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There's a plethora of server service providers in the market today. It's worth noting that not all service providers offer quality servers. Therefore, in this article, we'll guide you on how to select a dedicated server that suits your needs.
How to Select a Dedicated Server
Key Considerations Before Choosing a Dedicated Server
1. Addressing Downtime Issues
One of the primary factors to consider when opting for a dedicated server is how to address downtime issues in case of storage environment failures. In a cloud environment, cloud setup protects users from hardware failures.
When it comes to dedicated servers, resources cannot be shared with anyone else. However, since errors can occur anytime on a server, it's crucial to consider whether you can tolerate downtime issues, especially if there's no option to scale out to multiple independent servers.
2. Application Scalability
The next factor to consider is the scalability of your applications. Does your application allow for adding multiple servers to accommodate increasing end-user traffic for your business?
If application scalability is straightforward, then whether you're using a dedicated server or a virtual solution, there shouldn't be any issues. However, some applications are difficult to scale across multiple devices. Ensuring that the database is running on multiple servers is more challenging as it needs to be synchronized across all database servers.
Additionally, moving the database to servers with storage capacity and RAM is also easier. Transitioning to a cloud environment—where you can clone servers, have running copies, and add a load balancer to distribute traffic across multiple servers—might also be a solution for you.
3. Server Performance
What's your requirement for server performance? How many users do you have, and how many servers do you need? Here are some hardware factors that affect server performance:
- CPU:
Essentially, you can choose the number of processors and cores within a server. This depends on the application you're running and what benefits the application will gain from a multi-core server.
Furthermore, you need to consider the performance of cores determined by clock speed (MHz): some processors perform better with fewer cores but higher clock speeds. It's advisable to consult your application manager or software provider. Of course, they also need to take into account the expected user volume.
- RAM:
The faster and more cores your CPU has, the more RAM options you'll have. If you're unsure about the amount of RAM you need, it's advisable to choose a server that allows for additional RAM if needed. The range of RAM options, especially with dual processors, is extensive.
The server size is also a crucial factor when selecting RAM. New-generation servers use DDR4 technology, which can positively impact database performance.
- Hard Drive:
Choose RAID configuration for your hard drives to be protected from potential hard drive failures. Your system will still operate, albeit with reduced performance until the hard drive is replaced.
The larger the server, the more hard drive options you'll have. SATA drives offer large capacities but relatively lower performance. SAS drives offer twice the performance of SATA but come at a higher price and lower capacity. SAS excels with SSD drives, which are up to 50-100 times faster than SATA.
4. Load Balancing Across Multiple Dedicated Servers
If your application can scale across multiple dedicated servers, load balancing—where end users are distributed across all available servers—is essential.
When running a website and experiencing increased traffic, at some point, you'll need to utilize multiple web servers to serve multiple users accessing the same website.
With load balancing solution, every incoming request will be redirected to another server. Before doing so, load balancing checks if the server is operational. If a server is down, it will redirect traffic to another server.
5. Bandwidth Usage
Bandwidth requirements relate to the ability to predict data traffic. If you consume a lot of bandwidth but have low predictability, you might opt for a dedicated server package with high data traffic or servers offering unmetered bandwidth.
6. Network Connection Quality
As a customer, you can choose the server location. It's crucial to consider the end-users' locations. For example, if your customers are in the APAC region, placing servers in Europe wouldn't be a wise choice as data transmission would be slow.
Additionally, data transmission also depends on the network connection quality of the hosting service provider. To learn more about network connection quality, you can visit the NOC (Network Operations Center) website of the hosting provider and check the network. Most hosting providers will allow you to do this.
7. Remote Server Management
If you're running applications on a dedicated server, you need technical skills and knowledge to maintain the server. The question is, do you have remote management module access? Most brand A servers come equipped with remote management modules. Providers may also allow you secure access to those modules.
Additionally, a remote module can support transitioning from On-Premise to a storage solution (even a private cloud solution). This step maintains the current workflow structure and makes it easy for IT personnel to switch, as they can still manage their software deployments and install custom operating systems.
8. Partner Insight
Lastly, but equally important, ensure your hosting service provider is ready to support and advise you in case you seek solutions tailored to your needs.
The above article from Mytour just guided you on how to choose a dedicated server. Additionally, if you're seeking cloud storage services, readers can refer to the Mytour article on suitable online data storage websites to choose services for their purposes and businesses.
If you're looking to choose a hosting service for your website data storage, readers shouldn't miss the article reviewing hosting companies in Vietnam here.
