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What is a colocated server

Date Added : June 17, 2010 | Views : 344

A co-located server is a server that is owned by you, but located in the data center of other hosting company.That hosting company will provide rack space, power and Internet connections and IP addresses and all other things necessary to run your server. You are responsible for all other requirements, server hardware and all software running on it.

The first thing to say is that this is not something an inexperienced person should consider undertaking. There are many potential pitfalls involved in owning and operating a server and only people with extensive knowledge and experience in the management server you should consider taking this step.

Since you own your own server you can ask any hardware configuration you prefer. Make sure to make concessions for any potential future need, because once the server is deployed at the facility co-location of any changes or additions can be difficult and time consuming. You also need to specify a maintenance plan in place in case of hardware problems – if your server goes down, then your entire site will be down until it’s fixed.

Also be responsible for all software used by the server, application software and the basic operating system that will run on the server. While this means you only need to install the software that you know you will use, this also means that you will be responsible for all support issues with this software. Be prepared to spend much time installing all the patches needed to maintain various software running safely. You also have to ensure that the server is configured in a way that allows you to connect to the network connections from the hosts without any problem.

When choosing a host for the server there are several things to look for. The first is the type of Internet connections available. Make sure there are multiple data connections available – if a connection goes down, your site will remain available. Network staff should be available 24 hours a day to verify the connection. All data centers must also offer multiple power backup systems in case of power failure. Air-conditioned rooms to help keep the servers running without problems caused by overheating. It should also be some kind of fire-extinguishing system installed, and the 24-hour security. Despite the above, make sure you take a good insurance policy.

Do not expect much in the way of technical support of data center support staff. They will not be familiar with the server or its configuration, and it is expected that you have the technical expertise to install and maintain the server. However, one thing you need is the re-boot privileges. Sometimes, the server must be restarted, for example, after crashing, and it is important that the data center staff can do this for you. You’ll also have 24×7 access to the data center – if your site goes down at night,you do not want to wait until morning before correcting the problem. However, there are times when you may need more support – to have this available can make your life a little easier in an emergency. You may pay a little more for this, but it may be worth the peace of mind it offers.

If your site requires maximum flexibility, speed and then a co-located server is best for you. Do you think before making this commitment though, as you will be responsible for all aspects of server administration, hardware and software. If you think you have the necessary knowledge and ability to do this, then the benefits for your business is going to be huge.

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