Every web hosting plan comes with limitations, and these limitation usually define the limits of your site and it’s performance. The more powerful your server, the faster your pages will load and the more traffic your site can ultimately handle. Shared hosting plans are the bottom of the chain, and most advanced webmasters would scoff at such hosting plans, since they simply are not reliable enough to operate large online businesses with. Thus, VPS and dedicated servers are seen as the industry standard when it comes to server capacity and reliability. Bot VPS and Dedicated servers offer a plethora of advantages that are not seen in shared hosting plans, however dedicated servers are generally more capable than any VPS.
Linux or Windows
A dedicated server is a server that is only used by your sites, which means greater performance and reliability. There are two kinds of dedicated servers – those that operate on the Linux operating system, and those that operate on the Windows operating system. Linux dedicated servers are cheaper, but generally seen as being more reliable due to their simplicity. Windows dedicated servers are more expensive but can run more software and are generally seen as being capable of more advanced computing. The beauty of a Windows dedicated server is their ability to run Windows software remotely, thus taking some of the load off of your local operating system.
Multiple Operating Systems on a Dedicated Server
Many people run multiple installs of software simultaneously on their dedicated server using virtual machines. Virtual machines let you install operating systems within operating system. Therefore, for example, you could have five copies of Windows running on the same Windows dedicated server. This would allow you to use a single piece of software with five times more power, without having to invest in five more home computers. Of course this scenario could only take place if the software itself allowed multiple user licenses. This is just one example of a Windows dedicated sever could be used to run a lot of software without taxing you local system resources.
Why not Buy an Extra Computer?
The answer to this question is rather simple – cost. A single home computer can cost a minimum of about $300. Meanwhile a powerful Windows dedicated server can be rented remotely or only $100 per month. Not only would you have access to a powerful remote computer, but you could also save space in your home by not having to store extra computers. Dedicated servers are not only used for hosting web sites, as they are powerful machines with enough computing capabilities to handle several operating systems at once in many cases. If you’re in need of more system resources to run apps that can be installed serverside, then you may want to consider a Windows dedicated server. Before you commit to purchasing a dedicated server for this reason, keep in mind that the app must be a server side app, and that this is best done with apps that automate processes and consume a lot of system resources.
