Your Server

How much does it cost to host a server in a data center?

Thinking about possibly hosting a web server, and I'm pricing between purchasing a dedicated server, or setting up my own and co-locating it. Advantages and disadvantages, prices please?

Public Comments

1. Most individuals 'rent' space on one of the big providers servers (eg Godaddy etc) - this can cost anything from $5 to $50 a month (depending on what 'package' you go with) Others 'host' at their ISP or pay their ISP for a decent 'uplink' bandwidth and host their web site on their own server at home. However it seems you are well beyond this level -- hosting on a secure server 'farm' will be $1,000 a month upwards and co-locating your hardware in their farm will be about the same (at these levels, the hardware costs are irrelevant == it's all about bandwidth and maintenance) .. I would always go for hosting on their hardware == 'farms' have multiple identical kit and they can swap boxes out with zero interruption of service .. whilst when your box breaks down it could take hours (or days) to get it swapped out .. The ONLY time you go for co-location is if you need your Server to be highly secure (and such Servers are typically inaccessible to the public) .. in these circumstances you must ensure the physical security of the hardware (locked in it's own cage) as well as using different physical Firewalls etc (i.e. so you can ensure no 'holes' have been opened for other peoples 'gaming' sites etc)... Software security is guaranteed by only running the protocols and services that are actually needed (so, for example, Remote Desktop and Terminal Services may well be disabled = access would be via some sort of propitiatory VPN protocols, although you may well be running a RADIUS service and some sort of off-the shelf 'key fob' (RSA tab) to control access)