What is a Data Center?
Sep0
We always hear a word Data Center, when we speak about Web Hosting industry. Most of us are more worried with the location of Data Center. What actually is a Data Center? What is the importance of it? Let us try to learn and get a brief idea about Data Center.
A data center also spelled as datacenter or datacentre is also called as server farm. Sometimes, it is also known as server cluster. It is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. It comprises all the security features with connections for redundant data communication, power supply for backups and air conditioning, fire suppression to make the environment secure and safe. It often has backup servers. If the primary server fails, these backup servers can take over its function.
A data center can be setup in one room of a building, one or more floors, or an entire building. Most of the equipment is often in the form of servers mounted in 19 inch rack cabinets. These are often placed in single rows forming corridors between them. In this way, people can easily access the rear and front end of the server.
The size of server can differ. There are few equipments like storage devices or mainframe computers which may be as big as the size of rack itself. These are usually placed alongside racks. There are large data centers which use shipping containers. These shipping containers can be packed with 1000 or more Servers. This is more costly. How? Because if there is a need to upgrade or downgrade or repair a server, whole container is needed to be replaced. A single server is neither upgraded/downgraded nor repaired.
In short Data Center is a room with multiple servers. We will learn about the physical layout of the Data Centers shortly.
The right Control Panel to select
Jun0
If you decide to purchase a control panel for your Dedicated Server, you might think of the options available for you and the one that you shall buy. In general, most of the web hosting companies offer cPanel and Plesk control panels. These are the two most popular control panels offered so far. The basic purpose for providing such control panel is to enable users to create and modify their website easily. Their functionality is designed in such a way that even if a user does not consume high technical knowledge, he/she can use it easily, following the tabs and options available within the panel.
cPanel is commonly used with Linux Dedicated Servers. Plesk is compatible with both Linux and Windows though it is commonly preferred for Windows Dedicated Servers. Comparing reviews for both, Plesk and cPanel, it is concluded that cPanel is mostly preferred amongst the users. Many of us who use Windows were eager to see a cPanel version compatible with Windows OS. Since 2006, it was said that it was supposed to be launched soon, however, no one was aware of how and when would it happen. Finally, cPanel has released the beta of its first Microsoft Windows Server® 2008-based product. cPanel has renamed this newly launched control panel from “cPanel Server Suite” to “Enkompass”. Though Enkompass has been launched, it is currently in BETA TESTING. So, the hosting providers are still providing Plesk control panel with Windows Dedicated Server. We still have to wait to see Enkompass control panel to pass the Beta Testing and get popular amongst the website owners and Windows Server owners.
While choosing a control panel, you must think of few aspects and then make a decision about which control panel you must select. The most important factor is to consider a control panel that is easiest and has better in-built web utilities. Now, we have two options to select from, cPanel and Plesk. There are other control panels also; however, as mentioned earlier, these two are the most popular ones. What all they can manage? What are their features?
The basic features offered by both cPanel as well as Plesk are similar. Creating, editing, deleting and managing your email accounts, managing your primary domain, add-on domains, sub-domains are the main features of both these control panels. Thus, providing the access to users for creating and modifying their websites is the initial aim of these panels. In addition, there are various add-ons available under these control panels using which one can install/uninstall the software like billing software, to say. Hence, to conclude we can say the compatibility and capabilities of both are sufficient for them to be the best control panels of all.
Shall I purchase a Control Panel?
Jun0
When you are ready to buy a Dedicated Server, let us first think over the configuration of the server. Many hosting companies offer Control Panel free on shared hosting plans, however, they charge for it, on VPS or Dedicated Servers. Thus, before investing any amount you shall know that if you really need the control panel.
Basically, control panel is used to manage your domains, your email accounts, your FTP accounts and install the one-click applications etc. There are many other advanced features of control panel. However, it is not the topic what I want to discuss. Coming to the point, if control panel has these features, can you manage the server without control panel? The answer is, yes! You get complete RDP Access or full root SSH Access to the server. That helps you to manage your server. If it is so then why shall one look for the control panel option?
To answer this, if you do have much technical knowledge, you are not much familiar with the concept of Dedicated server, you cannot manage it without anyone’s help, you need a control panel to help you when you are in need.
Hence, if you know the working of Dedicated Servers, you can play with it using the remote access then it is always better to consider it without a control panel. Control Panel is resource consuming; sometimes, it may require more resources than what your site consumes. To keep yourself released with the frustration of unwanted resource usage, it is better to consider a server without control panel. The point here is, you must be a tech-person.
Do I need a Dedicated Server?
Jun6
Dedicated Server gives high flexibility and more options for your website. Shared hosting plans do not supported many features. Thus, it becomes necessary for you to move to either VPS or Dedicated Servers. Usually you have root SSH /admin RDP access to the server on VPS as well as Dedicated Servers. You can manage and modify various aspects of the server behavior – software running, configuration etc. Therefore, if your site needs more than what any shared hosting plan can offer or if you need to install any specific application then VPS and dedicated server are the options for you. In addition, if you have a VPS or dedicated server, you are free to host unlimited number of domains and can have unlimited email accounts, FTP accounts etc, irrespective of the server-side OS.
A question may come to your mind that if you get root SSH /admin RDP access on VPS as well then why to go for Dedicated Server? The answer is that if you consider Dedicated Server then the whole CPU and memory is on your disposal. Your site is the only one that uses the server resources. The resources are only leased to you, thus, unlike VPS; there is no one to share them. Memory and CPU allocations for a VPS are far lesser as compared to a physical dedicate server. In addition, you can install whatever programs and software you wish. Many applications need more resources than they are offered on VPS. In this case, it becomes necessary for us to consider Dedicated Server only.
Most companies rent dedicated servers for a monthly fee providing certain amount of bandwidth, disk space and one or more dedicated IP addresses. Unlike any other plans, we can even have additional RAM, disk space, bandwidth etc.
The greatest disadvantage of a dedicated server is its price. It costs much higher than a shared hosting plan. Next, if you are on Shared hosting plan, the web-hosting provider takes care of the server upgrades, security, hacker attacks, etc. However, if you are on a dedicated server, these tasks in most of the cases are your own responsibility. Thus, making it necessary for you to be familiar with system administration before going for a dedicated or at least hire a system admin to take care of your server.
Many companies offer the so-called “Managed dedicated” servers. These server are completely opposite of Unmanaged servers. The provider will take care of every thing you require on your server, from installation to configuration. They will also monitor the server for you, maintain it regularly, carry out the System Administration tasks and will also login into the server in case the services gets crashed. Most probably, providers of Fully Managed Servers do not provide direct root access or Administrator access to their client to keep the servers safe or to make sure that the client does break them all the time.
Dedicated Server Hosting
Some dedicated servers, also known as High End Dedicated Servers, come along with a lot of software installed. This includes regular features as email, database server, web server etc. and the management software or Control Panel eg. cPanel, Plesk etc. with web interface to manage different aspects of the server such as configuring websites, creating mailboxes, ftp user etc.
When do I need a dedicated server?
There is no simple answer to that. In general, you may need a dedicated server in any of the following cases:
Security – Being on a dedicated server, you are on your own. The server is not shared amongst any other users. Nobody can have access to the server. Therefore, you can be sure that your data is safe. For example, on a shared host, in case of wrong configuration of server, any other users on the server might be able to read your data. If you own VPS, there is System Admin to read your data. However, if you own a dedicated server, there is nobody who can access the server, except you.
CPU power – If you own a shared hosting plan or you have a VPS then CPU, RAM and I/O resources are shared with other users on same server. If, in case, any user exceeds the use of CPU and/or RAM, the server performance can suffer greatly, sometimes enforcing it to go down. In this case, you do not have any option other than waiting for hosting provider to take necessary action. This is not the case with dedicated server; the CPU works only for your site. It does not mean that the server can never go down, however, sometimes, you have control on the situation to work on it and get it up as soon as possible.
Performance – Every thing that we have discussed in this article, directly or indirectly relates to performance. As there is no one to share the server, indeed, you get best performance.
Indeed, the Managed Dedicated Server is the best service offered in Hosting Industry.
Selecting the right hosting package
Jun0
Now, when we are aware about how important it is to select the Web Hosting provider, we shall also know the importance of selecting the Web Hosting package. Few of us use the hosting services to run their businesses online or personal websites, whereas few of us use it host files, run game servers, email marketing etc.
While making the decision for web hosting plan, we shall first decide what we want to host. When we know the actual need for hosting plan, we shall get an idea about the disk space that website may require or if there is any specific program that we wish, host then we must know the system requirements for that particular program. We shall have an idea about the number of visitors and accordingly know the bandwidth usage.
Selecting the server side Operating System also pays an important role. There are 2 OS used as Server Side OSs, Linux and Windows. If you intend to develop your site using ASP, FrontPage, ASP.NET environment, Windows Streaming Media, Access, MS SQL Server, or any of the other Microsoft owned technologies then you should opt for Windows hosting. Otherwise, we can opt for Linux or cPanel Hosting.
Thus, we can select the right hosting package, if we know a bit about our website or the best solution is to contact the Web Developer for help to select the appropriate hosting plan.
Newbie – What is Web Hosting?
May0
There are many Web Hosting companies which show “Stars at Noon” to them who are new to the Web Hosting, those who really want to know about how things work here, what should be their way to go for, what can help them to increase their business online? With so many options available for consideration, it is difficult for an individual to make the right decision. Let us find a solution for this. Let us learn how to decide for the hosting provider. Let us be confident enough when it comes to select a Hosting package.
To begin with, we must know what Hosting is?
Hosting is also known as Web Hosting, Webhosting or Web Site Hosting. It is a service that is provided by Hosting provider that offers you not only the disk space to store your web pages and files but also an internet connectivity. This will enable the web pages or files to be accessible via World Wide Web. Now, when we know what Web Hosting is, it is important to choose the hosting provider that will ensure reliability, uptime, high-speed network connection etc.
There are hosting companies that provide you these services; however, the most important thing to consider is 24*7 Support! Whenever you are stuck, are confused, need help, cannot find solution by your own, you must have someone who can understand what you need, what information really are you looking for and help you accordingly. 24*7 support really plays an important role in this industry. If you are hosting a Business site and during peak hours the site gets down, you try contacting support to get it up as soon as possible and there is no one around to help you then imagine the kind of frustration you would feel. That shows how important is Reliable Customer Service!
So considering all the above points, we can say that choosing for the web-hosting provider is an important deal.