New: Want to Buy Server
Hello all,
Sorry for being a total newbie, to start off I am more than willing to read articles on the internet, so if you could point me in the right direction, I can find out information on my own if you prefer.
My situation is that I own a few websites, one that is become larger, and larger and is getting closer to needing a dedicated server, now requiring 1000 MB of space, and 150 GB of traffic. Since I have a couple more sites, and plan on making others, I have considered buying my own server to either run at my house, or at my business location.
I will not settle for a server that can not keep my site running quickly, as it seems to be now on the semi-dedicated server I am on now... I don't know if there are dedicated servers out there not big enough to handle this one site which is fairly small compared to some, but if there is, please let me know.
Basically I would like to know the whole nine yards for setting up a server to host websites myself. Like what kind of connection do I need to have to the internet, how do you set it up to hold your websites and put them on the internet? Also what operating system would be good for me to maintain these websites? Also what options should I include on the server to ensure speed if there is a high amount of traffic (my one site can have about 300 people on it at once, and since I'll have more sites on this server I would want something that can handle well over that many people at once), and what should I get to ensure security on the server.
If you could please give me some suggestions of where to look, and what type of server I am looking for. I know there are servers that are not for web hosting, so if you could tell me which ones are for web hosting, that would be great... Again I am looking for a place with good information so I can get these answers myself, so if there is any large reference guides around, please let me know.
Thanks
teammatt3 posted this at 02:21 — 7th December 2004.
He has: 2,102 posts
Joined: Sep 2003
For one, I don't recommend using your own server for hosting your websites, because of viruses, security and other things
But you are going to need at least a T1 line, it costs about 300+ a month. And a server that has huge amounts of ram, and a fast, maybe even a dual, processor, that's probably going to cost you 1-4 grand. So, do you still want to host your own server?
mairving posted this at 22:29 — 7th December 2004.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
A lot of thought should go into this. As has been mentioned, it is not an easy undertaking. A dedicated server is probably the next progression to go to from a reseller type account. You have a lot to consider if you want to run it out of your house. You will need:
So there is a lot to consider. I would start with dedicated or a colo and as your business grows, maybe you will eventually decide to host your own. But it is a pretty capital intensive indeavor.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
meatball posted this at 01:24 — 8th December 2004.
They have: 7 posts
Joined: Dec 2004
Seems like too much trouble for now, as well as too expensive. Thanks for the help guys.
ShunT posted this at 21:35 — 23rd December 2004.
They have: 1 posts
Joined: Sep 2004
I don't know why a good number of people say T1+ for servers. I'm on high speed cable which is faster than 80% of T1 connections.
mairving posted this at 14:25 — 5th January 2005.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
Several reasons.
1.) Bandwidth - a T1 line gives you a bigger pipe allowing more connections at one time.
2.) While cable is faster on the download side, it is almost always slower on the upload side. say 3Gb down and 256K up wheras a full T1 line is 1536K up and down. No big deal if you are surfing but it is a big deal if someone is surfing your cable site since they are surfing at the slower connection.
3.) Reliability - when cable goes down it is sometimes days when it is repaired. When a T1 is down, it is usually hours or minutes before it is repaired.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
eBlush_Hector posted this at 20:36 — 3rd February 2005.
He has: 51 posts
Joined: Jan 2004
Its so cheap to host at a NOC, that if anyone is at all serious about running a site, hosting at your house doesn't make any sense!
Plus, having a NOC house your own servers is so sweet, it's doesn't make sense even to get a T1. The NOC is manned 365 days a year, has huge UPSs, power conditioning, air conditioning, physical security, as much bandwidth as you can afford, etc. etc. etc.
Then, if the NOC happens to be a few minutes from home... hmmm, hmmm, hmm, good!
http://www.eblush.com/
Where you can get personal, online!
NEW: Honor your heroes at ThisIsMyHero.com!
andy206uk posted this at 21:28 — 3rd February 2005.
He has: 1,758 posts
Joined: Jul 2002
It might be worth putting out a few feelers and seeing if you can find a few people out there willing to host mirror sites for free in exchange for ads or something... Then your basic hosting website just redirects people to different mirrors thus distributing the load.
That's how a lot of popular, non profit websites work.
Andy
CptAwesome posted this at 22:25 — 3rd February 2005.
He has: 370 posts
Joined: Dec 2004
Well, a lot of hosting companies will even rent you a server, or give you the option to buy it outright, and host it at a monthly rate at their location. I think the proper phrase is "co-location" you provide the server, they provide the pipe. I'm guessing thats the same thing that eBlush_Hector was referring to when he said the NOC.
eBlush_Hector posted this at 00:10 — 4th February 2005.
He has: 51 posts
Joined: Jan 2004
Yes, CptAwesome! I refered to it that way because it's a habit. I should have clarified that...
NOC= Network Operations Center
It's where ISPs have their BIG pipes come in, and all the servers/switches are in. We always purchase our own boxes and physically move them in, stroke their ego and tell them to behave as we walk out the door. You pay a flat monthly 'rent' for X rack units and bandwidth on top of that. It's _relatively_ (emphasis on 'relative') cheap because you are responsible for everything except a network connection and power.
Anyway, I agree entirely with mairving, except I'd skip the T1 and go with a type of co-lo. CptAwesome makes a good point about the possibility of renting and you could always have a hosting company set you up on a dedicated box that they manage for you. Of course, the more they do for you, the more you pay.
http://www.eblush.com/
Where you can get personal, online!
NEW: Honor your heroes at ThisIsMyHero.com!
mairving posted this at 15:30 — 4th February 2005.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
I am not sure where you disagree with me about the T1 line. All I said was that it was a minimum requirement for hosting your own in my opinion. CoLo's are affordable and certainly your connection is going to be better. I tried to go that route last year but my work wanted to bring the webserver in house. We have a full T hooked up to a backup generator so no problem. Still I would have rather gone the dedicated or CoLo route.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
eBlush_Hector posted this at 15:37 — 4th February 2005.
He has: 51 posts
Joined: Jan 2004
I didn't mean that your recommendation of a T1 is wrong. It's right! All I wanted to emphasize was the co-lo. So we're in complete agreement!
Want to join the discussion? Create an account or log in if you already have one. Joining is fast, free and painless! We’ll even whisk you back here when you’ve finished.