Dedicated Server FAQs

Why would I need a dedicated server rather than shared?

Shared hosting is exactly that - you share the server with other companies/customers, therefore depending on their utilisation/bandwidth capacity and your needs in comparison, your service delivery could suffer. This is the most cost effective solution for companies where they have a small web presence or their website isn't essential to business operations or revenue generation. However if your web presence is at the heart of your business - you need a server dedicated to your needs.

A dedicated server gives you sole access to the server, allowing complete control over content, security and usage for your web hosting. You will benefit from better performing website and/or online applications as you will not be affected by any other services/applications.

Do I need a dedicated server?

Dedicated servers are attractive to some users who need absolute security, or because they have sites which generate very high traffic volumes or run complicated applications like e-commerce platforms. If you are comfortable that you are sufficiently expert in managing the operating system and critical patching, and you have the time, it might be an option to consider.

What's the difference between Managed Hosting and a Dedicated Server?

A dedicated server, is just that, a server dedicated to you and your needs, with minimal services from the hosting provider. If you have highly skilled and expert staff in house, this may be a suitable option for you.

Managed hosting, goes one step further to a dedicated server as you benefit from managed services from your hosting provider. Rackspace dedicated server hosting for instance, would provide services to help in the overall management of your hosting solution. For example: administration, monitoring, security, back up and recovery, storage and reporting as well as scaling and deployment. Some may even offer migration services.

Managed hosting provides a flexible solution ideal for companies wanting to reserve a level of control, yet still be backed up by a dedicated team committed to providing 100% infrastructure uptime and responsive support.

Find out more about managed hosting solutions from Rackspace