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Virtual vs. Dedicated vs. CoLo: Which Web Hosting Do I Need?
Step back a bit. You don't need to learn everything about web
sites to choose a host. You do however need to know what a web
host is, and the basic types of web hosting. This knowledge will
lead you to know what type of hosting you need, and ultimately
you can make a sound decision.
To begin, let's define the term. Web hosting is a service that
hosts web pages on servers that can be accessed through the
Internet. There are three primary categories of web hosting
providers that cater to the requirements of site owners; these
include virtual web hosting, dedicated web hosting, and
co-located hosting. There are various sources online that offer
detailed information and reviews on these services, but there
are several details you should pay most attention to. The points
to consider before selecting a web hosting provider include the
number of clients they service, years in business, customer
service reputation, hardware specifications, and backup
routines. With that out of the way, let's jump in and explore
the basic types of web hosting.
Dedicated hosting
A dedicated web server is basically like the name sounds: it's
dedicated to your site only. Typically it is leased to a site
owner. The hosting company is responsible for the maintenance,
backing up, security, and power management. The site owner
manages the software-related issues.
Dedicated hosting is useful for websites that need extra
bandwidth and system resources because of the use of
technologies such as e-commerce software, customized server
applications, and heavy traffic. Such websites are often better
served by a dedicated hosting provider rather than developing
and running an in-house solution. Dedicated hosting is possible
with Windows, Mac, and Linux servers. A dedicated server can
cost upward of $100 / month.
Pros and cons: 24/7 tech support is available. Speed,
dependability, and customizability of website are often
enhanced. The response time of dedicated servers is fast as
compared to shared servers where the activity of other sites
affects server speeds. Reliability and customizability of
websites are improved as dedicated hosting offers greater
storage capacity and greater freedom in terms of hardware
configurations and software installations; hard drives can be
upgraded and bandwidths increased with growth.
Shared servers and CoLo hosting are cheaper alternatives to
dedicated hosting. Moreover, as the server is not owned by the
site owner, security of sensitive data can be an issue.
Virtual hosting
Virtual hosting, also called shared hosting, is a popular and
cost-effective web hosting solution. The hosting provider leases
the website hosting server, services, and bandwidth to more than
one website. Small and medium-sized websites, which do not have
high traffic and have limited bandwidth requirements, benefit
from virtual hosting. A virtual hosting offer by a service
provider usually includes features such as Internet connection,
domain name registration, file storage, email account, and may
also include website design assistance. The cost of virtual
hosting is in the range of $5-40 per month. It can be more or
less depending upon the package selected.
Pros and cons: Virtual hosting enables the establishment of an
online presence with no expensive equipment purchases required
on part of the site owners and therefore is the perfect solution
for SMBs.
One of the limitations of virtual hosting is that sites compete
for the provider's service; this may result in slow server
response times in periods of heavy traffic and make browsing
inconvenient. Since websites hosted on a server may be grouped
under a single IP address, there is a chance that a site owner
may have to share an IP address with adult or scam sites. This
can lead to debarring from search engine placements which will
have an adverse effect on the traffic. As the software
components are shared between websites, a site owner may not be
able to personalize the website as per his business objectives
and target audience.
While purchasing virtual hosting services, it is useful to have
an idea of the total anticipated traffic during the day as well
as the visits during the peak period. This helps in obtaining a
package with sufficient bandwidth for immediate and near term
needs. Also, the cost of an upgrade and changes to the package
should be understood.
Co-location (Co-lo) hosting
In Co-location hosting, the server is owned by the site owner
and it is leased at the co-lo facility, where it is installed
along with other servers in the facility. A co-lo service
enables site owners to make maximum use of network access points
and the freedom to choose between telecom lines provided by the
hosting company and other telecom lines. Co-location hosting
enables site owners to utilize high bandwidth at a cost that is
not significantly higher than that of a normal web hosting
package. The site owner maintains the server while the hosting
provider ensures smooth running by providing regular power
supply and IT support.
Co-location hosting services can be standalone data centers or
companies that operate by leasing server space from a
co-location web hosting reseller. The cost of the server and the
volume of rack space required by the servers of a site owner
influence the cost of co-lo hosting. Servers that fit in with
the dimensions of the racks can help to save costs; co-locating
tower servers usually cost more. Additional services provided by
the hosting provider and insurance are other factors that affect
cost. The monthly cost of a co-lo service for a half-rack of
server space can be up to $1000.
Pros and cons: The benefits of co-location hosting include
temperature and humidity controlled environment for the servers;
security from hacking, fire, and theft; provision of redundancy
and backup. It enables the site owner to control the critical
features of web hosting such as bandwidth allocation, routers,
VPN, server space, and VLAN.
Site owners may not find it easy to locate a co-lo service that
is situated close enough to facilitate easy and safe transfer of
servers and at the same time provide the best connection speeds.
Co-lo hosting is of greater advantage to those who have hosting
experience and consequently are better placed to recover the
costs involved.
Ultimately, it is the requirements of the site that dictate the
choice of web hosting solution. Online stores and sites with
heavy traffic are better off with dedicated hosting, personal
blogs and small sites without ecommerce activity that do not
have high bandwidth consumption can function with virtual
hosting, and websites that require a high degree of
customization and deal with sensitive data benefit from a co-lo
hosting arrangement.
To determine what type of host you need, ask yourself what type
of site you have, and it should all flow naturally from there.
About the author:
John Hasson writes for Find a Web Host.