because even though prices on the hosting marketplace are generally affordable, leasing your own server could still cost you a pretty penny. Whether you are upgrading to your first dedicated hosting package or switching service providers, this process can turn out to be a nightmare for the novice or even the experienced IT professional. Achieving success calls for you to gather a lot of information and in the case of a live site, migrate a number of essential pieces. All of this can make for a rather complex and frustrating process. The good thing is that these blunders can be eluded. What we recommend is paying close attention to a few key details.
Plan Ahead
Before you even load any software services onto the machine, devise a well thought out project document that entails all the plans that will be used for the new server. For example, jot down all the software you plan to install, focusing on specifics that range from the operating system and control panel to the web server application and sever-side programming packages. To be thorough, include system requirements, version numbers and even the order these programs need to be installed in. Make comparisons between the full list of system requirements and the technical specifications of the server. There have been an alarming number of server deployments gone bad due to the lack of planning. This is not a situation you want to find yourself in.
Devise and IT Team
If at all possible, you do not want to be alone in the process of maintaining a server. If you have the physical manpower, gather other members of your team and get them on board. If you can, get the aid of your vendor partners as well. Once you have all these elements together, have your site developer, appliance supplier and application vendor on stand by the day you plan set things in motion. This will better ensure a successful deployment as you can have help with issues related to server implementation.
Stay on the Offensive
Planning shouldn’t stop just because you have the server up and running. You need to think about how the server is going to be utilized on a daily basis. If you have a medium to large sized business, you must not only consider how these processes will impact the IT group, but other teams in your organization as well. Make sure that account logins, contact numbers for support and other vital information is distributed to all relevant parties. It is this type of planning that results in high performance and as little downtime as possible.
No one ever said that setting up and maintaining a dedicated server was easy, but it can be done with efficiency. By prioritizing through careful planning and documentation, you can avoid many of the common pitfalls that have swallowed those to come before you. When thinking ahead, you can make sure that your transition to a dedicated server is smooth and pain-free.
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