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What Is It?

A Web site account manager may find that many dedicated or co-located servers are difficult to manage as those servers must be maintained as well as the Web site. One solution to this problem is the managed server, where the Web hosting provider actively manages that server for one high-resource account. A managed server allows a business owner to focus more on the Web site and less on the server’s technical aspects.

Features

A managed server is just that – it is managed by the Web hosting provider and this means that few clients have access to the server’s root. Many managed server accounts will refuse this root access, as the hosting provider needs to manage all aspects of that server. Sometimes root access is granted to the customer for specific program installs, but the hosting provider will retain root access at all times to maintain system security and monitoring. Some Web hosts will provide free application installs in exchange for this lack of root access control.

On the other hand, some Web hosts will allow clients to gain access to various services such as the addition of emails, FTP access, core service customization, CGI scripts and more. However, those Web host providers typically will handle administration tools, managed services such as backups and other server software and hardware.
Many managed server hosts will supply grades to a server’s RAM or hard drive for an additional monthly fee. Those same hosts may supply additional configuration of hardware or RAID support for a fee as well. A normal turnaround for a managed server order usually is within a week from having received an order for a managed server.

Who Is it For?

Web site clients who have outgrown shared hosting accounts, who need dedicated resources without the headache of running a dedicated server, or who run processor-intensive scripting and require customized software installations may find a solution in managed servers. Outside the ability to hand over the technical aspects of a dedicated server, this service also provides the same security that is attached to being the only client on a dedicated server. Managed server accounts can eliminate the headaches associated with support costs and with the time and effort required to run a server.

Compatibility

Web host providers who offer managed servers usually will provide information about that dedicated server and may offer packages to choose from as well. The issue is to understand whether the need is for a Linux-based or Windows server, as this provides the base from which all other requirements can be met for any given client.

Web Hosts that Offer Managed