Aplus.net Blog

So you’ve made the decision to get a dedicated server for your Internet business. Here are some essential factors you need to consider before choosing a dedicated hosting company.

1. Operating System (OS): Your choices here basically amount to Linux® or Windows®. We’ll explore the major differences between these two choices in an upcoming column, but the short version is that Linux is open-source and free, while Windows is closed-source — and not free. Linux tends to be more adaptable and reliable; Windows tends to offer better support services and convenience. Both are known for being secure.

2. Hardware: What kind of equipment will your server offer? What kind of performance does it offer? How big is the hard-drive? Are data backup and redundancy functionality built-in? Is there RAID protection?

3. Back-up options: This is an often overlooked factor. Make sure to learn what back-up options your provider will offer.

4. Bandwidth: How much bandwidth do you get each month? Can you pay to get more?

5. Connection: What kind of connections does the dedicated hosting provider have? Is it more or less than that offered by competing companies?

6. Network: Is the dedicated server’s network based on a switch, or a hub? (Switched networks are generally preferred.) How much of the network is being utilized? Is there room for your online business to grow?

7. Port: Will your server be on a dedicated or a shared port? Like a dedicated server, a dedicated port means you’ll have better security and control over your hosting.

8. IP Addresses: Having two IP addresses is often satisfactory, but you may need more. See how much you’re paying for. (Remember, each SSL requires its own IP address.)

9. User friendliness and Support: How easy will it be to set up sites on your dedicated server? Can you custom configure it? Is there a good support procedure in place if you run into trouble? Call a potential hosting provider’s support number before you buy anything, just to test and see how it works.

10. Uptime and Reliability. It is important to find out if the hosting provider offers an uptime guarantee. What is their uptime? What do they guarantee? How are you compensated if they falter? A reliable company should have 99.9% uptime.