In the past, the only way for a company to host their website and to use their products was to either invest in pricey, dedicated servers or to use a shared web hosting plan from a large Internet provider. However, with the explosion of the sharing economy, smaller businesses now have the opportunity to host their websites on a much more affordable and functional basis with the help of dedicated server hosting.
What Is Dedicated Server Hosting?
Dedicated server hosting is the practice of leasing a server, which is exclusive to your business, rather than renting or sharing a server from a web host. You can think of a dedicated server as a glorified computer that is solely used to process online transactions for your business or website. They come with a minimum 3-year contract and 24/7 technical support.
Unlike shared hosting, with dedicated servers you get what you pay for. You won’t find lower prices or better offers, as all the servers are reserved specifically for your business. In fact, you’ll rarely see any promotions for dedicated servers, as companies don’t want to risk losing a customer’s business due to a glitch in the system. This is also the reason why dedicated server hosting is generally cheaper than shared hosting.
Why Should You Try It?
The rise of the sharing economy has made it possible for everyone from individuals to businesses to host their own websites. Since shared hosting is totally dependent on the number of people using the service, it makes keeping track of server loads very tricky. As a result, sometimes servers can’t handle the additional traffic which leads to reduced performance or down time. In contrast, with dedicated servers you are guaranteed to receive the full capacity of the system no matter how many people are using it, so you never have to worry about being unable to serve your customers due to insufficient resources.
How Do I Host My Website With A Dedicated Server?
The process is pretty much the same as any other hosting plan. You need to register with a web host that supports dedicated servers and then pick a plan that suits your needs. Once you have registered, you can visit the their site to manage your account and to view the various offers that they have to offer.
When it comes to picking a web host, you want to go for one that is highly recommended by other businesses or websites that you monitor. It would also be wise to look for a web host that is based in a country with strict privacy laws, in case you decide to store any personal or sensitive information on your site. Finally, make sure to avoid any hosts that are suspected of selling their customers’ personal information to third parties.
Once you have picked a web host that you are comfortable with, you can proceed to install WordPress to launch your site. Remember, you need to install a content management system (CMS) to host your site on a dedicated server, so don’t forget about that when you are picking your web host.
You will then need to familiarize yourself with the basic concepts of administering a website, as you will have to handle many details yourself rather than opting for automatic functions.
If you are a beginner, try out the free version of Houdini so you can get a feeling of what it is like to manage a website. You can also find many helpful articles on how to run a website on its official documentation site.
What Are The Main Differences Between Shared And Dedicated Hosting?
The major difference between shared and dedicated hosting is that with dedicated servers you are given exclusive use of the system whereas with shared hosting you are sharing the server with other companies or individuals. This means that if you are using dedicated hosting, you are guaranteed to get the full capacity of the system no matter how many people are using it. Moreover, you can rest assured that the system will be kept up-to-date and that there will be no slow performance or downtime. The other significant difference is that shared hosting is often cost-effective but has a lot of restrictions regarding the functionality that you can offer your customers.
For example, if you are using shared hosting for a blog, the web host will usually charge you a certain amount per month, which you have to pay regardless of how many people are using the service. In contrast, with dedicated servers you are only responsible for paying for the resources that you use, so you are not charged for resources that are not being used.
What Are The Main Benefits Of Using A Dedicated Server?
There are several benefits to using a dedicated server for hosting your website. To begin with, all the servers are reserved specifically for your use, so you will not experience any downtimes or performance issues as a result of inadequate resources. Moreover, you can use the server for as long as you want without having to ask for an extension due to expiry of the initial contract. In addition, you have full access to the resources including RAM, hard drives, and CPU cores so you can use the maximum capacity of the system to its fullest potential.
Another significant benefit of using a dedicated server is that you can implement any functionality that you want. For example, if you have a product that you want to sell online, you can set up a shop that features your products. If you are using WordPress, you can use the various plugins to create a fully-functional online store, which is perfect for those who want to earn money from home.
In contrast, with shared hosting you are usually restricted to what the web host provides. Moreover, you cannot upgrade the plan or add additional resources without paying for an additional monthly fee. This often means that even if you have the money to pay for more resources, you may not have them due to the lack of flexibility.
As you can see, there are many differences between shared and dedicated hosting, however, one of the biggest advantages to using a dedicated server is that it makes your job as a webmaster or web developer much easier. Since you are not sharing a server with other customers, you can install any type of software or plugin that you want to use without risking conflicts with other websites that may be on the same server.
Which Type Of Hosting Should You Get If You Are A New Business?
If you are a new business that wants to create an online presence, shared hosting is a great choice. The only downside is that you will not have the flexibility to add additional features to your site without paying for an additional plan. If you are looking for a stable, hassle-free option, then shared hosting is a perfect choice as it is very affordable and since you are not getting too many requests, you will not experience any delays or performance issues.
Dedicated server hosting is ideal for those who want to create a more professional look and feel for their site. Moreover, if you are looking to establish yourself online as a brand, then getting a dedicated server is an excellent choice. Just remember that if you are looking for the stability that shared hosting can offer, you should get that first, as dedicated servers are usually more expensive.
Does Size Matter?
The answer is no. As long as you have the money to pay for the resources that you need, you should go for the biggest size that you can get. This is because as the size of the server increases, so does its price. For example, you could get a small server with 1GB of RAM for $5/mo or you can get a bigger and better server with 16GB of RAM for the same price.
As long as you are getting a service that has the resources that you need, size does not matter. It is best to get the biggest one because it is more stable and has enough resources to handle all the requests that you may send to it.
What Is The Cost Of The Server?
The cost of the server will depend on the plan that you choose. The bigger the plan, the more expensive it will be. For example, if you are getting the basic plan, it will cost you $5/mo. If you are paying for a larger plan, it will become expensive, and so on. Keep in mind that the cost per month does not include the cost of the actual server, which is generally a one-time fee.