So, you’re ready to invest in a dedicated server and make your hosting experience better. While this is a great moment, it can be difficult to choose the right package.
Not only do you have lots of options, but there are many features you need to consider. How do you make the right decision? Answer the following 5 questions and you’ll get more clarity!
1.Why do I need dedicated hosting?
You will think about your website’s traffic, but that’s not the only element that matters. Will you be using your server for other purposes? Maybe you want more storage space to keep your files and media safe or you’d like to set up a VoIP system.
In each case, you should look at what you’re getting for your money. If you want to play games with your friends, maybe a dedicated server with GPU will provide better performance. Businesses that rely on big data analytics, artificial intelligence or machine learning will also need to invest more on dedicated hosting for their projects.
2.What’s the right amount of RAM memory?
The amount of RAM memory varies depending on the provider you choose. In general, you’ll get 8-16 GB for a smaller monthly fee, while expensive packages have 32-64 GB RAM. The more applications or websites you run, the more RAM it’s needed.
That’s important if you want to avoid slowdowns and bad time responses. To make sure there’s no issue, consider investing in more RAM than planned from the beginning. You can evaluate the situation later, when you already rented the hosting for a few months.
3.How much bandwidth do I need?
Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be uploaded or downloaded from your server in a month. It’s measured in TB and on metered hosting plans you decide how much to use. As long as you don’t exceed the allocation, you pay a fixed rate. If you get over the limits, you’ll have to deal with a different monthly bill for the whole transfer.
In general, 10-20 TB will be enough for high-traffic websites and apps. Unmetered bandwidth is useful for enterprise-level clients with larger consumption. This includes media businesses and brands that work with large amounts of videos or data.
4.What’s the right port speed?
Bandwidth and port speed shouldn’t be confused with each other. The first element never tells how fast the server’s network connection will be. Port speed is all about the maximum data that is transferred to and from your server in a second. Most computers have 1 or 10 Gbps ports, the second option showing a maximum capacity.
It’s important to understand users’ experiences will be different, based on their location and other factors. Network latency won’t be a problem, as long as you make the right configuration for your business. The only exception is when you create a streaming server with thousands of connected accounts. If that’s the case, then you need the best requirements to not fail.
5.How much should I invest?
Besides the initial hosting plan, you will have other costs when you purchase a dedicated server. For instance, management services won’t be free. If you don’t have someone to take care of the technical aspect, you need to work with professionals.
Also, it’s possible to pay for additional licenses. This happens especially when you decide to install a Windows version or still want to use cPanel. The costs of dedicated servers vary highly and it’s your job to not overpay for what you’re getting.