Choosing a Dedicated Server 101

Renting a dedicated server from Virtual Systems is an excellent opportunity for high-quality service. They are suited to small and large-scale Internet projects that need high performance. VSYS offers its clients a variety of high-quality options in dedicated hosting for different needs.

A key advantage of a dedicated server service is independence from other resources. The point is that, unlike shared hosting, you can avoid the “neighborhood” with a huge number of other sites. This, in turn, means that the speed will be much higher. You can even go the extra mile in this regard and go with bare-metal servers which offer enhanced dedicated functioning. With dedicated server hosting, you can avoid overpaying for the server with access to a greater capacity. The best part is that you get to enjoy full control of the server.

What to consider while choosing a dedicated hosting?

General issues 

Renting a dedicated server starts with choosing a dedicated server hosting provider. In this market, you can find many firms, both large and small, that are able to provide the exact services you need. This article focuses on the key points to pay attention to when choosing a provider.

Right operating system for your server

First, pay attention to the possibility of choosing an operating system. For your convenience, you can use ready-made solutions, such as a ready-made service for a WordPress site. Such services do not need further configuration and are immediately available for use. Another factor to consider is whether you will be able to upload your personal .ISO image that will be installed on your server.

What country to choose for dedicated hosting

What factors should you consider when choosing a hosting country? One of the most important is the geographical distance of the server from your location. The longer the distance, the greater the delay you will experience in interaction.

Second, check the prevailing policies and data sharing laws of the countries you are looking into. For example, the alliances of the Five, Nine, and Fourteen Eyes are known to exchange intelligence among themselves. That is to say, if one of the 14 countries is able to gain access to your online data, the other 13 countries will have access to copies of your information. The Five Eyes include the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. The Nine Eyes also include Denmark, France, Holland, Norway. Fourteen eyes add Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, and Spain to the list.

What’s more, project topics sometimes also impose restrictions on the choice of location for hosting the server. If the content of the site directly or indirectly conflicts with state legislation, it is better to protect yourself. You can rent a server abroad, in a country where the legislation allows the placement of such projects without consequences.

Technical details of dedicated hosting

The technical details of hosting are especially important when it comes to dedicated servers. You need to determine whether what you are investing in can live up to your needs and requirements. It is important to ensure it can perform its required functions while offering a stable service. You will find below a list of factors you should pay attention to when looking into dedicated servers.

Consider data center tier

Your data center tier can define the uptime and data center performance you enjoy. Datacenter tiers come in four types, of which the fourth tier DC is considered the most robust and least prone to failures. The base of the design for this tier is to host mission-critical servers and computer systems. It comes with altogether redundant subsystems, such as cooling, power, and network links. These come with compartmentalized security zones, managed by biometric access. Naturally, the Tier 1 center is the simplest DC and is often used by small businesses or shops.

Datacenter tier classification stands on 4 tiers:

Your data center availability also differs by tiers:

Tier I and Tier II data centers are in general enough for businesses that can tolerate occasional server downtime. This can include possible downtime after regular business hours or on weekends. For businesses that do not need 24/7 uptime, hosting in a Tier III or Tier IV data center may involve extra investment. This would be an unnecessary expense, and unlikely to provide any real benefits.

But multinational or other companies sometimes need 100% uptime. Their businesses often run around the globe, where any downtime will have an adverse effect on their business. This can be the case for airlines, SaaS, and gaming companies for example. In this case, choosing a Tier III or a Tier IV data center is an optimum investment for a dedicated server.

Network performance

The location and quality of your hosting service provider’s network will have a direct impact on network performance. Certain factors you need to pay special attention to in this regard include checking the network capacity. If you need a server that can handle a lot of traffic, you should ensure a high capacity and port speed. Faster port speeds translate into quicker interaction between server and client. This allows greater amounts of data to pass through.

When considering port speed for your dedicated server, a good understanding of the basics is important. While it is often confused with bandwidth, it is a somewhat different aspect of hosting. Bandwidth is a measure of the amount of data that can be transferred per second. Port speed is the transfer rate of the data from the source to its destination system. This transfer rate can affect the performance of your site, so look into a port speed that can cater to your needs. Good network connectivity is necessary to prevent downtime. It also prevents delays between a request being sent out to the server and its response.

Network speed of the desired dedicated hosting

The network speed of your dedicated server will measure the transfer speed of data from the server to the client. This is often measured in gigabits per second (Gbps). Faster network speeds guarantee shorter delays in the transfer of data. As a general rule of thumb, a 1Gbps dedicated server is considered good enough regarding port speed. Hosting service providers like VSYS.host generally offers up to 10Gbps dedicated servers with unmetered bandwidth. Nonetheless, several other factors come into play where network speed is concerned. The distance between the client and the server, for example, will determine your needs. The amount of traffic your site experiences will also play into the network speed you need. There are many online tools available where you can check your server network speed, and determine if it is meeting your needs.

Traffic plans & bandwidth for dedicated hosting

1. Traffic

Your dedicated server needs to be able to handle the traffic your site receives to avoid downtime. Make sure to find out what traffic volumes you can count on to be provided. When traffic planning, leave room for the possibility of over-expenditure. Many times providers will place restrictions on over-expenditure. You will need to find out what conditions apply where your over-expenditure is covered. It would also be wise to consider any expansion services provided by your provider. Needs may arise in the future your provider is unable to cater to. In this case, you may have to start the process from scratch.   

2. Server bandwidth 

High server bandwidth defines the sort of dynamic features and content you are able to provide on your site. Peak traffic times especially need reliable bandwidth to deliver content at fast speeds to site visitors. Your needed bandwidth depends on the site traffic you experience. You can check different available bandwidth packages on your dedicated server.

Generally, providers offer metered and unmetered bandwidth connections. Metered bandwidth connections are suitable for concrete traffic plans. Where you have a very good idea of your bandwidth needs, metered connections are a good choice. You can go over the packages your provider offers, usually ranging in GB or TB per month limits. As a general rule of thumb, even 2 GB bandwidth can be enough to host sites with light content. Even with good traffic plans, you may overrun your limit, so check your provider’s policies on overage payments. Some providers may shut down your site and ask you to upgrade to a higher plan.

This is one of the issues you can avoid with unmetered dedicated server plans. To be specific, these packages don’t offer unlimited bandwidth, but the cap on the limit is usually so high it is unlikely to be all used up. The major benefit here is that you are free to use as much bandwidth as the port can handle. You would be able to do this without affecting or overrunning your monthly billing. Your cap is determined by the port size you choose, so you are unlikely to encounter any surcharges.

Metered and unmetered server packages come with different price packages and rates. Metered bandwidth often comes with burstable billing. It makes room for infrequent bursts of activity without leading to overage rates. Often these work on the 95th percentile billing standard, allowing 5% of measured bandwidth with bursts of traffic.

Choosing the right hardware for dedicated hosting

An important step is to check whether your hardware is new, or has been used before. Even with used servers in good condition, it is critical that you install new hard drives on the server. As this is the most vulnerable element of the system, the risk of data damage or loss increases with wear and tear, even when disks show normal test scores. You should also clarify with your provider what conditions warrant the replacement of server nodes in case of their failure. This replacement should be done free of cost to you, and only at your provider’s expense.

1. Server hardware vs desktop hardware

Your server hardware is engineered to manage all network resources. It may be tempting to run a server operating system on a desktop computer, being more convenient. But their hardware capacities and dedicated functioning make them far from substitutable. Even if your desktop had similar features, servers are designed to function 24-hours a day.

Desktop hardware is generally designed with user-oriented operating systems to aid desktop-oriented tasks. You are likely to save a lot of money with desktop hardware, as servers cost twice as much. However, you also get less in the way of reliability. Server hardware is designed to last about twice as long as your desktop hardware. While you can get the same core functions from both set-ups, servers offer higher performance and longevity. They also take into account energy consumption and heat generation, which is not a primary concern with desktop systems.

Server hardware

Server hardware configuration is generally divided into 3 main categories. All these play into the final decision when choosing a server. You need to consider form factors that play with the environment, space, and cooling facilities you are able to provide. Servers come in rack, blade, or mainframe forms, and your final choice should depend on your budget and workload requirements. It is also a good idea to review server operations to ensure they come with the required facilities to perform functions. You should also determine how they will impact other aspects of your business. This can include, for example, the way server power consumption may influence usage in other areas. You should also check for built-in management capabilities, which can check on and manage the system on a constant basis. Another area of focus should be setup requirements.

Setting up server hardware or desktop hardware comes with some base-level requirements. You will need to meet minimum CPU, RAM, and available disk space requirements. VSYS dedicated servers have different requirements depending on the plan you choose. A standard server requires some of the following.

2. New hardware vs used hardware

The obvious advantage of using hardware is the price factor. Setting up a new server is not a cheap task, and you can significantly reduce the cost with used servers. With the reduced cost, you can afford higher specs, and even customize the server configuration to your own needs. Used or refurbished servers, from certified sellers, also reduce lead-times. This is even the case with build-to-order servers. New servers often come with painfully long lead times, which means you have to plan and anticipate your needs quite well in advance. used servers are usually available for shipping within a day or two.

Spare parts for refurbished servers can also not only be bought with ease but often cost much less than spare parts for new servers. Besides, they come with a low-cost, hassle-free returns policy, while again, you would have a lot more trouble when trying to return new parts.

One main concern when buying used servers is a reduced operational life. It is hard to determine how the hardware was originally used and in what conditions, which creates uncertainty about its longevity. In contrast, new hardware can almost guarantee a long operational life. They also come with uncompromised processor speed and functioning. If you’re on a budget however and used hardware is a more affordable option, look for certified sellers who warrant up to standards product.

Miscellaneous

1. Remote access IPMI/KVM

Other factors to consider for dedicated servers include access to server management. This simply gives you greater control and handling over the situation if you are experiencing downtime. You can obtain this access through the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM). These allow remote access to the server at the hardware level. This includes being able to install the OS from the disk, or configuring the BIOS setup. You should also look for access to remote power management and server reboot. While these are not technical requirements for dedicated servers, they are convenient options. Remote server management reduces the need for technical assistance from the provider. This reduces your wait time to receive such services if you experience a problem.

Other systems, like the Intelligent Platform management interface (IPMI), can also be used. They provide central monitoring and management capabilities independent of your host server. IPMI remote access lets you monitor hardware status, log server data, and allow access to the server even when with a malfunctioning OS. This comes in handy where you want to stay in the loop with what is happening with your server. In addition to IPMI servers, Ubuntu servers also offer a good option. They come with extensive hardware and virtualization platform compatibility. These servers can also be accessed and monitored remotely via an SSH connection.

2. Data Back-ups

Your server holds a lot of important and sensitive information, so taking extra steps for safety and security is a good step. Make sure to set up good back-up systems for your data. which should not be limited to your actual server. Ideally, you should also create back-ups on a third-party server. This adds an additional layer of security for the preservation of your data, in case your host server is compromised.

3. Technical Support

The sort of technical support and expertise your provider offers can have a major impact on your operations. Planning for emergencies and unexpected breakdowns is an essential precaution. It’s a good idea to check what sort of urgent services your provider offers. You will need to check the time delay in getting in touch with tech support services, for example. Also check their ability to fix the issue quickly, such as the nodes they are able to change quickly. You can also check the expertise of the technicians available, and the reliability of the help you are receiving.

4. Prices & discounts

The price of a dedicated server can be a major concern, and fortunately, you can usually get a lot of variety in this regard. Most providers offer packages that are tailored to various needs, including budgets. With a bit of exploring, you should be able to find hosting services that not only fit your requirements but have a very cheap price for dedicated servers.

Hosting companies do not announce dedicated server sales & discounts frequently. They may offer them in certain cases, such as the term of your rental. Some provider companies will, for example, offer a discount for up to 10-15% when you rent a server for long periods of time. This essentially also makes it more profitable to rent out servers for say 6 months, with long-term projects.

First steps after getting a server

There are certain steps you should take once you get a server before the setup is complete and you online. These involve setting up security, checking the safety of your IP address, and establishing a secure connection.

SSH protocol configuration

You will need an SSH protocol configuration to connect to the server. The protocol can be used in two ways to establish a connection: using certificate keys, or a password. Certificate keys are often found to be the most secure authentication method.

1. With certificate keys:

Setting up SSH authorization by key won’t just drastically improve the security of your server, it will go a long way in making your life easier. The keylogger can often easily intercept the passwords; instead, you can use RSA keys in the SSH authorization process on the server. This cryptosystem can ensure secure data transmission with your server. To ensure a good level of security, a key length of 2048 bits is usually enough. To reduce the chances of theft, it is advisable to store a secret key in an encrypted section.

2. With a password:

If you decide to set up a password for authentication, a one-time password will be sent to your mail, which you can use to set up your own password on the server. Once you have created the server, you will know its IP. As is naturally the case, the IP that is issued to you has already been in use by someone else, and it is impossible to determine what purposes it was used for.

IP address check

An IP address check should be one of the first orders of business, to clarify the situation and satisfy any valid concerns over its security. One of the first things you will need to do is make sure your issued IP address is not blacklisted. You should also ensure it does not cause extra difficulties in connecting. You can use online sites to run a blacklist check on your IP address.

Another factor is ensuring your IP address was not involved in any spam attacks or fraudulent actions. You can use online services that check for the presence of your IP address on a spam basis.

Connection to server

Once you have created a new server, checked it, and ensured the validity and security of your IP address, you can connect to the server. For a particular type of security. You can connect to a remote server from a virtual machine (VM), which has been specifically created for this purpose only. This VM can be encrypted and can store certificate keys and passwords that are required, for example, to access the server. After you log in to the server, you must come up with a new password. You are at liberty to create a large password, with a variety of characters, which would not need to be remembered as it can be stored on the VM.

The first thing you will need to do once you are logged in determines that your SSH service is on the standard port 22. It is a well-known fact among network administrators and hackers alike that port 22 is the standard SSH port. It is therefore likely to be the first port to take fire under a hacker attack, which would compromise the security of your server.

For security purposes, you will need to change the default SSH port. You can do this in the configuration file SSH, which is located at /etc/ssh/sshd_config. Here, you remove port 22 as the standard port and add whichever port you would like to use instead. Once the change is made, you will need to restart the SSH service for it to come into effect. You can check to make sure the changes have been made by trying to connect through port 22. If everything has gone smoothly, the server will not respond to requests, and your selected port should be able to grant you access.

What to do to protect a server on your side?

The next step involved in protecting your server is installing the Fail2ban program. This program is designed to protect your server from brute force and DDoS attacks. It stores and identifies the calls to your server, especially attempts to authorize it, and groups similar attempts. For example, several unsuccessful authorization attempts to access the server are noted from the same IP address. The program will add that IP address in the ban list, where it stays for a certain time. You can customize the program under the service and port you need.

It should also be noted that you should keep your system up to date from time to time. You will also need to monitor your mailbox periodically. Most communication between the hosting company and the client takes place via email. In case of any suspicious or out-of-the-ordinary action with your server, you will be immediately informed through mail.

It should also be noted that you should keep your system up to date from time to time. You also need to monitor your mailbox periodically. This is for communication, as hosting providers will often communicate via email. In case of any incomprehensible actions with your server, you will be immediately informed about this. Additionally, recalling honeypot can also be a worthwhile step. You can quite easily write a script, for example, which with any connection via VPN or SSH, can notify you if someone has connected to your server. This red flag should then enable you to take the necessary actions.

Dedicated Servers from VSYS

The Virtual Systems company offers high-quality dedicated server hosting. With our team of professional system administrators, we can guarantee a smooth operation of your web project. A major concern with dedicated hosting is privacy and anonymity. VSYS takes these concerns into consideration with its services. With offshore locations, you can remain anonymous. Your privacy is maintained with Bitcoin payments. These are also made free of identity markers or additional charges.

Dedicated server hosting is known to be a great and cheaper alternative to buying a separate resource. As an additional bonus, it comes with room for customization and installing any software that is suited to you. VSYS hosting guarantees 24/7 technical support with a team of experts. They work with you to provide immediate problem-resolution. Full operation is always guaranteed, and you can rely on our support staff for any assistance you may need. You can also enjoy the free setup and complete migration assistance. Virtual Systems LLC can be the right choice for you and the development of your internet project. With us, you can find affordable dedicated server pricing for uncompromised quality.