Wednesday, January 28, 2009

What's Best, Dedicated or Shared Server?

By Ricardo d Argence

If you have an online business with a sophisticated web site, you are probably deciding what type of server you need for your business. The server is what actually hosts your website online. It provides you space on the internet and routes traffic to your website.

There are two types of servers you can use when deciding what type of hosting you want for your internet website. A shared server is most popular with small business websites and individual websites. The other type of server is a dedicated server.

The advantages of using a shared server are as follows: Some of them are free. Some of them offer templates that allow you to create a website with little computer knowledge. Shared servers offer a variety of different services. Even paid shared servers are relatively inexpensive and have a variety of different plans.

Shared servers are a better choice for both individual and small business websites. Some shared servers, especially the free ones, will want to put mandatory ads on your website. This is how they pay for their website. Some companies will permit placement of your ads on your website, which will increase your income.

Larger businesses do not benefit from using shared servers. If you share a server, the bandwidth may have issues connecting to your website if it the hits become very heavy. The bandwidth may not be able to handle the volume, so if you are gettng an outstanidng number of hits, some potential customers may be left out.

Additionally, for many servers that are shared there is a finite amount of space available. For large or growing internet businesses, a dedicated, dependable server is the way to go. It increases your space size and free up the bandwidth so your customers are no longer left out in the cold. This is especially important if your business has forums or shopping carts. These are called databases and tend to take up a lot of space.

Although dedicated servers cost a substantial amount more to get started then a shared server, building businesses really don't have much of an option. If your goal is to grow your internet business, you need to select a dedicated server.

A dedicated server is mose expensive that a shared one, although even at $100 a month, it will pay for itself very quickly. You will basically be hosting your own website, and will be in control over as many advertisements and business connections you want on your site. This can also bring you in extra revenue.

With a server that is stable, there is no limit on your business' growth. Your website can even get affiliates that relate to your business. There are all sorts of ways to make money online and most of them include advertising of some sort. You can earn more money with a dedicated server, because you alone choose which ads you want to put on your website. - 16738

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