When hosting a website there are many different options. You can host your own server or host it with a web hosting company. There is also the option of colocation, where you have your own server but hire rack space at a data centre where it is hosted. This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of hosting your own server, hosting through a hosting company, and colocation.
Hosting Your Own Server
The main advantage of hosting your own server is that you have control over your hosting. You make all the decisions regarding the server and operating systems used. Because you are in control you don’t have to worry about any mistakes from a hosting company impacting your website. You also don’t need to be concerned with any problems that might be caused by other websites sharing the server. All hosting resources, including bandwidth and disk space, are entirely dedicated to your server and your website.
While you are in control, you will also have to resolve any problems that arise. This could be a problem if you don’t have the relevant expertise to deal with these issues. You will need to closely monitor your server if you are in charge of it to make sure you spot any issues quickly. Another disadvantage is that you will have to pay for any required software or hardware updates. Overall, hosting your own server can be expensive.
Hosting With a Hosting Company
One of the benefits of using a hosting company is that instead of you being in charge, the experts employed by the hosting company monitor and take care of your hosting. This is particularly advantageous to those without their own technical expertise. Because resources are being shared between all of the hosting company’s customers, the cost is reduced. Professional web hosting companies regularly update their servers and infrastructure and, unlike when hosting your own site, this is factored into your hosting costs so it will not cost you extra.
The problems can come if you don’t choose a good quality provide. If the hosting company makes mistakes, your website could suffer. The other downside is that other websites sharing a server with your site could potentially have a negative impact.
Colocation
Colocation goes somewhere in between the two options above. You have your own server but co-locate it at a data centre by hiring rack space. The positive is that you have some of the same control as with hosting your own server. You choose the server and can make decisions regarding it. Colocation is cheaper than hosting it yourself, though, as you are sharing the infrastructure costs with other customers. Although you are responsible for the maintenance of the server, you are not responsible for the maintenance of the infrastructure. Security is of a good standard and there are other benefits such as temperature control you may not have when hosting your own server.
Even though you have a significant amount of control, you don’t have as much as with hosting it yourself. Another disadvantage is that the colocation centre’s resources are shared between customers so there will be some limits. In the majority of cases colocation is more expensive than hosting with a hosting company.
Andrew Marshall ©
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