The server is the premise of each initiative within the network. However, server maintenance requires special conditions which are rarely achievable in an abnormal office. Therefore, servers are frequently stored in specialized facilities called data centers that provide all of the mandatory conditions, including uninterrupted power supply, temperature control, cooling, protection against unauthorized access, etc.
Servers in data centers are fairly often rented by firms specializing in website hosting, which allows firms to make use of servers without having to buy and maintain their very own equipment. However, there may be another choice, and that’s the server colocation service, where the client is supplied with space in an information center where they will locate their very own equipment.
Both approaches have their merits and are good for specific projects, so let’s have a look.
Server rental: how it really works, pros and cons
One strategy to host a web site for what you are promoting is to rent a server. This solution is a bit simpler, since it assumes less responsibility on the a part of the client, which is why it’s more often chosen and offered. By renting a server, you get a totally configured and managed server with the mandatory infrastructure and support to maintain it running. This could be an excellent option for businesses that do not have the technical knowledge or resources to take care of and support their very own server hardware, or that do not need to make a big upfront investment in server hardware.
Renting a server implies that the standard of your hardware will rely upon your hosting provider, which is sweet if the hosting provider is reliable and bad if not.
Also, by renting a server, you get the next level of flexibility within the sense that you simply aren’t limited to the precise hardware you’ve gotten. You also do not have to purchase more hardware in case your requirements have increased, or throw away your old hardware if you desire to upgrade or simply don’t need it anymore. By renting a server, you get easy scaling by default.
Another advantage of renting a server is the variability of hosting solutions: along with the normal dedicated server, it’s also possible to pick from many alternative hosting solutions which are made possible by virtualization technology: vps server hostingcloud hosting, physical servers…
All of those solutions offer different advantages, taking into consideration the specifics of every individual project.
For example, you’ll be able to go for virtual private servers in case you need great performance combined with affordability for smaller projects.
In the case of server colocation, there is no such thing as a such number of services. Instead, you are at all times coping with a dedicated server, which is a whole physical machine.
Co-located server: how it really works, benefits and drawbacks
A co-located server is a special approach to hosting your website. Here you’re directly accountable for purchasing the equipment. This means you’ve gotten to take a position more in your part, but at the identical time you get more control and customization.
Colocation is an excellent alternative in case you are fascinated about solving the technical tasks required by your project and need to have all the things under control.
You only pay for the racks in the info center and the mandatory maintenance that goes with them, so there’s not as much number of plans with different configurations in terms of colocation. However, pricing is reasonably flexible as you’ll be able to pick from different rack configurations depending on the necessities of the supplied equipment and the preferences of your projects.
In addition, you have to to have an worker go on to the info center and do the mandatory setup. Otherwise, you’ll be able to check in case your colocation provider may also provide the services of their team to finish this task.
While you could need to take a position more initially, in case you are planning a long-term project, co-location may prove to be a greater option as the fees only cover the server rack.
Co-located server vs. server rental
Let’s now summarize the professionals and cons of every approach to make it easier for you to make a choice from them.
Advantages of server colocation:
- Allows full control and customization of server hardware and software
- It could also be more profitable in the long term
- It could be an excellent alternative for firms with specific requirements or non-standard configurations
Disadvantages of server colocation:
- Requires significant initial investment in server hardware
- Management could be more complex and time consuming than rented servers
- Requires in-house technical knowledge and resources to take care of and operate the server
Advantages of renting a server:
- No upfront investment in server hardware
- It includes various kinds of services to higher suit the needs of smaller and short-term projects
- Fast provisioning and scalability
- It provides a totally configured and managed server together with the mandatory infrastructure and support
Disadvantages of renting a server:
- Limited customization and hardware control in comparison with co-location
- The quality of the hardware is dependent upon the hosting provider
- It could also be dearer than collocation in the long term
All in all, colocation is more specific by way of use cases, while server rental is an excellent fit for more diverse varieties of projects. Nevertheless, in case your project requires a whole physical server and you’re fascinated about gaining maximum control over it, colocation is an important alternative.
