How to Choose a Dedicated Server Hosting Provider

Dedicated ServersDedicated servers are important and they are pretty much beneficial for the companies that rely on their online presence. Companies depend on these servers to store their mission critical applications. It is pretty much considerable that these applications perform well and be available for their clients and employees use whenever it is required. The biggest problem that companies have with hosting providers is lack of flexibility.

Providers that are not flexible with their clients can cost these businesses thousands of dollars in overage charges, and loss of productivity. Here are some number of things that we need to consider when choosing a next hosting provider:

Hardware Replacement and Upgrades

There are three parts of the server that usually need upgrading: the processor(s), RAM, and hard drive(s). these three things usually determine the uptime and performance of any application. A web host should perform these upgrades to these upon your request or as per requirement. The hosting provider should be working with you to discuss when the upgrade will take place and estimate downtime, if any. This ability is important because company requirements change as they grow. Having a hosting provider that can cooperate with you effectively keeps your visitors happy, and your business online.

Data Transfer/Bandwidth

Stay away from resellers. Web hosts need to have the ability to allot the amount of data transfer or bandwidth that their clients need. Hosts that have their own data center are a perfect example of companies that have the ability to supply their customers with the resources they require. They will be able to work with you if you are threatening to exceed your bandwidth allocation.

Support

Every customer is having matchless requirements; some want to be actively involved in managing and running their server, but lost of them do not want to deal with the technology at all. Find a web host that has the ability to support your company’s best interests. Customer support should always fit your requirements, not theirs.

In conclusion, the hosting provider you choose should be capable to provide all your businesses needs. Whether it be hardware, data transfer or support, you should be comfortable and feel happy in working with your dedicated servers hosting provider.

Posted under Dedicated Servers

How To Change a Web Hosting Company Without Downtime

Web Hosting DowntimeChanging a web hosting provider can cause downtime if you don’t have the required skills and knowledge. If you have not done this before then here are some tips that can help you to make a transfer without facing any downtime.

Step 1: Back up all your files.

This must be your first step. Firstly, you will need to take the backup of all your files from the old server. Back up your text files, image files, and database. This may take a long time, as it will be depending on the size of your website.

You can use FTP for transferring the files to the local hard drive. You can also use  third party software, or PhpMyAdmin. PhpMyAdmin is also available within your cPanel’s control panel.

Step 2: Upload all files to the new server.

Once you are done with your backup, just carry on with uploading all files to the new server.  Just make sure that the directory structure is correct. For instance, if “www” is the root folder, all files that belongs to the root folder need to be uploaded perfectly to that folder. Or else, you may face lots of errors when you migrate your website. Use your database software to upload the database as well.

Step 3: Add email accounts to your new server.

Log in to your control panel, and add your current email accounts. When your new site is ready, your POP email accounts must work as well.

Step 3: Test your mirror site.

Now you are done with creating a mirror site for your existing site. Use a temporary URL to test the site to confirm that everything is working properly. Just check that you are connect to the database, the links and images are displaying correctly.  If all the things are been tested and work fine, it’s now time to make changes to the DNS.

Step 4: Changing the DNS.

At the particular time when you make changes in your DNS, you are notifying the registrars that you are changing your web hosting provider. Your top level domain name will then point to the domain name servers. Go to your registrar, and update your DNS servers. There should be at least 2 domain name servers. Once, you are done with updating  the DNS, it takes some hours for the changes to take place.

There are some webmasters who change the DNS in the beginning which is absolutely wrong step. When you make changes in the DNS, the site starts to migrate. It’s possible that some of your visitors may not access your site because the new site is not ready yet. In simple language, making changes to the DNS before the new site is ready can make you face, the unwanted downtime.

Step 5: Wait 48 hours for the changes to take place.

Normally, the migration takes only few hours. Sometimes, DNS updates may take at least 36 hours for getting updated (sometimes more than 2 days). You can check the completion of your migration by using WHOIS domain tool. The new name servers will be indicated when you make a search for your top level domain. At last, check your email accounts are working correctly or not.

Posted under Web Hosting

This post was written by on December 7, 2009

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Fully Managed Windows Dedicated Server Hosting

Fully Managed Windows Dedicated Server Hosting

Basically, a dedicated server is a single server, mostly preferred by large businesses and dedicated solely to one single client. There are many advantages of dedicated server hosting such as easily customizable, Excellent Server Uptime, 24×7 tech support, freedom on email functionality, flexible, etc.

A dedicated server is an ideal solution for large businesses or websites having huge traffic. With dedicated server, you get fast data access and your huge traffic is easily accommodated.

Dedicated server hosting package comes with the two most popular operating system, Windows and Linux. Basically, windows dedicated server is best platform for a newbie as well as to host your business website. The Windows Servers comes with the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 which is the Microsoft’s OS.

Microsoft Windows Server 2003

You can use the Windows Server 2003 for various things; making it the perfect server operating system. The Windows Server 2003 is already installed on the windows dedicated server. With windows dedicated server you have a complete freedom to customize and configure your server specs and OS respectively.

If your requirement is to host MSSQL/ASP/ASP.net webpages, then you are on the right way. Windows dedicated server is the perfect solution for you as we all know that ASP and MSSQL being microsoft products.

Addition to this, there are various advantages of a Windows Server. You can use the windows server as a web server, simply by using IIS web server. It is an application included along with the microsoft windows server installation. Another benefit, that using the windows media server application you are able to host it as a media server.

Away from these advantageous features, the windows dedicated server also supports scripting language like PHP and MySQL database server.

This windows dedicated server is solely dedicated to you without sharing the resources with any other user, due to which security of your website and server increases. As it is non-shareable, the server runs faster than the VPS with same specification. Unlike, VPS the CPU used in windows dedicated server responses much quickly as it is not split in n number of VPS.

Compare to other packages like shared web hosting or VPS hosting, the windows dedicated server hosting have much more privileges to add more resources according to your requirements. Thus, if you are looking a solution for your high traffic or a complex website then, do consider a Windows Dedicated Server Hosting.

Posted under Dedicated Servers