What's Most Important In Colocation? Location, Location, Location!

By Author: Geoffrey Ray
Total Articles: 4
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Typically when you're searching for a web host, the physical location of the host isn't of that much concern. However when you're talking about colocation, the actual building, including the conditions and appearance, make a world of difference.

Colocation is essentially when a client purchases a web server outright, from which they will run and store their website. After purchasing the server they can then store it in a web host's rack, typically in a data center – a building filled with many racks of many different web servers. Colocation services can come with managed or unmanaged options. With manage web hosting, the hosting company and data center staff update and maintain the web server, and perform any changes at the customer's request.

Unmanaged colocation services on the other hand, simply provide the racks and the physical space for the web server, or servers. It is completely the responsibility of the owner of the server to make sure that it's properly maintained and upgraded when needed.

Whether you choose managed or unmanaged phoenix colocation ...
... services will be a matter of personal preference, as well as your level of technical know-how when it comes to server maintenance. However one consideration that cannot be overlooked is the actual location of the data center.

While your web hosting package will include the cost of certain resources such as bandwidth and power supply, what you're really paying for is the actual space being used to house your server. Because of this, you had better make sure that the conditions are the best possible.

Of course you need the data center to be clean and orderly, but you also need to make sure that the conditions are set right for web servers. Servers need to be kept in a climate typically no hotter than 72 degrees Fahrenheit (and not much lower than that,) and with humidity of 45%. Also in addition to just the climate, it's also important to note how the servers are actually set up within the data center.

Servers and server racks should always be kept at a reasonable distance apart, typically at least an aisle length, allowing movement in between. This is important not only so that servers can be accessed easily should they need to be maintained, but also so that air flow can be easily ventilated around the servers. This is an important measure in keeping the servers cool so they'll function properly.

When choosing a colocation data center, also make sure that it's closely located to you. This is so that you can visit the data center yourself before you sign up with them, and look at the conditions yourself to ensure they're up to standards. It's also important because you may have to access the server yourself at some point in the future, even if you've chosen a managed colocation service.

When trying to determine what colocation data center is right for you, it's easy to determine which feature is the most important. It's right in the name of this kind of hosting – it's location, location, location!

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