Managing a web server is in reality not a child’s play as it is a full time job, where one must constantly monitor its performance and security and it sounds, it is really exhausting task, especially if one is already having other responsibilities. There are several advantages like one no longer have to wait for technical support or approval to install a script onto the server. In addition, one can have as many websites and databases he/she requires but condition is, as long as his/her hardware can handle it. One no longer has to go into the discussion forums and search for the best web host. Over all one can even begin hosting family & friends personal websites. Thus after looking at these advantages it really sounds interesting. Isn’t? But wait just read more.
One should ask him/her self, how technically advanced he/she is? Quite often one needs not to be fully learned, but it’s necessary that he/she is possessing resources. One must know how to resolve issues and how to handle problems and that too quite quickly and efficiently. Thus it means it needs to be in real meaning Internet savvy. In this case just surfing wont help as one who surfs aimlessly wont be of any use, rather one who can always find what he/she is looking for is the right person. This is a main requirement, as with any server environment, one is going to run into problems and finding the answers are most consummate online, using multiple resources, search techniques, and engines. Now if one is sure that he/she can hire someone to fix one’s problems then too it’s not at all considered a best option to get done from anyone else. In next paragraph is the test to see if one is ready to find solutions. Requirement is of a solution to a Microsoft Windows 2003 Server Event Error – “Event ID: 1056” it’s a DHCP Server Error. Now how one would search for this?
In order to find the solution the first that one would take is to go to Google which can be seen as a good and a common effort also it is a good place to start, but usually it is best to start at the developers’ website. Thus in this case “microsoft.com” would have been the first option because Google would more than likely provide with the solution from Microsoft and other sources, but if one is not interested in getting inaccurate information from other sources, then surely he/she should choose going to Microsoft directly. It is a common practice to get information from Microsoft that not only helps resolving one’s problem, but also helps saving time. Now again one should search the error and should go to the Microsoft site and find the solution.
After going this one will find this link-http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx? Scid=KB; en-us; 282001 (Event ID 1056 is Logged after installing DHCP)
Now after seeing the above what search phrase should one use? The answer is Event ID: 1056, because the Event ID is the correct and most exact error; it helps in providing the exact solution for one’s problem without broadening the search. Sometimes it may happen that the error description is also appropriate to search, just the error description by itself or in combination with the Event ID. It all depends on one’s error, his/her search feedback, his/her ability, and last but not least technique. For the above discussed example error description is not included.
Now after Microsoft, the second option one should take is Google or Yahoo, which are considered as two largest search engines. Thereafter one should search other smaller and niche search engines and then the next one should search within forums and discussion groups. If one is well known of Internet and have a plentiful or few forums and discussion groups, which he/she uses quite frequently, then he/she should visit those places before visiting Google or Yahoo. One can also visit those before visiting the developer site since it is a trusted source, but its not very recommendable as going first to developers’ site would be considered as a best option. So now after knowing little about search engines and internet one can think of purchasing a server.
After knowing shared hosting no longer cuts it, and one’s single office connection is not enough to host a web server – now an important question which arises is which is best, leasing a dedicated server or buying own server and co-locating someone’s data center?
Distinction
If one is unsure of the difference; here it is in a nutshell. If one co-locates, it simply means renting space within someone else’s facility to store his/her own server or servers. It is very much similar to a high tech gym locker that user is renting all or part of to house his/her servers. The user either ship or deliver the server to his/her provider. Additional services that are provided by the host along with co-location differ from individual to individual host but it surely will not include the actual server. With a dedicated server the user will get all the features of co-location, as well as, the actual web server itself.
Which is superior?
Between web hosting and co-location webhosting, the best would be which is best suited for one’s need. Comparing both we will find that there are excellent situations for both the dedicated server option is quickly becoming a better choice in more and more cases. If one already possesses a web server, or prefers to use cluster, then obviously co-location possibly will be the user’s ideal choice. If the user is bearing in mind buying new equipment and shipping it off for co-location, he/she should reassess. One should know that, the prices and equipment existing in dedicated hosting currently are outstanding, not only this but it will relieve the user from the burden of hardware. Most hosts prefer to carry suitable spare parts on hand according to the servers used, so that quick action can be taken if any undesirable thing happens. Depending on one’s arrangement with a collocation deal hardware failure could simply mean paying extra to have a server shipped back, having it fixed by oneself rather then sending it back to the data center.
Now after advantages the biggest disadvantage of hosting on own web server is the uptime reliability. If one’s web server get powered down for any reason then his/her website will also get offline. Generally webhosting companies have methods and networks to prevent this failure from affecting one’s website. Also if the system goes down they have a mirror location where one’s site is invigorated and doesn’t experience much downtime. There are several web hosts, which do not practice this method, or any other fault tolerance. One can imagine how worse can happen if a blackout or power outage occurs and his/her web server gets down for hours or even days. It will surely lead to destruction of whole business. There are several hosting companies providing mirror web hosting for a small charge, but there is doubt in their reliability. Thus only experience can make one play safe in hosting business else its all on his/her fortune or God.
Hosting one’s own server is not at all a money-saving experience as sometimes it even costs more to host on one’s own server, when one totals the up keep and maintenance. Thus the benefit of hosting one’s own server is usually a better platform for one’s customers, because it is no longer a shared server and it provides the ability to make global changes almost immediately. In case one’s customers are requesting for more performance or specific applications, then he/she will be able to apply this immediately. Customers generally like to know that one is in control. If one informs his/her customers that the server will be down for maintenance from 6 a.m. – 7 a.m. then it would be considered best only if one’s server is down, not from 5 a.m. – 10 a.m. It’s better to know some explanations or excuses in advance as one needs to give explanation to his/her customers in such a situation. Thus as a conclusion it can be concluded that it will benefit one to host his/her own web server as a web business, this helps him/her and his/her customers.
