Because you need to downsize or, on the contrary, are growing larger and want to save your IT budget money for something else like marketing, you are about to take a decision with regard opting for a Hosting Server Colocation service or a dedicated server situation. Which one suits your business needs best? Read on...

"Hosting Server Colocation means that you will store your own server at a facility of a colocation provider. A colocation provider provides an internet connection to your server and allows you physical access to your own server when you need it.

A dedicated server is a server provided by a web host for you to rent. You have remote access to the server and you can customize the server to your own needs. The server is owned by the web host and you don't have physical access to the server." (www.hostsearch.com)

Advantages

• "Everything is fully customizable
• Server is stored in location that has security
• Location of storage contains fast internet connection, security, rooms designed specifically for the servers (temperature, fire-safe and etc.) and etc
• High bandwidth available
• Large amount of storage space
• The servers are as fast, powerful and high-capacity as you purchase
• Can update/upgrade at will; must purchase equipment only
• Maximum uptime for large sites
• Increased flexibility
• Better performance because you determine the hardware specs
• Savings on overall hosting costs
• Decreased dependence on external customer support services, as most administration and maintenance can be performed through remote administration
• Greater flexibility
• Ability to use existing hardware
• More control over web server administration

Disadvantages

With all the above advantages, its hard to believe that there are disadvantages, but there are. With such disadvantages as:

• Must purchase own equipment
• Must maintain own equipment
• Must update own equipment
• Expensive
• For large high traffic sites only
• Initially, may be capital intensive
• Insufficient knowledge of hardware components, performance, and scalability can inhibit your growth potential
• Initial cost up front
• Hardware may become outdated quickly
• Web Server Administration is your responsibility" (www.hostsearch.com)

Advantages

The main advantage of a dedicated server over Hosting Server Colocation is that you do not have to worry about hiring personnel to maintain/repair/update your server's capabilities. Other advantages include:

• "There is no need to buy own equipment
• Flexibility of package depending on storage space and data transfer allocation
• The regular features are commonly declared
• Upgrade needs can be executed from the same dedicated server and Web Host Provider
• High speed servers which are also robust and packs a high capacity upon purchase
• Improving your server or adding a fresh server is more convenient and less costly. Enhancements can be implemented less than 24 hours upon submission of job order to the host site. Improvements are cheaper because only the cost of monthly rentals is being paid, and not the whole cost of investment. The difference between the package of current system and the latest system is being settled, for both the introductory and the monthly cost." (www.blogsharp.com)

Disadvantages

The biggest and only disadvantage, thus far, to using a dedicated server is the price tag that comes with it. Not only are you paying for the service but, "also for the hardware on which the site is located. Though this may appear cheaper in the short term compared to the large investment expenditures needed to get colocation implemented, in the long run this model is much more costly." (www.blogsharp.com)