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CoreLink Data Centers, an industry-leader in providing colocation hosting and management services, recently announced a major move of their headquarters from Phoenix, Arizona to Mount Prospect, an area outside of Chicago. In addition, the operations of their newest data center, also located in the Chicagoland area, are fully functional.

The data center is 80,000 square feet and linked to the companies four other colocation data centers in Seattle, Las Vegas and Phoenix. The new data center is located on 5.4 acres of land and provides all of CoreLink’s solutions under one secure roof in control environments.

The center features the latest security and management technology. Some of these features include; diverse connections to the internet, redundant emergency power equipment, the best fire detection and suppression systems as well as biometric security scanners. Also, neutral connectivity, uninterruptible power supplies N+1 cooling and critical redundancy on all equipment.

The center will provide customers with extra expansion capacity, reliable and redundant access to the internet and high-density installation. This is the perfect addition to the area.

CoreLink has selected Chicago because it has become a booming business and technology epicenter. This will have a considerable impact on the local economy through investment in the community as well as job creation.

The biggest focus of the new data center is the scalability. Due to the size and server technology, it can accommodate all business needs as they continue to evolve and consume resources.

The primary highlights of the new data center include:

• Scale systems up
• Decrease labor expenses
• Lower capital costs
• Add redundant systems

The ability to scale information technology systems up or down is major draw to many large corporations as the needs of their business constantly change. Also, the new center will provide efficient facility management thus decreasing labor expenses. By outsourcing internal infrastructure, the company will save on overall capital costs.

Finally, the new data center provides redundant systems that do not contain a failure point and have a maintainable infrastructure that is capable of handling critical applications. These include; e-commerce, email systems and website connectivity.

Opening a new data center and relocating the headquarters is a major move for CoreLink. They will benefit from the numerous technology companies in the Chicago area while creating jobs and providing a boost to the local economy. In the end, all parties will benefit from this move.

Online business require a diverse range of accommodations in order to thrive in competitive markets, which exist in nearly every niche of eCommerce. As webmasters expand their online presence, they undoubtedly will need more server resources to account for the rise in traffic and the rate of data transfer that bogs down their websites, causing slow page loads and down time. Webmasters usually go through a progressive process that gradually brings them into new levels of web hosting. The average webmaster will start with a shared hosting plan, before progressing to a VPS, and then a dedicated server. However at the higher corporate levels of business there is a new boundary to be crossed – owning and operating your own server.

The Purpose of a Colocation Hosting Plan

Once your online business reaches a certain level, it may be necessary to purchase your own web server to allow for optimal site performance. Web servers cost thousands of dollars, and require a lot of maintenance in order for the server to continue running efficiently, and to prevent hardware failure. Web servers need to be stored in special facilities that are designed to maintain certain environmental conditions. Unfortunately, this means that owning and operating a web server requires a relatively high investment, as you will also need a secure and suitable location to store the server. This means you are going to have to either buy or rent a space to store your server. This is where colocation hosting comes in.

Colocation Hosting Advantages

Colocation hosting is by far the safest way to store your private server without having to rent a warehouse, or setup an expensive storage facility. Collocation hosting providers offer state-of-the-art storage facilities for your private server, which are equipped with high tech security measures such as 24 hour surveillance and futuristic fire prevention systems. The facilities are kept at optimal temperatures in every hour of the day and night, and the entire environment is kept on a controlled basis, thus ensuring the safety and performance of your web server. Colocation hosting services also provide optional technical support, which can be useful in the event of any server downtime or other unexpected problems.

Colocation Server Configurations

Perhaps the most notable advantage of having a colocation hosting account is your ability to create an unlimited variety of server configurations. Regardless of what kind or how many web servers you own, you can set up a suitable server configuration for your needs with no effort on your behalf. Simply tell the web hosting company what you need done, and they will assist you in getting your servers set up to accommodate your requirements. Collocation companies offer different rack sizes, and even entire server rooms for corporations that need their own private data centers. Servers can be stacked on top of each other and connected to share data, and server redundancy can also be established, to prevent any data loss that may occur. Whether you own one web server or twenty, colocation web hosting is definitely the optimal solution when it comes to server storage and configuration.

Out of all of the web hosting types available, dedicated hosting perhaps costs the most. The only other hosting solution which costs more than dedicated hosting is colocation hosting, which requires you to purchase and maintain your own web server. In a world in which high cost translates into high quality, many people assume that dedicated hosting is simply the best choice, and thus are tempted to purchase a dedicated hosting plan based on the price alone. However, the truth is dedicated hosting may not be the best solution for all webmasters.

Advantages of a Dedicated Server

Dedicated servers are capable of computing huge amounts of data, and are rarely ever met with a challenge that cannot be dealt with efficiently. For this reason there are many software combinations that would run flawlessly on a dedicated server, without hindering the server’s ability to process data. If you frequently run server-based software that consumes a lot of system resources, then you may want to consider a dedicated web server due to their unmatched multitasking capabilities. The added power means that you will never have to worry about downtime, slow page loads, or any other problems that are frequently associated with shared hosting plans.

The Price of a Dedicated Server

Of course, with the above features and capabilities come an increased price tag and more maintenance responsibilities. Instead of the usual $5-$30 that you would pay for a shared hosting plan, you can expect to pay around $100-$150 for your dedicated server, depending upon what kind of server it is and what web hosting company you purchase your plan from. Since dedicated web servers are very complex pieces of machinery they require daily maintenance and support, therefore they represent a greater initial investment on behalf of the hosting company. In order to receive a desirable return on their investment web hosting companies are forced to charge higher prices for dedicated hosting plans.

Choosing a Plan Based on Your Site’s Needs

Dedicated web servers provide a vast amount of server resources, and thus are capable of dealing with massive spikes in traffic and bandwidth. For megasite owners, or people that own hundreds of websites, this kind of server setup is optimal, maybe even essential. However for those that own just a few websites or are just starting out online, it may not be necessary to have this much power at their disposal. In many cases having more than is needed is simply an extra monthly financial burden, and an unwarranted one at that. There are so many expenses involved with keeping an online business running smoothly, and in many cases new webmasters can strive for months before seeing even a small fraction of a return.

Conclusion

Instead of purchasing the best hosting plan on the market, you should consider purchasing the best hosting plan for you. Starting with a simple and convenient hosting plan and then gradually progressing into a more robust hosting setup is undoubtedly the most practical solution for any new webmaster.

In the web hosting industry there are two distinct hosting types, those geared towards business owners on a budget, and those geared towards business owners that demand the best. Colocation hosting falls into the latter category, offering state-of-the-art security and storage facilities in a unique service deal that is not seen in any other hosting plan.

Unlike normal hosting providers, colocation providers do not actually rent servers, nor do they charge a monthly fee for server maintenance. Instead, colocation hosting companies simply provide high-tech storage units that are specifically designed for web servers in maximum security data centers. This gives the serious online business owner a facility where they can store their web servers without having to invest in a warehouse, or worry about the security risks involved with storing the server in an unsecured location such as an office.

Why are Colocation Hosting Facilities Safe?

Colocation hosting facilities are equipped with the latest surveillance technology 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and are guarded by trained personnel at all times. The facilities are protected from fire by advanced fire prevention and extinguishing devices,and all servers are stored in highly controlled environments in which every aspect of the climate is monitored and recorded. Special racks mount the servers and prevent any hardware damage, while cold air is pushed under the racks to prevent overheating and/or dust build up. Storing a web server in a colocation facility will not only ensure the security of the server, it will also maximize the life span of the hardware as well.

How Much Does Colocation Hosting Cost?

Colocation web hosting is perhaps one of the most expensive types available, merely because the server is not provided by the colocation company. Instead you have to purchase the server yourself, and you also have to perform server maintenance as well in many cases. Some colocation hosting companies will provide server support, however most will require you to have a way to perform remote maintenance. Since you are actually renting rack space in a state-of-the-art facility, as well as the security services of the company, the monthly rates can be quite high. When you factor in the cost of  the web server, it can take thousands of dollars to get started with colocation web hosting.

What Do You Need to Get Started With Colocation Hosting?

To use colocation hosting you’ll need a web server, and either a support technician, or experience in internet technology yourself. You may not need the latter however if you can find a colocation company that is willing to provide on-site server administration. Keep in mind that such a service will add to the cost, considering you are only paying for the storage and security service by default. It i also recommended that you have a sound understanding of web servers and web hosting before opting for a colocation hosting plan, as the maintenance and supervision processes are usually more complex than those involved with the average hosting plan.

Protecting your web server from intrusion is very important towards the success of your online business. However, the need to protect your server from problems such as server downtime and data loss is also just as important. In the world of technology nothing is completely safe, as there is always a loophole or a problem that can be exploited. The only way to keep your data safe is to back it up, whether it be on a disk or another server. Backing up an entire web server on disc is obviously not an option, especially if you have a lot of information stored on your server. The only suitable solution would be server redundancy.

Server Redundancy

Server redundancy is a practice that is utilized by virtually every large online business. As the term suggests it is the act of backing up server information by having cloned web servers available 24 hours a day. By having web servers that contain identical information you eliminate the risk of losing data due to hardware damage. Colocation hosting lets you host backup servers at multiple locations to maximize the safety of your server data. Any serious online business owner should consider server redundancy, especially if you store a lot of confidential information.

Colocation Server Security

In reality, server redundancy is simply an extra measure taken to ensure the safety of data. However servers that are stored in colocation facilities will very rarely encounter hardware failure due to their environment. Colocation facilities are protected by state-of-the-art security measures, such as 24 hour surveillance, and high tech fire prevention systems. These facilities are specifically designed to house web servers, and every aspect of the server environment from the temperature to the physical setup is highly controlled.

Protecting Your Assets with Colocation Hosting

One of the reasons why colocation service providers focus so strongly on server security is because the servers are not owned by the colocation hosting company. Instead, colocation facilities simply house web servers that belong to their clients. These clients invest thousands of dollars in their equipment, thus the colocation hosting company has to make sure all of this hardware is safe to prevent lawsuits and unsatisfied customers. Since the only real duty of the colocation hosting company is to protect web server, you can be sure that using a colocation service is the best option in terms of web hosting security.

Conclusion

While colocation hosting may not be optimal for every online business owner, it is definitely suitable solution for corporations that demand the utmost security and safety for their web servers. By employing server redundancy you can be sure that all of your server data is safe regardless of what happens to your current web servers. Imagine the negative impact that could be caused by the loss of all of your online data overnight. While this may seem unlikely, many people have gone through this in the past, and it can take months if not years to recuperate from such an occurrence. The financial loss that could result from such a mishap is far greater than the investment required to establish server redundancy with a colocation hosting company.