Are you thinking about renting a server for hosting your enterprise applications? There are multiple brand options available on the market when renting a server, like Dell, HPE, IBM, Super Micro, and SUN, among a few. But the key decision lies in not the brand but the server rental solution you opt for – a dedicated server managed by you or a dedicated server which your provider manages for you. But are you aware of the differences between the two? Here a few tips to help you make the proper choice when renting a server.
Renting a server that you will manage
When renting a dedicated server, one solution available is for you to manage it on your own, and is generally the right option if limited to a single client. The provider has control over the management of the server and the use of all of its resources, including disk space or RAM. You can install all the applications you need and make as many backup copies of your information as you want.
When opting for this rental solution, the data center support team does not intervene in its management, only taking care of the physical maintenance and installation of the operating system. Therefore, you must have an administrator who specializes in servers.
This solution offers the possibility to have 100% of your resources in terms of storage, speed, and information handling. For example, if you want to become a web hosting provider, it may be more prudent to opt for this dedicated server rental option without sharing the hardware with other users.
Renting a server your provider will manage for you
Another option available when renting a dedicated server is one where your provider manages the server for you. In this case, the data center support team is responsible for the administration of the server. It includes application and operating system updates, migrations, monitoring, troubleshooting of hardware problems. There are several ways to use this server, for example, through managed hosting of one or more websites on the server.
Scaling is important
When renting a server, it would be best to keep in mind that you can rent a server with specific parameters that you can only change to a limited extent. For example, when renting a server you can add additional hardware storage to a server, however, keep in mind that it requires a significant amount of manpower, so it is not so easy to change the capacity of the resources.
Dedicated servers also take more time and resources to change processors without maintenance downtime. Websites hosted on a single server that requires additional processing capabilities require a total migration or networking with another server.
The Pros & Cons of the Server Rental Solutions
Now let’s look at the differences between the two types of server rental solutions, taking into account their features. Here are some of the most important ones:
Resource
Keeping a check on a large workforce can be quite tedious. Here is a magic pill to help alleviate this headache for you – the provider takes care of the entire management process; you can solely focus on your business’s productivity.
Hardware maintenance
Maintaining IT equipment is not exactly everyone’s cup of tea. Expertise is required. When renting a server, you have the added benefit of the provider helping you with the maintenance of the equipment, you have expertise at your doorstep!
Savings
When You’re the Boss: By renting a dedicated server managed by you in a data center, you save expensive hardware and maintenance costs, and you don’t have to worry about hiring an IT expert to keep it running.
When You Hand Over the Server Reins: A dedicated server managed by your service provider offers the same benefits in terms of capital savings and hardware maintenance. Another vital saving is that you don’t have to hire an administrator to control the server. The data center support team takes care of hardware and software upgrades. You can relax and concentrate on developing your project.
Flexibility
In both cases, the user of a server can expand the capacity to a limited extent. He can add an SSD hard drive or change the main memory capacity; however, the changes are limited to the physical capability. For large and frequent changes, it is better to use a cloud service.
Administration
When You’re the Boss: The management of the server is in your hands. You can install the necessary software, update your applications or perform a backup. You do not need to contact the provider for these purposes.
When You Hand Over the Server Reins: It allows you to concentrate fully on the content and development of your applications without having to worry about software updates or backups. Administrators also take care of attacks, server overload, and other problems.
Also Read: Why should you consider renting a laptop?
What to Consider Before Renting a Server
Before renting a server, there are a few questions you should ask yourself to make an informed decision. Here a few quick tips to help you choose the rental solution best suited for your business requirements.
If your business has this profile, choose a dedicated server managed by the service provider:
- You are a small business owner with a tendency towards limited growth.
- Your websites are heavy loaded with variable traffic.
- You need to minimize download time and ensure quick access to your website or database.
- Your IT team is limited and has little experience.
- You are not sure if you can spend time maintaining and configuring a server.
- You’d instead focus on developing your project without worrying about server-related activities.
Choose a dedicated server you manage if your business has this profile:
- You are a small business owner with a tendency towards limited growth.
- Your websites are heavy loaded with variable traffic.
- You need to minimize download time and ensure quick access to your website or database.
- You have an IT team experienced in managing remote servers.
- You have enough budget to maintain the administrative and rental costs of a dedicated server.
- You prefer to maintain complete confidentiality and direct control over your information.
How vital is server speed?
Happy customers equal happy businesses. Regardless of your preferred method of hosting your website, time is of the essence, and customer satisfaction depends on how quickly they get what they need. Do not expect your customers to be patient while surfing. The performance of your server is crucial to retain customers. When it comes to a private network, your company’s productivity can be hampered by a server that cannot respond quickly to data demands. So, make sure your customer satisfaction is paramount when renting a server.
Choosing the correct server to help your business is essential. Just as important is to choose the right provider when renting a server. Start your server rental journey with one of the best IT Rental Service providers. Start your journey with Computer Junction.