What is a Dedicated Server & how do you use it?

Learn all you need to know about dedicated servers: what they are, how they’re used in the real world, how they’re different from other IT infrastructure platforms and more.

The basics of dedicated servers

A dedicated server is a physical machine that’s only used by one client. With web hosting services or VPS, a physical server is divided into multiple parts using virtualization technology, and each part is rented out to different clients; with dedicated servers, one client gets to use all the hardware resources. Essentially, renting a dedicated server is the same as using your own; the main difference is that you access it remotely and the provider is fully responsible for maintenance.

The advantages of dedicated servers

High perfomance

The main reason to choose a dedicated server over a VPS is the exclusive access to all of its computing power. This makes dedicated servers especially good for corporate use, such as hosting an ERP system, storing large volumes of data, deploying remote desktops for employees etc. It’s important to note that dedicated servers are rarely used as-is and are often virtualized to create separate segments for specific tasks. For example, one segment of a dedicated server might be used for hosting the company’s site while another is used for the CRM system.

Configuration options

Exclusive access to hardware gives users more flexibility in configurating their dedicated servers. With virtual slices of a physical server, the computing power is balanced between multiple users, making it impossible to adjust certain parameters. With dedicated servers, any component can be replaced to improve performance, add more storage space etc. Here’s how SIM-Networks does it: we offer a number of pre-made packages that clients can make adjustments to, or a client can configure their own custom dedicated server from the ground up.

Data protection

While data security with shared hosting platforms can be trusted when working with a reliable provider, some clients may want to have extra control over protection measures. Regulations in industries such as healthcare or finance require enterprises to store all sensitive data on fully isolated hardware, and exclusive use of the server gives clients more freedom in implementing their own security software.

Dedicated server vs cloud server

A dedicated server is a specific physical machine that uses its own hardware, networking equipment etc. On the other hand, a cloud server is a virtual representation of a server made up of resources from multiple physical servers. In practice, this means that a cloud server’s configuration isn’t limited by its hardware. You can add as much computing power or storage space to your resource pool as you need without having to replace physical components.

Dedicated servers are sometimes called “bare metal servers”, which points to another difference between dedicated servers and the cloud. When you order a bare metal server, you get the hardware, and you are free to use it however you want. When you order a cloud server, you get access to the built-in features of the cloud environment. With SIM-Networks, this list includes the cloud dashboard, 2 availability zones, multiple layers of redundancy, DDoS protection and more.

Every business has its own needs, which is why it’s hard the conclusion that one platform is better than the other as such. If you work with unstable workloads and need quick scaling capabilities, the cloud will be a great option for you. However, if your tasks are more or less predictable, you want more freedom in the long-term development of your infrastructure, or if you’re simply more used to working with dedicated servers, there’s no reason a dedicated server infrastructure can’t help you reach your goals.

How do SIM-Networks clients use their dedicated servers?

Case 1. Server cluster for a consulting company

The client’s main goal was to organize fault tolerance for corporate tools. The company needed to maintain constant access to large data bases and analytics tools. When working with a low-cost provider, the client experienced frequent outages and bottlenecks, as well as very limited flexibility in terms of configurations. We offered to develop and deploy a server cluster that met the company’s demands towards stability and performance.

A server cluster is a system of multiple dedicated servers united into a single system. In a cluster, each server supports the other one: if one of them fails, another one will pick up its workloads without any downtime.

Our cluster design consisted of 4 enterprise-class dedicated servers with virtual machines based on VMware ESXi. The client approved the project, and our engineers deployed it in 5 days. The solution matched the client’s needs towards computing power, storage space, network connectivity and, most importantly, fault tolerance. Learn more about the specifics of the project and the hardware we used in the full case study.

Case 2. A dedicated server for e-commerce

The client is a distributor company selling a large assortment of building supplies. The company’s goal was to deploy an ERP system, the online store with its entire catalogue of items, a CRM system, media storage for the employee training center, an email server and terminal server for the company’s two branches, head office and warehouse. Earlier, some of these tools were deployed on a VPS from another provider, which couldn’t handle the company’s workloads. The client reached out to SIM-Networks to solve these issues with full consultative support.

Our experts estimated the client’s workloads and concluded that a single dedicated server divided into 10 virtual machines based on Hyper-V would satisfy the company’s needs in terms of performance and stability. Each virtual machine was dedicated to a specific tool, making sure that every IT instrument in the company’s arsenal had a sufficient quota of resources. Once the platform was ready, SIM-Networks administrators carried out the data migration within 16 hours. Learn more about the client’s goals & our solutions in the full case study.

Dedicated server hosting vs IT infrastructure: is there a difference?

While dedicated servers are often talked about in the context of web hosting platforms, the case studies above illustrate that there are way more uses for such servers. A hosting provider is mainly focused on clients who need to host websites, while an IT infrastructure provider such as SIM-Networks builds entire corporate systems using dedicated servers as a platform.

The difference between a hosting provider and an IT infrastructure provider is not only in scale. For example, our services include full consultative support for the entire duration of the project. Clients often reach out to SIM-Networks wanting to get a better idea of what kind of technological platform would best suit their needs, and our experts come up with solutions based on the unique requirements of their business. We also have offers for clients who are more familiar with IT infrastructure and have specific demands towards server configurations. If you need dedicated servers for your company, don’t hesitate to reach out to us; we’ll provide exactly the kind of IT infrastructure you requested or help you figure out what’s going to work for you.

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