Differences between Server collocation and Leased Servers

The following are some of the differences between server collocation and leased servers:

You Can Access Your Server

The difference between Collocation and leased or dedicated servers is that you can access the data center with Collocation, you use your own server and you are billed based on how much space your servers take up. A leased server does not provide you with access to the data center and you are leasing the hardware, rather than the cabinet space.

Providers such as Easy CGI, with their own data centers, offer a full-range of hosting services, including a Collocation solution. Their service includes bandwidth utilization reports, free reboots and power cycles, free server monitoring, and free primary and secondary DNS.Easy CGI's monthly price for using its servers ranges from $7.96 to $21.56 for 3000 to 6000 MB of disk space and 50 to 150 GB bandwidth. Setup fee is $25. If you go the Collocation route your monthly fee is based on the amount of space your servers occupy.

Some Let You Buy Rack

Some Collocation service providers will let you buy the rack for your servers. If you are a smaller operation with just one or two servers they will offer a family Collocation service, because you don't need a full rack. Your server will still be housed in a secure caged area. If you have more servers, you have the option with some providers of buying the rack they sit in.

You can manage your servers remotely with programs like SSH, FTP, PCAnyWhere, Timbuktu or other packages, or you can access the data center 24 x 7 to work on your server. For security reasons you will likely be accompanied by a data center employee.

Before you decide whether to collocate your servers, host your own, or subscribe to managed hosting solutions, consider your needs, traffic and IT expertise. Do your research on the alternatives available and make an informed choice.

Colocating your servers gives you maximum control, but to go the Collocation route you need in-house IT expertise to access the server remotely or in-person to address any issues you may have. If you don't have that capability consider outsourcing your entire web needs. Having your own servers and access to them may not be important to you. But, if it is, check out the Collocation hosting alternatives with a Collocation service provider.