When users want to create a website, the question arises which service to choose: hosting, VPS or dedicated server. Among themselves, they differ in customization options, amount of memory and price. However, they all run on a physical server. Before we talk about a dedicated server in detail, let’s take a look at what a physical server is.
A physical server is a large system unit with a processor, an operating system, a large amount of memory, and many other additional devices. It is stored in a specially equipped place – a data center. Physical servers need a serious cooling system and uninterruptible power supply, so their maintenance is handled by separate companies.
The physical server has very large resources, and most often they are not needed by one user. Therefore, one server is divided into several services (hosting, VPS). If the user needs all the features of a physical server, you can rent a Dedicated Server.
Dedicated server – what is it and why is it needed?
Dedicated server – a server that is completely available to one client. The relevance and advantages of a dedicated server are obvious – its capacity will be spent only on your project. This means that a dedicated server does not need to be shared with other users. In addition, you can install and configure any software on it.
What are the features of a dedicated server?
What is better to choose – shared hosting, vps or dedicated server – depends on your goals. A dedicated server is a suitable platform for large Internet projects, online stores. Server rental is a reliable platform for creating and scaling applications or a game server. Also, a Dedicated server is suitable for corporate clients who want to use a physical server to store large databases.
When choosing a dedicated server, it is important to determine the priority goals and objectives.
Parameters affecting server performance:
- type, performance of processors;
- volume, type, frequency of RAM memory;
- disk system performance (SATA, SAS, SSD, availability of a RAID controller).
When choosing a processor, you need to focus on the following indicators: the number of cores, core clock speed and the amount of built-in cache memory.
RAM for a server is one of the most important components for the stable operation of a server of any level and configuration. Depending on the necessary requirements and tasks, the total amount of memory is selected. To date, there are 2 main memory standards, namely DDR3 and DDR4. The difference between them lies in the information transfer rate: for DDR3 – 1333-1867 MHz, and for DDR4 – 2133-2666 MHz.
The choice of disk system also depends on the tasks imposed on the server. Decide what is more important for the server – fast data search speed, the ability to process a large number of simultaneous requests in a short time, or the amount of storage media and cost.
SAS disks are geared towards speed-sensitive tasks that require multi-threaded access. These disks are used for highly loaded web servers, DBMS, ERP systems, systems for working with a large number of users (terminal servers, remote access servers).
SATA drives are required for tasks involving large amounts of information. Among the common tasks successfully solved by SATA disks, the following can be distinguished: streaming operations, for example, video encoding, data storage, backup systems, large, but not loaded file servers.
SSD drives are becoming more and more popular. An SSD does not use magnetic disks for recording, but contains only non-volatile memory chips, similar to those used in USB flash drives. SSDs have no moving parts, resulting in greater mechanical durability, lower power consumption, and faster performance. At the moment, SSD drives provide the highest possible read and write speeds. This allows you to use them for any high-load projects.
Which type to choose
When choosing a solution, you should be guided by several criteria. Consider the scale of the site, the available financial resources, and the need for self-administration. If you have your own server, then it is most reasonable to use the “colocation” option. For small projects, you can use cloud hosting or virtual dedicated.
Remember that each option has its drawbacks, so determine the critical parameters and only then proceed with choosing a hosting. If necessary, you can test each solution.