Planet Host - Selective Web Hosting Reviews
What is a Dedicated Server?
A dedicated server is, simply put, a server dedicated especially for your use by a host. Dedicated servers are usually used to support Internet applications, such as web servers, DNS servers, or email servers. Dedicated have several advantages over shared or co-located servers, including performance, stability, and configurability.
Unlike shared servers or virtual hosting, a dedicated server hosts only one client's applications. This usually results in increased performance and availability, as the client is not sharing bandwidth or server resources with other customers.
In a dedicated server hosting arrangement, the client specifies the operating system software, hardware, etc for the server, but the server is owned and maintained by the host. The client is also usually responsible for installing and maintaining the applications on the server (e.g., a web server like Apache). The hosting service provides power and connections to the Internet backbone, redundant power sources, and HVAC and other building services. If the contract between the host and the client provides for it, the host may also manage the server and associated systems.
Dedicated servers are usually the subject of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that specify the uptime, operability, and other performance guarantees the host provides to the client. SLAs usually also specify the protection that the host offers from power interruptions, backbone connection failures, attacks like hacking or denial of service attacks, and other service interruptions. Hosting arrangements also usually include an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) or Terms of Service (ToS) that governs things like the software the client can install, adult and offensive content allowed, and policies on spamming, among other things.
Management services provided by the host range from only the most basic to full-service packages. There are no industry standards for management service levels, so each host will offer services in different service in packages or on an a la carte basis. A potential client therefore has to make careful comparisons to ensure that competing potential hosts are offering equivalent service levels.
Dedicated servers usually also provide a specified bandwidth, the available data transfer rate. Bandwidth is an important factor for the Internet applications hosted on a dedicated server. The amount of bandwidth provided by the host depends on the type of carrier the host can provide for connections to the Internet backbone. The amount of bandwidth delivered is subject to the SLA. There are different ways of measuring the bandwidth delivered against the bandwidth promised. Some measure the 95th percentile of usage, either average usage or peak usage. Some hosts measure the total amount of data leaving and coming to the server. Others set a "top speed" and do not measure data transfer amounts or speeds under that limit.
The bottom line for dedicated servers is that they can be a viable option for organizations that do not want to commit capital costs for a server and associated infrastructure but still want to provide a professional web site experience for their customers. Obviously, this level of hardware exclusivity comes at a cost in financial resources.