What You Must Consider When Selecting Cheap Dedicated Hosting
Compared to a only some years back, there are now various hosting companies that are offering cheap dedicated hosting. But is selecting on price only the right thing to do?
Even if all servers were the same the answer would still be a categorical 'NO'!
There are far too many other factors to consider, and cost is just one factor out of many. When selecting cheap dedicated hosting you must also think about other things, such as does the hardware satisfy your requirements both now and over the next few years? What about software? Does it come preconfigured with the software that you need? Can you install the software that you require to carry on your business? It's no use obtaining a cheap dedicated server only to find it is running Linux when you need Windows.
What about support for your server? You should be able to remotely log on and set up software, but what you need help doing so? Will there be someone there to help you out? How much will it cost?
With a dedicated server you are in the main on your own when it comes to the running of the server. After all, thats the whole point isn't it? You are acquiring a dedicated server so that you can get the benefits of having a whole box to yourself, without outside interference from anyone else.
You could perhaps opt for a managed server, where you pay a premium for the hosting company to manage the technical matters on your behalf, and for many this is the better option, giving the benefits of owning your own server, and removing most of the technical difficulties that put off people going for this in the first place.
Should you rent or buy your server? You could buy your own hardware and have it installed in the hosts server room, or you could just rent a server from them directly. There are pros and cons with each one of these and they are something that you should think about when sizing up your choices.
If you decide to rent a server from the hosting company then you will normally benefit from a service level agreement that guarantees your uptime and gives you a refund or some sort of reimbursement if that uptime agreement is not kept.
If you own your own hardware then you will ordinarily be able to make changes to the specification and improve the hardware, such as adding more memory, as your needs dictate. And because you own the hardware you will be able to do this at as low a cost as you like. It's under your power.
What about the location of the server?
If you are seeking the lowest prices in quality cheap dedicated hosting then at some point you are going to have to consider hosting with an overseas company. This is usually a great way to lower your costs, but there are a few things to watch out for. Make sure that the company you are considering hasn't just sprung up. If you are going to be trusting them with your business then make sure that they have a good track record and aren't just a fly-by-night operation. What about their network connections? Most hosting companies are happy to boast about who provides their connectivity, the speed and size of pipe that connect them to the internet backbone, as well as who they are peering with. Make sure that your overseas company does the same thing, and if you can, check that they actually do have what they claim to have. You don't want to find out that their connection is little better than dial-up speeds, or they can't handle the volume of traffic, after you have made the move to them!
So price is important, but it isn't everything. Make sure that the hardware and software meets your needs, that the support is there if you need it, and that the speed and bandwidth are adequate for your needs now and for the future - then get all of that at the best price you can. That's the secret to getting cheap dedicated hosting that you will be happy with
