Do you need to know the latest colocation hosting news and trends? Colocation has become a hot and important technology for data centers. Perhaps you’re in the market for colocation hosting, but you don’t know where to begin.

You can find a lot of information on the Internet, but to get the information you’re looking for, you need to determine your objectives. Anybody who works in this industry must stay on top of the trends because the technology changes frequently. To get the latest colocation hosting news and trends, do the following:

1. Read blogs to learn about issues that colocation hosting companies face.

2. Read newsletters to find the colocation server hosting you’re looking for.

3. Use RSS feeds to get the latest on collocation hosting news and trends.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about issues surrounding colocation hosting through blogs

Perhaps you're thinking about hosting your servers at a business colocation hosting data center. However, you want to learn what the advantages are, such as how much you will save on colocated hosting. Other information you'll want to know is what kind of disaster recovery the colocation hosting facility has in place. You can get this information from reading and participating in blogs, where other business professionals post their colocation solutions or problems.

I recommend: Colocation Blog talks about business models of colocation hosts. If you are concerned about disaster recovery, click on the link and read the article. You can post your comments and read what others have to say, but you’ll have to register with this website. Computerworld is another website to visit. You can learn about charges to customers, regarding physical or virtual servers.

Find out through newsletters why you should consider colocation server hosting

Newsletters are a great way to understanding the benefits of using colocation servers. For example, if you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, and your servers are located in your office, the storm can destroy it. As a result, all of your data is destroyed. However, a colocation data center will prevent this from happening. It invests and uses the most up-to-date technologies.

I recommend: Network World has a newsletter that focuses on the benefits of server colocation as well as other issues that data centers face. Sterling Connections produces a informative newsletter; it not only explains what colocation is, but also discusses the benefits.

Get the latest colocation hosts news and trends through RSS feeds

RSS feeds can give you the latest colocation host news and trends as well. You can learn about what colocation service providers offer. You can also read about these providers as well, learning where they're located, who the executives are, and what their prices are.

I recommend: Squidoo offers RSS feeds where you can learn about unmetered colocation, for example. MyHost News covers the colocation industry as a whole. For example, you can read about Hosting.com raising $2 million from a venture capital firm to expand its colocation services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Watch online video coverages on the latest information relating to colocation hosting. For example, you might get a chance to watch the colocation hosting company's executive explain his company's business model.

A colocation hosting facility is where a web server is housed, along with the resources to keep the server up and running. Between the amount of power web servers require and the difficulty of an individual business to take care of all levels of redundancy, many businesses are turning to colocation servers to manage their web server needs.

The tricky part is choosing between the multitude of colocation hosts out there. After all, moving your company’s website from server to server isn’t an easy task. So it’s natural that you only want to do it once and get your web server colocation right the first time.

When choosing a colocation data center for your business, among the key points to consider are:

1. Location of the colocation facilities;
2. Redundancy plans of the colocation hosting company;
3. Reputation of the colocation host.

Action Steps
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Choose colocation service providers near your IT team

When administering colocation servers, it's the responsibility of your business, not the colocation service providers, to maintain both the hardware and software for your servers. If you choose a company that locates your server colocation at a distance from your IT team, you will either have to pay for the colocation web hosting company's IT team to work on your servers or pay travel expenses for your own IT team. Both come at a stiff premium because server problems don't tend to happen at convenient times.

I recommend: Data Center Map offers a Google map listing the worldwide locations of many colocation hosts so that you can find one nearest your IT team. If there are no reliable colocation hosting companies near your location and/or you don’t have an IT team to manage your server collocation on your own, Adhost offers a managed colocation hosting solution that may fit your needs. They even offer a free online quote if you'd like to compare the cost of your team versus theirs.

Ensure the colocation servers meet your redundancy needs

'Redundancy' is one of those hot topics that IT people love to buzz over. It's a business owner's worst nightmare to have their servers go down for an extended period of time. These downtimes are often preventable with the right backup plans.

I recommend: The terminology used by colocation hosts when talking about redundancy can be confusing. The Colocation Exchange breaks down the buzz words into easily understandable, business-centric definitions. When it comes to redundancy, i/o Data Centers is well-known for developing solutions that fit an individual business’ colocation needs. Request a free quote to see how it can help your business with its colocated hosting.

Check a colocation company's references before signing on the dotted line

Always ask the colocation hosting company for a list of references for clients who have similar solutions to yours, and make sure that you get the real scoop about the company and its service.

I recommend: Web Hosting Talk's Colocation section is the place to go if you want to get the story behind virtually any colocation company. The participants on this forum are experts in hosting and have no difficulties sharing that knowledge. InetServices regularly ranks among the best-managed colocation service providers in online polls.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It is possible to have too much redundancy in your server colocation. Remember, you're paying for every little extra (whether you see it on the bill or not).

Colocation hosting education and training is actually easier than the actual job of managing your own server. Your job is to learn enough to choose a host that can keep your server safe and secure and connected to the Internet. This is generally easier than learning to do so yourself, and less expensive as well.

Visit websites that don't offer hosting and read recommendations on how to pick the right colocation data center for your website's server. You will experience the following advantages of colocation versus other types of hosting:

1. You leave the hassle of providing a round-the-clock engineering staff to someone else.

2. You don't have to worry about power outages or other security and safety issues.

3. You can hand the installation of new servers over to your colocation services if you outgrow what you have.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with an introduction to colocation hosting

If you have no experience with this type of hosting, there are some new concepts and terms to learn. Learn what to look for and find out what all of the confusing words mean. Make sure you understand the difference between a gigabyte and a megabyte and how companies measure bandwidth.

I recommend: Read brief definitions and explanations of colocation hosts at WebDevForums.com. Find an informative article on the features and advantages of colocation servers at AskWebhosting.com.

Learn what to look for when evaluating colocation facilities

Just as you look for a safe place to park your new car, you want a safe place for your new server. Look for reliable staff, 24-hour service and fast connection to the Internet. If you will need to deliver or visit your server yourself, you may need to consider proximity to your place of business as well.

I recommend: Find an overview of colocated hosting at TopHosts.com, including questions to ask and to consider when evaluating individual hosts. Choose from a list of articles related to colocation web hosting at Web Hosting Unleashed.

Compare the offerings of various colocation service providers

Prices and other specifics vary more between hosts than with lower-cost hosting options. You can learn by reading the features offered by each host you are considering. Identify which features are most important to you.

I recommend: Click on one of the three components to learn more about the colocation solutions provided by The Planet. Read about the features of colocation offered by SKL Services by clicking on the list on the left. Read how the service works at SplinterRock by clicking on one of the nine steps of the process. Compare the various price plans and features supplied by C I Host.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you choose server colocation, you're buying an expensive piece of equipment and agreeing to allow another company to house it and maintain it, so do more research before choosing a host than for other types of hosting. If you are able to physically visit the location, do so. Also consider asking for references and following up by calling them.

Colocation can be a smart move for your business if you need higher bandwidth or want to be assured of adequate backup power. There are other reasons for colocation that may make sense for your business, such as securing data from hackers or data recovery in the event of a power outage or hurricane. Before you decide on a colocation service, it is important to clearly identify your biggest concerns and ask potential service providers how they address each one.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Rack space rental fee

A rack space rental fee is the amount the colocation service charges you to 'lease' space at their facility. Fees depend upon whether you require a half rack, a single rack or a full rack for your equipment. This fee covers electricity needs up to a specified voltage and amperage.

I recommend: View one company's rack space rental fees at Creative Data Concepts Limited.

Uptime guarantee

Uptime is the amount of time that a server is operational. It is the opposite of downtime and is usually expressed as a percentage representing the provider's intended goal for uptime. When choosing a colocation service, be sure to inquire about their uptime guarantee.

I recommend: Learn about uptime guarantees at Web Hosting Reviews.

Virtual private server

A virtual private server, also known as a virtual dedicated server, is an arrangement that allows for a file system that is dedicated solely to your web site or business. A virtual private server is more secure than shared hosting, and costs less than a dedicated server.

I recommend: To learn more about virtual private servers visit Best VPS Accounts.

Internet connection charge

The Internet connection charge is determined by the amount of bandwidth you require. The amount you pay corresponds to the speed of the connection you choose. Most businesses need a 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps Ethernet connection, but 1000 Mbps connections are also available.

I recommend: To see one company's Internet connection charges, visit Web Country.

Multi-router traffic grapher (MRTG)

A multi-router traffic grapher (MRTG) creates a visual image of the traffic that is passing through a router or another network device. The images, which are live GIFs, provide valuable information for colocation providers. MRTG is freeware that can run on Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS and NetWare.

I recommend: You can see the charts produced by a multi-router traffic grapher at SWITCH.

Managed server

If you need to focus on your business and don't want to invest in any hardware or licenses, a dedicated managed server may be the right solution for you. The service includes hardware, software, security and ongoing monitoring and upkeep.

I recommend: To read about one company's managed server service, go to SKL Services.