Colocation Web Hosting gives you the greatest flexibility and is a cost-effective solution for large businesses. This article will help you understand all about colocation hosting and how you can select the best colocation facility for your server.

Web Servers are the lifeline of all online businesses and it is important that they are placed in a secure environment. If you own a large business and require high bandwidth, it is best to buy your own server and place it in your data center where it can be closely monitored and kept secure. But not all businesses can afford to build a data centre, which is when Colocation Hosting comes into picture.

If you too are looking at colocating your server or want to know more about it, read on.

 What is Colocation Hosting?

Colocation is the practice of leasing space in a data center for placing your web server. This allows you to buy your own server and place it another data center for a monthly fee. Thus you get the connectivity, bandwidth and security of a personal web server, at a price slightly higher than normal web hosting.

How much does Colocation Hosting Cost?

The cost of Colocation Web Hosting is calculated on the basis of three things:

• Amount of Rack Space Used (this is the space used to place your server and other hardware)
• Bandwidth, Internet Connectivity and Security
• Server Insurance (insurance cover in case the server or other hardware gets damaged)

What should you look for in a Colocation Facility?

A colocation facility refers to the data centre that provides ‘racks’ or space for placing your server. Here’s a list of some key features that you should look at before choosing a Colocated hosting facility:

1)      Uninterrupted Power Supply:  From plugging in the servers to cooling systems and security mechanisms, everything is completely dependent on power. For a colocation facility, dependable power supply and a back-up generator is extremely important. Ensure that the colocation facility is equipped with redundant power sources at every point. 

 2)      High-Performance Connectivity:  Internet connectivity has a major impact on the performance of your site, how fast the web pages load, how visitors are able to access your site etc.  If you own a high-traffic site, ensure that the colocation hosting you choose uses performance-based routing for better connectivity, faster network speed and higher uptime.

3)      Cooling Mechanisms:  High temperatures and humidity can have a major impact on the server’s performance, making it susceptible to failure or damage. The higher the temperature, the more server performance degrades leading to excessive downtime. A good colocation set up would maintain an ideal temperature of 72 to 76 degrees and 40% humidity.

 4)      Climate Control:  Colocated set ups manage the interior climate with cooling systems known as chillers and CRAC units.  Chillers are systems that circulate chilled water through pipes to cool the server rooms while CRAC (computer room air conditioning) units are air conditioning systems that keep the temperature and humidity under control. 

 5)      Speed & Uptime:  The way your online business functions depends mostly on the network speed and uptime. Ensure that the Colocated setting provides excellent speed and guaranteed uptime to handle even the highest traffic easily. Before choosing your pick, find out about the network connections, hardware used and uptime provides by the hosting company.

Colocation Hosting is a great way to save money and keeping your server secure. But not all hosting providers will care for your hardware and server as much as you do, thus spend some time researching and analyzing the various colocation packages and facilities.