A dedicated server is a server whose resources have been allocated to one account. The person is paying for use of the entire machine, which allows the individual to configure and manage it according to his or her needs. This type of web hosting is typically more expensive and requires quite a bit more work than standard share hosting. Here are a few tops for choosing the best hosting dedicated server for you.
Although bandwidth and storage space are important, the first thing you should consider is RAM. Like a regular computer, the amount of RAM a server has directly correlates with how quickly it can process information and serve web pages to visitors. The more RAM the server has, the faster it is and vice versa. If you website is code heavy or uses quite a few different programs, then you need to ensure the dedicated server has a sufficient amount of RAM to quickly process site requests so that your visitors remain unaffected.
The type of programs you’ll be running on the server will affect what you’ll need. A server that will act as a web server will have a different set of characteristics than one that will act primarily as a database server. A latter requires a fast hard drive for the insertion and retrieval of information, while the former needs a faster central processing unit for quickly serving up web pages to visitors. Both types require a good amount of physical memory for data storage.
The last factor that should go into your decision is whether to get a server that offers metered or unmetered bandwidth. Metered servers are allocated a certain amount of bandwidth per month. If you go over this amount, you will be charged an overage fee. Unmetered servers allow for unlimited data transfer based on the computer’s maximum transfer rate. Metered bandwidth is generally faster while unmetered bandwidth is capped at the computers connection speed (e.g. 10 Mbps, etc). However, unmetered bandwidth means you won’t have to worry about any surprise charges at the end of the month due to going over you limit.
At the end of the day, you must do what’s best for the people who will be using your website. Considering their needs can help you determine which type of hosting dedicated server package to purchase.
