Well, colocation hosting has its own advantages. If you think it is all about choosing a data centre and using the same for hosting your server, it may not be the case. There are several nuances in this arrangement that you need to understand right at the outset. The best things to do are to shortlist a data center service provider and discuss a few things with him beforehand. Here are some of the questions you can ask.
Questions for your Colocation Hosting Service Provider
What will my responsibilities be? – Well, primarily, your responsibilities would be securing the hardware as well as the software. You will also be responsible for the functioning, maintenance and upkeep of the server. In some cases, you may also be required to buy a network device like a router or a switch or similar for managing traffic effectively. In most cases, these will not be provided or sold to you by the service provider. You can make your own choice of combination for best fitting your needs. Once you think your setup is ready, you can use the data centre for uploading it.
What kind of support will you provide? – Well, in most cases, the space is all that you will be getting. You should not be expecting much more. Some colocation hosting facilities provide emergency service when requested. Also, when you are choosing your service provider, make sure there is 24/7 support available. You should be able to access your server any time you want to.
What kind of bandwidth is provided? – Well every data centre facility or colocation hosting service provider will have a combination of 2 bandwidth providers. You can consider using the same. If you are unsure of the speed and allied features, the best thing to do is to ask.
What kind of power supply are you relying on? – Well, one of the major reasons to pay for a colocation hosting service is to ensure 100% or at least maximum uptime. And this will entirely depend on power supply. Make sure the area does not experience power outages and even if it does, there are backups in place.
What are your price points? – Some of the best colocation hosting companies will offer emergency services for free, as a goodwill gesture. However, others may not. Therefore, be prepared to consider every service as a cost head and evaluate prices across service providers. Consider buying from a service provider with a reasonable benchmark price. When it comes to services such as this one, the cheapest is not necessarily the best.
Once you have asked your questions, it’s time to embark upon your colocation hosting plan. Make sure you have the adequate expertise you need for functioning, management and upkeep of your server. You will need manpower support for managing the show as well as for accessing the facility physically every now and then. Make sure you are prepared to provide resourced for engagement of resources and also for manpower hiring.