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Is Colocation the Right Solution?
First Published: Nov 2004
Last Update: Nov 2004
Author: Archivo OspiteIf you own a server and want to connect to
the Internet, there are companies that will handle the connection for you. This
service is known as colocation. Companies that want to have complete control
over their server configuration often choose the colocation route. The
difference between a colocated server and a dedicated server is that in a
dedicated environment the web hosting
company owns the server.
Before deciding if colocation is right for you, there are several factors to
consider. First, you must look carefully at the fee structure. Colocation,
unlike dedicated servers, requires payment of both rental and connection fees.
You will pay a rental fee for the physical space your server will occupy at the
host company. The rental fee will be based on the height of your server which
can be anywhere from 1U to a full rack. Most servers are 1U or 2U
configurations, but can be as large as 4U if they have a large number of hard
drives.
Your monthly colocation connection fees will be based on the average number of
gigabytes transferred. This average can be figured in one of two ways. The first
method measures the amount of bandwidth used and divides it by the number of
seconds in the month. The second method figures the average by looking at the
95th percentile. This is determined by measuring the bandwidth every five
minutes. At the end of the month, the reading that ranks at the 95 percentile is
used for billing. Ask potential web hosting companies which method they use.
Security, Speed and Service: The physical safety of your server and the security
of your data are two primary considerations. Before you select a colocation
host, find out what plans they have to protect servers during a flood, fire or
other disaster. Ask about the security of the building and find out who will
have access to your server.
Also be sure to check into the bandwidth offered by the host company you are
considering. Bandwidth measures the rate of data transfer in gigabytes. Some
companies offer extremely fast connections that often come with a high price
tag. You can save money by choosing a provider that has slower bandwidth. To
test a potential host company's response time, visit their website at different
times of day. How fast does their site load? A slow-performing website may
indicate the company's bandwidth is already overloaded.
Discuss any special features you use with the colocation provider. Can the host
handle such features such as private nameservers, anonymous FTP or game servers?
Can the company
provide multiple IP addresses?
Technical support can be the defining factor in you colocation experience. Be
sure to select a host that has a knowledgeable staff. Ask about IT
certifications and other qualifications. Also determine how easy it is to access
customer support and how fast they respond to problems.
You rely on your server so uptime is critical. Ask the company what kind of
guarantee they offer in terms of uptime and get that guarantee in writing.
Get that uptime guarantee along with other important considerations in writing.
Make sure the contract carefully spells out the terms of service, length of
contract, level of service and payment terms. Don't be afraid to negotiate for
the service and guarantees you need.
About the Author
Archivo Ospite is the owner of ABWebHosting.com, a site that provides useful
information about web hosting. Visit AB
http://www.abwebhosting.com Web Hosting to find all of his articles and web
hosting tips.
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