Server Colocation: Do You Know What It Is?
If you want to run a high bandwidth web site, but you dont want to go to the expense of setting up a network or maintaining a secondary power source and atmospheric controls, then server colocation is an economical way to meet your needs. After you have prepared and programmed your own server, you ship it to the server colocation facility, where the colocation company plugs it into their own network in an atmospherically controlled environment.
How does server colocation work?
The colocation company maintains a network and offers IP addresses, low cost bandwidth, and all the other services servers need to connect to the Internet. The companys facility is kept at the ideal cleanliness level and temperature for servers, and the power supply is maintained through backup systems in order to keep your server up and running no matter what. Other companies send their servers to the facility, where the server colocation company plugs them into the network.
Will the colocation company perform upgrades or physical maintenance to my server?
No, youre the sole person responsible for maintaining the server. The colocation company will not intervene except in case of damage caused to the equipment on the rare occasion that disaster strikes a facility. Its easy to perform software upgrades from a remote location, but if you want to upgrade the server, you will have to send a tech to the facility or have the server unhooked from the network and sent back to you.
What can server colocation offer that keeping my server at the office cant offer?
Colocation companies offer state of the art networks, which can be expensive for a small or mid size business to set up. Bandwidth is also likely to be less expensive through a colocation company because such companies have the benefit of dealing in bulk.
In addition, colocation facilities have more secure power sources and better environmental controls than the average office building. An optimal environment and continuous power is essential to peak server performance. Even a brief downtime or a slightly slower page can cut your customer base.
You may also want more protection for your business data. Its useful to keep your data at a second location in case something happens to the first location. For example, if your area is prone to floods or tornadoes, keeping your server in a less disaster prone area is sound business sense. It also provides protection for your files in case your area loses power or your building catches fire.
Buying and setting up a server is a mystery to me, but my business needs one. Is server colocation a good option for me?
If server hardware is outside your area of expertise and you prefer not to hire a professional to handle it, then you may need an even higher level of service called a dedicated server. In this service, a company gives you remote access to one of their own servers, and you merely load it with the files you want. The company owns, maintains, and upgrades the server itself.
However, if you are interested in learning to set up a server or are planning to hire someone to manage the server for you, then you might find that server colocation gives you better control of the server and is more cost effective. See here also Barracuda firewall -- Hardware firewall -- Colocation --
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by: billroche
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