Web Hosting Reviews & Ratings

October 08, 2010

Colocation Hosting vs Self-Storage

Colocation hosting is perhaps the least talked about type of hosting available, and many people still don't understand how it works. In essence, collocation hosting is unlike any other hosting environment because instead of leasing the web server it actually provides storage space for people that already pawn web servers. If you own your own web server, then you know just how tedious it can be to ensure that it is stored in the right environment at all times. The following paragraphs some of the advantages and disadvantages of colocation hosting in comparison to self-storing your web server.

Security and Support

Keeping a web server completely safe is nearly impossible in the conventional home or office setting. Unless you have 24 hour security, coupled with state-of-the-art fire extinguishing and prevention systems, then there is a slim chance that the security of your home, office, or storage facility can match that of a colocation facility. Colocation datacenters also have futuristic durable server racks that keep your web servers completely safe from any physical mishaps. With colocation hosting you can rest assured that your web server is protected from fires, theft and hardware damage at all times. Colocation hosting also provides optional support in many cases, which will give you the chance to relax while the technical aspects of server administration are handled by the colocation company. It is important to note that colocation plans do not include full technical support by default, however this is available as a service from many colocation hosting providers.

Environment and Expenses

Colocation facilities harbor the perfect environment for any piece of technical equipment, particularly web servers. The floors and the ceilings are air-cooled constantly to keep air circulating, and the temperature remains at a steady 75 degrees. Airborne allergens and dust can easily make their way into the filter of the web server over time, causing it to overheat and decreasing the overall lifespan of the hardware.  To keep this from happening to your web server, colocation centers filter the air before it ever enters a room with a web server, and the dust content in the server room is kept at zero at all times. The cost of building and maintaining a system this intricate and effective at home would is not feasible , nor necessary for most business owners.

Performance and Policies

Colocation datacenters utilise the fastest Internet connections in the world, and for redundancy, most of them have connections to multiple ISPs (Internet Service Providers) simultaneously. The speeds attained by these datacenters are not even available to the public, and for business that would like to purchase them, they're very expensive. As a colocation customer you'll receive access to this lightning fast connection and redundancy at now extra cost. Strict data protection policies ensure that colocation centers take every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the web servers and the data contained on them. In fact, many colocation providers offer to pay for any equipment that is damaged as a result of their employees' neglect or mistreatment.

Tags: colocation,  colocation web hosting,  colocation expenses,  server storage,  web server,  server administration