Understanding Colocation More
Are you considering getting colocation services for your business? Doing so is practical. You do not need to maintain and keep a server physically if you intend to own one. You may buy your own server and have another company take care and maintain it. This is recommended if you do not possess the technical expertise and if your business lacks a comprehensive and wide IT administration.
Colocation is a Web hosting option specifically designed and structured for small businesses. The service is particularly suited for minor firms that aim to enjoy features of huge IT departments, but without the adjoining and appropriate costs. Most huge corporations and businesses invest in major online infrastructures so they could be able to host their very own Web servers. They even employ numerous IT professionals who manage and at the same time design their online sites.
Colocation is allowing a small business to place its own server machine into another business rack. The two may agree to share a single bandwidth. In general, colocation is costing more than the usual and standard Web hosting. However, it is less costly compared to the amount needed to buy and operate a bandwidth on your own.
Managed colocation, also known as dedicated server rental, makes use of a preconfigured dedicated server. The selected software and applications within the service could be used within limits. Additionally, the provider is also taking responsibility in providing software upgrades to provided applications within the system. It includes general maintenance like backups, reboots, and hardware issues. This is specifically useful to small businesses with limited IT resources or individuals who do not have the technical expertise and inclination. It is also recommended to firms with less capability to handle mundane troubleshooting as well as maintenance.
If you aim to have a greater control over your need for a server, unmanaged colocation is for you. This service is ideal if a technical requirement of operating or running a server is demanding applications not supported by the colocation provider. As mentioned, you may opt to take a bigger control over configuration and your own use of the Web server. This way, this type of colocation service is different from the managed colocation.
Usual costs are associated with the use of colocation servers. Rental fees are costs associated with having the server located or stored in the colocation providers own datacenter. The measurement is usually the height of the server being hosted. In most cases, servers are in 1U or 2U configurations. In other cases, servers could be significantly larger, about 3U or 4U in configuration. In simple terms, a user is made to rent the use of the Web server. This is actually what colocation is all about.
Connection charges also apply. Instead of measuring total volume of gigabytes being transferred every month, connection average could be preferably used. For example, in a 1 mbp/s connection, the user has an average of 1 megabyte of data transferred every second for a whole month. The concept of fees associated with colocation could get further complicated.
Do not be surprised when there are additional charges imposed for the services. Such extra fees could actually be assessed based on items required for the support of the server. You have to look at several common and additional fees you may encounter. Some colocation providers are including services in base prices so be sure to carefully read all the terms in your contract. Extra charges are usually incurred from services like rebooting, DNS servers, remote hands, IP addresses, and server backups.
Extra Fees in Colocation
Most fees associated with common colocation services involve charges for usage of bandwidth and server space. However, do not be surprised when there are additional charges imposed for the services. Such extra fees could actually be assessed based on items required for the support of the server. You have to look at several common and additional fees you may encounter. Some colocation providers are including services in base prices so be sure to carefully read all the terms in your contract.
In many cases, server problems could be easily and quickly resolved simply through rebooting the server. In particular instances, there is a need to reboot especially when you are upgrading software and applications. Because the server you use is located in a separate and remote location, there could be logical problems if the server could not be rebooted through a remote connection. Remote reboots would come into play. You just need to call a given support number so you could request for a server power cycling. The function could also be facilitated through a remote power port management. The service could be included in your contract but it could be free only at several times. If you exceed the limit for such service, there would be added charges.
Remote hand is usually called remote technical support for software or hardware issues. You could request for such a service as a customer. This is necessary as you may require more than just rebooting of the computer system. The service usually includes troubleshooting software problems and common hardware issues. Remote hands services are usually excluded from the fixed costs and are billed at costly hourly rates.
When you run a server, there would be a particular domain linked with it. A server could host multiple domain names. Colocation providers usually have many DNS servers that could host your system DNS files. They could include specific numbers of domains that could be hosted by the DNS servers. Such additional domains cost additional fees on a monthly basis.
Colocating services usually have limited IP addresses provided to customers. In most cases, a server require one, although additional IP addresses could also be used to effectively separate services on the PC. Providers would provide certain numbers of IPs, as stated in the contract. Additional IP addresses you may require surely would automatically command additional monthly fees.
Server backups are of course commanding additional monthly costs, as well. You may need such service especially when you do not like the idea of possibly losing important data. Server backups require a server to have compatible software and hardware to be functional.
When a server is put within a colocation facility, it could be exposed or open to network connections from elsewhere across the Internet. It could compromise overall security of the system. Most colocation providers offer placing the server behind a functional firewall. Thus, there would be restricted access to a server going to specific ports. Without a doubt, this calls for an extra monthly charge per port.
Colocation Extras
The dominant billing issue in colocation normally involves bandwidth and space. But for some providers extra charges must be given in order to ensure that the servers are well kept and secured. Lets take a look at some other items that may increase your expenses.
Rebooting is very important in addressing server problems and performing software upgrades and enhancements. But in cases when the server is in a remote location rebooting can only be done using a remote connection. Remote reboots are the weapons of colocation providers during these times. You can simply call a support hotline to request for a power cycle. There are instances when remote reboot services are only charged after a specific number of times the customer asks the provider.
When server problems are more complicated and simple reboot of the whole system is not enough providers can bring forth remote hands. These are technical support crews who can expertly handle troubleshooting chores. They can easily respond to whatever hardware or software problem that is causing the server to function inappropriately. But make sure you can match their hourly rates as their services are not part of the basic package.
It is common practice that alongside a server there would be a domain. More than one domain names can be present in a solitary server. Providers can give you DNS servers that can house all of your DNS files. They allow for several domains to be part of their offered DNS servers. Domains that are not part of the initial deal will definitely give you extra fees to think about each month.
In colocation most of the time IP addresses are provided in a limited number. Even though servers commonly demand for a single IP address there are cases when site features call for additional ones. Of course it would be plain simple that each IP address in excess with that stated in the contract will equate to additional charges.
A backup mail server is important in ensuring that no mail bounces back to the sender especially when the server goes down. This is made possible by having the back up server act as a storage medium until the server functions normally again. Colocation providers will ask for additional payment each month for particular domains that need backup mail servers.
There are instances when physical access to the server box is called for in order to solve problems or perform upgrades. When there is limited space for a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to be linked with the box a console is utilized to create a connection between the KVM switch and the server. Again this can result to another monthly charge.
The presence of a server in a colocation facility deems it susceptible to any attack within the World Wide Web. The security of the system files can be placed in serious jeopardy. At this point, the provider can offer to have the server protected by a firewall. By doing so server access is restricted to specific ports and these ports will give you more fees to think about.
Before You Get Colocation Services
If you own and run a small business, it surely is your goal to keep costs to the minimum. There are just too many expenses you must shoulder to keep your business going. You surely need to own a server if you intend to keep an online presence. Because doing so would translate to huge expenditures, it would be more advisable if you would instead prefer colocation.
Colocation is the process of co-owning a server with another business. There are many companies these days that offer the service. Such firms have developed, reliable, and efficient IT systems that enable them to offer colocation to other businesses. Getting into the service is like renting your server. The provider would take care of the physical location where the data center would be kept. It would also attend to the maintenance and system upgrade of the entire server.
You could have your server on a remote location. This would give you total flexibility. Imagine, you do not need to keep your own data center. The colocation provider would also take care of everything from software and hardware upgrade to system-wide maintenance and more. However, before you get into any colocation deal, it would be helpful if you would check out the following simplified guidelines.
1. Do a simple research about companies offering colocation services in your area. You may gather facts about the reputation and business practice of such businesses. You surely do not like to make business with an unethical and very expensive colocation provider.
2. Read the terms of services provided by the colocation provider before agreeing on anything. It is advisable that you focus primarily on the fine prints. Usually, there are dubious and onerous terms and conditions hidden in those usually neglected areas of contracts. Do not hesitate to ask and clarify things if you think there are grey areas in the terms provided.
3. Check out the duration and many other provisions in the contract. Yes, you would be signing a contract for the service. While it may serve as your protection as a consumer, it may also function as an impediment should you decide to suddenly cut ties due to poor service. You could not easily get out from a colocation agreement until the service term duration specified is met. That means you would keep on paying your monthly dues to the provider even if you decide not to use the service anymore. You would not like that idea.
4. Find out about the fees. Typically, on top of the fixed costs served on a monthly basis, there could be other services that require additional costs. Such services include remote hands, DNS hosting, IP addresses, and server backups. There are services like rebooting that are included in the package. However, if you exceed limits in use for a month, additional charges might be applied.
Before you ink a deal for a colocation service, make sure you really need it. Otherwise, you may prefer a simple Web hosting service, which is less complicated and much cheaper.
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