Managed Dedicated Servers: Behind the Scenes by www.thehostingnews.com

Managed Dedicated Servers: Behind the Scenes

September 5th, 2009 By: Hosting News

If you’re thinking about buying aÂ managed dedicated server, you might be interested in what goes on behind the scenes. Even if you’ve had a managed server for a while, you might not realize all that goes into keeping a server maintained and running smoothly.

Even if you’re proficient with home computers, running a web server and keeping it up to date with security patches and new software is a lot different. Whether you’re talking about a Windows Managed Server or a Linux Managed server, there’s a lot that needs to happen ‘behind the curtain,’ to keep your websites up and running.

Operating System Updates

Whatever operating system you decide to go with, you’re going to have to update the software to make sure that it’s secure and running as best it can. While sometimes this can go smoothly, if you are not aware of exactly how to proceed, it’s easy to make a mistake that brings your website down for an extended period of time. With managed hosting, you don’t worry about making a mistake when operating system is updated.

Software Updates

Beyond the operating system, there are other things that need updates on servers. From PHP to Perl to Python to MySQL to Apache, there’s a lot of software at work to keep most websites running these days. Keeping all your software updated can sometimes be a full time job by itself. With a managed dedicated server, you don’t have to worry about software updates on the server.

Firewall Services

One of the most important things about running a web server is letting good traffic and connections in and keeping bad or malicious traffic from hitting the web server and wasting resources. Installing a firewall is vital for this. Installing a firewall (which can be tricky) is even more vital. Managed dedicated servers usually provide help with firewall services.

Backup Services

If something should happen to your dedicated server, having a backup in place (and a plan to restore from it) is very important if you’re serious about running a website online. With managed hosting, backup services are usually part of the process. They’re usually automated, but setup and maintainance can be somewhat challenging, and is something you don’t have to worry about with a managed server.

Database Management

If you’re running a modern website, there’s likely a database of some kind on your server. Running a database server is fairly easy, but keeping it tuned and working most efficiently can be an art form sometimes. With no clear cut instructions for every single case, database optimization is sometimes a time consuming process. A managed dedicated server includes help with deploying your database server and keeping it running at full throttle.

Server Monitoring and Recovery

Another important aspect to running a web server is monitoring it at all times and doing whatever it takes to bring it back to life if it does go down for some reason. Being able to hand off this responsibility to a trained professional can go a long way towards a worry-free operation – without having to be concerned about whether your website is up and running.

Anti-Spam and Virus Protection

Virus and spam protection are an important part of running a successful business online. Unless you have a lot of time to keep up to date on all the latest security alerts and software updates, it’s easy to fall behind. With a managed dedicated server, things like this are taken care of by competent technical professionals.

Advanced Technical Support

When it comes to modern web servers, you must have a lot of specific knowledge to keep things running smoothly. If you don’t have a degree in computer science (the really technical information), managed web hosting at the dedicated server level can offer you access to people who are trained to handle difficult tech tasks, making the process painless for you.

Security Scans and Audits

Being proactive about server security is another thing that is very important in running a business or website online. Taking the time to test defenses with scans and audits of servers is an important part of hosting. Having someone take care of this seamlessly in the background can free up your time to do other things. Managed dedicated hosting will usually handle things like security scans and audits of your web servers to make sure their safety hasn’t been compromised.

Telephone Support

Starting an issue in a support queue is alright, but sometimes a problem is better handled if you can contact someone by phone who is really knowledgeable about technical issues. With managed dedicated hosting, you usually have access to trained technical staff who answer the phone and try to help you to the best of their ability.

Behind the Scenes

All of the above and much more happens behind the scenes when you engage a managedÂ dedicated server solution. If you’re trying to run a successful website, it’s important to delegate as much of the heavy lifting in keeping a server up and running to other people, so that you can concentrate on the other aspects of your business.

Since 1996, Superb Internet has been consistently rated as one of the very best web hosts by all web host rating agencies, such as Web Hosting Magazine, in all areas, especially customer support and reseller services. Superb Internet provides a complete range of managed web hosting solutions, from virtual shared web hosting through to high-volume, mission-critical dedicated server solutions. SuperbHosting.net’s core focus is customer service, and continuous service improvement, with offices and 24-hour/365-day operations in McLean, VA, Tukwila, WA, and Vancouver, BC, serving customers in over 150 countries worldwide.

View further information onÂ Dedicated Servers here.