13 Questions You Can’t Afford To Not Ask – Part 1

Your Internet Service Provider may provide you with a litany of options for your dedicated hosting plan but you should be prepared to ask the tough questions that are often overlooked in your hosting agreement before you sign anything. Below, you will find a list of very important questions that may not be specifically addressed in your hosting plan. You should approach your ISP with these questions regardless of your intentions for your dedicated server.

How do I access my dedicated server?
For LINUX based servers, SSH and FTP are the most common means of directly accessing your dedicated server. Windows based machines are usually accessed via Terminal Services or through Virtual Private Networking. Not all Internet Service Providers provide the same means for accessing your server outside of the web based “control panel” and thus, this can be an important question to ask before you buy.

Will I have root / administrator access on my dedicated server?
When you log in to a server as a “root” (for LINUX based machines) or administrator (for Windows based machines), you have absolute control over that machine. You can literally do anything –including accidentally deleting files that are crucial to the performance of your machine. For this reason, some Internet Service Providers refuse to allow this level of access to their clients.

In this instance, a modified “super user” account is created with similar –but not all of the same features as the standard administrative accounts. This question can be important based on how “hands-on” you wish to be with your server.

Do you monitor my dedicated server?
Often times, this is not an issue with a managed hosting plan. But if you lease an unmanaged server –this could be a crucial issue. Do you really have the time and resources to monitor your server 24/7? Some Internet Service Providers may expect you to when you sign an unmanaged agreement. It’s possible to monitor your server from your personal computer –but what happens when that computer is unavailable or you simply decide to get some sleep? Be sure to ask about your ISPs monitoring options before you buy. Most ISPs will be more than happy to monitor your server for you –even with an unmanaged plan, as long as you ask them about it first.

Are there some things I can’t do with my dedicated server?
Most Internet Service Providers merely expect you to abide by their Terms of Service (TOS), which is often quite reasonable. However, some ISPs do not allow bulk e-mail, pornographic content and a handful of other legitimate business needs.

Can I install third party programs on my server?
If you have root/administrator access to your server, chances are –you have the ability to install just about anything you want on your dedicated server. However, some Internet Service Providers limit your ability to do so. If you site(s) will depend on any number of helper applications and third party scripting languages (like PHP, MySQL, etc), you should probably ask if you will be able to install these applications before you buy.

Can I resell my server space?
Reselling your server space can be an effective means of offsetting the cost of your hosting plan. However, if you plan to go this route, you should inform your Internet Service Provider of this before you enter into any agreement. Also keep in mind that your clients are your responsibility. If they are found to be in violation of your Internet Service Provider’s Terms of Service –you are ultimately held responsible and your contract could be terminated.

Read Part 2

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