Dedicated Web Hosting

If you have an extremely large or busy site, or if you have specific security or configuration needs that aren't available with any of the shared hosting or virtual private hosting packages available, then you need a dedicated server.

With dedicated hosting, you essentially lease an entire server from the hosting company. No other company and no other web site will be sharing your server or its resources. Typically, you can host as many or as few sites as you wish on your dedicated server, so if you have multiple sites, you can probably host them all on one dedicated server (unless any of your sites is large enough or busy enough to need its own dedicated server).

Benefits of Dedicated Hosting

When you host your site on your own dedicated server, you don't have to worry about other sites using up too much of the server's resources, or someone else's badly-programmed script running out of control and bringing the server to a screeching halt. You also don't have to worry about other users being able to access your files, which occasionally happens with shared hosting.

Another major advantage of leasing your own dedicated server is that you can typically have the hosting company install your choice of software: the operating system, web-serving software, control panel, mail system, and any other special preferences you may have. In shared hosting, the server is typically configured for the "least common denominator," and may not meet your needs. With a dedicated server, you decide exactly what you need.

Dedicated Hosting is More Expensive

Dedicated hosting ranges in cost from a couple of hundred dollar monthly for the cheapest dedicated hosting to thousands for premium dedicated hosting with all the bells and whistles. To determine the level of dedicated hosting that's right for you, you'll need to analyze your needs and educate yourself about the different features and services provided by the hosting companies. Dedicates hosting isn't cheap, and you should be wary of any hosting company offering a dedicated server at price that seems too good to be true.

Most hosting companies will charge a set-up fee to set up and configure your dedicated server. Unlike shared hosting, where it's a simple matter of adding a hosting account to a server that's already up and running, your dedicated server requires personnel time by the hosting company to install the hosting software and customize the configurations to your needs — the set-up fee covers this cost, and is usually non-refundable. Some hosting companies may waive the set-up fee if you pay upfront for a minimum contract, usually a year or more.

Operating System Choice

Some dedicated hosting companies offer only Windows IIS hosting, some provide only Linux/Unix hosting, and others give you your choice. Unix includes many variations such as CentOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and others. The operating system support offered by the hosting company may vary from updating the core operating system only to total management including all security patches, kernel upgrades, and software upgrades.

Managed vs. Unmanaged

Unfortunately, there are no universally accepted definitions for the terms managed hosting and unmanaged hosting. Each hosting company determines for itself the meaning of its managed hosting and unmanaged hosting packages.

Below are some of the services that may (or may not) be included with a managed hosting package:

• Server monitoring
• Kernel updates and operating system updates
• Firewell installation, configuration and support
• Spam filter installation, configuration and support
• Anti-virus installation, configuration and support
• Security patches
• Security audits
• Performance monitoring and tuning
• Backups and restores
• Software installation and support

Unless you're very experienced with web server systems and software, you would likely do well to choose a hosting company that offers full management of all aspects of the operating system and related software.