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Colocation web hosting is perhaps the most expensive type of hosting available, so most people don’t consider it when shopping for a potential hosting plan. In fact, most people don’t even know what a colocation hosting plan is, or what the term “colocation” means. A colocation hosting plan is a service that allows you to store your privately owned web server in a state-of-the-art data center that is secured and stabilized at all times. In essence, it is a way to save money from having to pay for an office or regular storage unit (which is really not the best environment for a web server). A colocation facility provides an ideal climate, constant airflow, and specialized server racks that are specifically configured to accommodate the hardware needs of a web server. The following are three reasons why colocation hosting is more expensive than conventional web hosting.

Futuristic Data Centers

A “colocation facility” is actually a data center, which is a large building that houses hundreds (or even thousands) of web servers in futuristic environmentally controlled rooms. Overall, a datacenter contains millions of dollars of equipment, and many of them maintain multiple high-speed Internet connections with various Internet service providers simultaneously. By providing multiple connections, colocation hosting providers can offer redundancy, so that your web server will be online at all times. Data centers are also equipped with highly effective fire extinguishing systems, professionally trained in-house Internet technology specialists, and air filtration systems that cost as much as $10,000 in each room. In order to provide this server care and service stability to customers, colocation hosting providers must charge a more expensive monthly fee.

State-Of-The-Art Surveillance

The second reason why colocation hosting is generally more expensive than conventional web hosting is the amount of effort and the monetary investments that the hosting provider devotes to keeping your web server secure. Not only are the facilities monitored by state-of-the-art surveillance technology, but all of the equipment (including your web server) is insured, so there is no risk of having the hardware damaged or stolen without it being restored or replaced. Colocation datacenter facilities are usually guarded by several tall watch posts, and barbed wire fencing exceeding the height of 8 feet around the entire perimeter the facility. Since the colocation hosting provider has a lot of expenses in terms of employee payroll and equipment overhead, these additional expenses have to be passed on to the customer to make the business profitable.

The Additional Value of Optimizing Web Server Performance

By dealing with a colocation facility you are gaining access to multiple high-speed Internet connections from various Internet service providers. Thus, you have the advantage of maintaining an optimal connection to the Internet for your web server at all times, regardless of the local or regional circumstances affecting the Internet and other hosting providers. This type of assurance is not possible if you choose to store your privately owned Web server within your home or office, because if the single Internet connection is lost, so are all of your current server tasks (such as keeping your websites online).

Online business owners usually require various services to keep their endeavors operating smoothly and supply the tools and resources needed to continually create new websites and online business opportunities. Web hosting is such a service, as it is the first thing that is needed by every webmaster. In essence, you need access to the web server if you want to host a website on the World Wide Web. However, some people choose not to utilize a conventional web hosting plan, and instead purchase their own private web server. Once the server is purchased it must be stored in a safe area that has an ideal environment for server operation, which is low in dust, has a continually maintained temperature/humidity index, and maintains constant airflow to the server at all times. Web server owners also need to consider the safety of the server in terms of vandalism, theft, and other forms of hardware damage. Fortunately, colocation hosting is a web server storage service that keeps your web server safe all times.

What Is Included with a Colocation Web Hosting Plan?

In essence, a colocation hosting plan is simply a service that allows you to store your private Web server in a data center that is connected to the Internet via multiple high-speed connections. Thus, the colocation hosting plan you will receive access to state-of-the-art facilities, a fully customized private server rack for your Web server’s, multiple connections to the Internet, automatic server backups and redundancy, and (with some more comprehensive plans) technical support. All collocation web hosting plans include 24-hour security, and the facilities are protected by both digital surveillance and state-of-the-art fire extinguisher systems. Without a co-location hosting plan you be forced to store your private Web server in your home, office, or in a storage space (none of which are an ideal location for an operating Web server).

What Are the Advantages of Colocation Hosting?

The main advantages colocation hosting is the safety and stability it provides for your Web server, giving you access to facilities and stability that would otherwise be unobtainable without spending millions of dollars. For a nominal monthly fee you’ll receive full support from trained technical staff, and your Web server will be stored in environmentally controlled server rooms. Many colocation hosting providers also ensure the web hosting equipment, so that if your Web server is damaged in any way while it is being stored at the facility it will be replaced immediately. Colocation hosting providers also make automatic backups of your entire Web server on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, in order to provide complete redundancy that will ensure your websites are online at all times.

Freedom and Flexibility of a Colocation Hosting Plan

Perhaps the most appealing advantages of colocation hosting is the ability to do whatever you would like that your web server in terms of software and hardware configurations. Regardless of how many web servers you own, or what type of operating system you prefer to use, you’ll be able to do it all collocation hosting, as you are not forfeiting your ownership of the web server. By having complete control over what your web server you can eliminate many of the conventional limitations and restrictions placed on bandwidth, disk space, databases, and other aspects of server expansion.

Colocation hosting is one of the least popular types of hosting, as most people do not own their own web server. With colocation hosting, instead of providing a lease for a web server like most other types of web hosting, colocation hosting simply provides the ideal secure location for server storage and maintenance. Nonetheless, colocation hosting certainly has its uses, and datacenters are some of the finest places in the world to store a web server. If you’re interested in colocation hosting, then you may want to consider the following information about the top features of a colocation hosting datacenters.

Uptime Agreements

Unlike other hosting types that simply promise a certain percentage of uptime, colocation hosting is able to provide written agreements that guarantee uptime 100% of the time. This is because colocation centers utilize multiple high speed industrial internet connections, often form several internet service providers simultaneously. When a problem occurs that causes a lapse in one of the connections, the colocation center instantly transfers all traffic to a redundant connection, leaving your site online at all times. Inexperienced server administrators cause server downtime as well. In a colocation datacenter you’ll never have to worry about an inexperienced staff member causing site downtime, as only the best of the best are hired to secure and maintain colocation centers.

Constant Power Supply

During power blackouts servers crash, and in some cases this can result in data loss. A lot of hosting companies have what are called “uninterruptable” power supplies, however these only ensure that the server shuts down smoothly before all power is lost. Colocation datacenters, however, have several on site backup generators that ensure your site will stay up and running during even the worse power outages. If you’re serious about the reliability and growth of your site, then you should settle for nothing less than a colocation datacenter.

Data Protection

Data centers have some of the most secure internet connections in the world, and the aforementioned server redundancy and backup generators ensure that your web server remains online all the time. However, in the extremely rare event that site downtime does occur, (even though this has never happened with most colocation datacenters) there is special software and hardware tools utilized by colocation datacenters that keep your site’s data safe at all times. These data backup applications would unobtainable to a lot of people due to their cost and the complexity of operating them. However, by utilizing the services of a colocation datacenter you can have access to the backup tools at no extra charge.

Conclusion

Colocation services are by far the best option for most serious online business owners that own their web servers. If you have a server sitting in your office right now, you should strongly consider the possibility of data loss and or theft that could occur due to improper server storage. Most colocation centers will provide insurance for your server as well, so you can feel 100 percent safe when using colocation hosting.

Colocation web hosting is often overlooked during discussions pertaining to web hosting comparison. However, it is a valid hosting type and in comparison to other hosting plans it is significantly more expensive. Many people wonder why a web hosting service that does not even provide a web server cost so much. If you are contemplating purchasing a colocation web hosting plan then you may want to consider the following information, which accurately assesses the true value of a colocation hosting plan.

State-of-the-Art Datacenters

Colocation hosting plans differ form every other type of hosting, because rather than leasing web servers it provides storage space for private web servers. If you currently own a web server and you are storing it in your house then you should strongly consider the benefits of a colocation hosting plan. Even though the monthly cost may seem unnecessary, it may cost much more to replace a web server after dust destroys it or it is stolen. With a colocation datacenter you can be sure that your web server is completely safe and well taken care of. In order to provide this kind of safe environment for your web server a lot of precautions are taken by colocation hosting companies, and only optimal conditions are tolerated. The cost of maintaining such a facility is not cheap, so this cost is passed on to the customer.

Superb Surveillance and Security

Another reason why colocation hosting is so expensive is the incredible security offered. Every web server is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (even holidays), not only by cameras and other surveillance devices, but by actual security professionals that are technically trained to deal with web servers in the event of an emergency. The datacenter is guarded by tall fencing and stations that are patrolled by human guards at all times of the day and night. In order to pay these employees and keep the datacenter safe the colocation company has to spend a lot of money on payroll and security equipment, and this expense is passed on to the customer as well.

Extended Server Life

All of the above features of colocation hosting not only increase the cost, thy also increase the length of time in which your server can operate ideally. Eventually every electronic device will wear down and need to be replaced. However, colocation datacenters preserver your server by keeping it in perfect conditions permanently. Theoretically, if a web server is left in this condition it can continue to function properly indefinitely. Even though the cost of colocation hosting may be significantly more than other plans, it is important to note that you will be saving money in the long run because you will never have to replace your web server. With colocation web hosting the only time you need to purchase another web sever is when you current server runs out of space, which is very unlikely unless you are using it to operate dozens of massive web sites.

Colocation web hosting is very different from every other hosting service, primarily because it is not a service in which web servers are leased. Instead, colocation hosting is a web server storage service in which adequate server storage space is provided in a state-of-the-art data center that is equipped with highly trained staff and maximum security 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

In essence, you are simply paying for storage space so that you can store your dedicated server without problems such as hardware damage and theft occurring. While this may seem as if it is a great service that everyone should use, only a small percentage of webmasters will ever need colocation hosting. If you are not sure whether or not your business needs access to a colocation hosting service then you may want to consider the following information.

Do You Own a Web Server?

If you do not own a web server then you should know that you will need to purchase one before a colocation hosting service will be of any use to you. Web servers can cost anywhere from $1500-$10,000, depending upon the model and its capabilities. If you can afford to invest that much money in to a web server, and you are ready to pay for the monthly cost of colocation hosting, then it may be within your budget ton purchase a colocation hosting plan. However, if you are like the majority of webmasters, then you will not be able to afford or justify such a purchase.

What Kind of Sites Do You Own?

If you own a single medium sized web site then you may not have a need for a dedicated server at all. Dedicated web servers are ideal for people that have dozens of web sites or a single corporate web site that needs to be maintained professionally and kept at peak performance. With the availability of cheap and powerful web hosting you should be able to find a plan that will accommodate your needs with ease. Dedicated servers and colocation hosting is only recommended for corporations and enterprises, or people that own hundreds of sites.

How Technically Skilled Are You?

As mentioned, a colocation hosting service is simply a web server storage service, which means that most colocation hosting plans do not come with technical support. As such, you will need to provide your own technical support for server maintenance and administration. Most administrative duties can be done remotely, however this requires an advanced level of knowledge in the way web servers work. If you do not have a decent amount of experience in dealing with web servers then you may want to consider a colocation hosting solution that includes technical support.

Unfortunately, in order to have full technical support included with your colocation hosting plan you will need to pay an extra fee each month. When you add this fee to the mountain of other expenses associated with colocation hosting, it becomes clear that this type of hosting solution should only be utilize by highly successful online businesses.