Shared hosting is the most popular hosting option as well as also the most inexpensive. It is the most ideal hosting option for blogging websites or other websites with low online traffic. In this type of hosting option, a physical server is responsible for hosting hundreds or maybe even thousands of websites. Economies of scale resulting from such an arrangement make it one of the most popular hosting choices for people who either do not have deep pockets or dense traffic to compel them to look beyond this inexpensive hosting option.

However, once the business starts to grow and so does the traffic to the website, the limitation of shared hosting quickly becomes apparent. Extra resource consumption by other website will slow down your own website or in the worst case scenario will go down for extended periods of time. Also, since all the websites residing on the server have the same IP address, nefarious or illegal activities by one website will invite plenty for all.

The next hosting option for your website could be Virtual private server (VPS) hosting. A newer form of hosting, it seeks to combine the control and reliability offered by dedicated server hosting with the cost effectiveness of shared hosting. A physical server in this type of hosting is virtually partitioned with each virtual server capable of functioning as an independent unit.

The third and the most advanced form of hosting option is dedicated server hosting. As the name suggest, the entire server is dedicated to keep your traffic intensive website going at full blast despite traffic fluctuations. Most ideal for high traffic websites like a popular ecommerce store, dedicated server hosting offers uncompromising customisation abilities, reliability, security and uptime. This as such is the hosting option of choice for websites who cannot afford even the slightest bit of downtime or degraded performance as it may lead to serious loss of sales and credibility.

However, once you have finally made up your mind to go for dedicated server hosting and have already started looking for a quality service provider, it is important to decide whether you wish to opt for managed or unmanaged dedicated hosting. In case you are wondering what really is the difference between the two and how is it going to affect your website, it is important to mention the distinct differences that are present between unmanaged and managed hosting. Getting a better hang of features and advantages (as well as limitations) of these two types of dedicated hosting, you will be in a better position to make a better selection decision keeping your own specific interests and choices in mind.

Unmanaged dedicated server hosting—the basic details

Well, for the uninitiated unmanaged hosting in its simplest term is exactly what it states unmanaged!  In case of unmanaged hosting, you as a client will have to take care of all aspects related to your dedicated server. As Rudyard Kipling puts in his famous poem ‘If’ and I quote: “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, And treat those two impostors just the same”. Likewise in dedicated hosting that is unmanaged you are solely responsible for all the joys and grief the server is going to give you. You have to deal with all server problems on your own and resolve them cheerfully (well the service provider will not there to see your pain and anguish).

So in such type of hosting, all your data center or web hosting provider would do is to setup the server, help you get online and provide you with your IP address. The service provider will say goodbye at this point leaving you on your own to install operating system of your choice and all the software and applications supported by it; control panels, server configuration, firewall installation and as well as troubleshoot sundry other problems that may have crept in during the installation process.

Managed dedicated server hosting—the basic details

Managed hosting true to its literal meaning is the type of dedicated server hosting service in which the entire tasks of server installation and configuration is carried out by the service provider. Some of the important tasks that your service provider will be obligated to carry out as per the agreement are mentioned as following:

     - Unlimited ticket support

     - Comprehensive troubleshooting services for smooth server performance

     - Server hardening and disaster recovery

     - Software troubleshooting, software installation, software upgrades, etc.

     - Server optimization, firewall installation and installing scripts

The type and number of above mentioned services will vary of course from one service provider to another. You have to decide which aspects of server management are most important to you and then choose the vendor accordingly.

If you lack the technical expertise and manpower to take full control of your server, it is better to opt for managed hosting. Managed Dedicated server hosting will cost you a little extra but the time and trouble it will save may be worth the effort. On the other hand you can opt for unmanaged hosting if your in-house technical team is fully capable of managing the server.