13 Questions You Can’t Afford To Not Ask – Part 2

Read Part 1

Will my dedicated server have an Uninterrupted Power Supply?
It’s surprising how often this important detail is overlooked. Most large Internet Service Providers install uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) by default. However, some smaller companies may neglect this important detail as a means to cut costs. A UPS will ensure your server stays online no matter what happens to the electrical supply at your ISPs Network Operations Center. For this reason, it is crucial that you have one.

What if my server experiences a hardware failure?
Let’s face it; if computers never broke down, there would be no need for computer technicians. You should ask your Internet Service Provider up front about their support policies and procedures. Are you comfortable placing your dedicated server in the hands of a support staff that is only available via e-mail or over the telephone –and even then, only during regular business hours?

Do you have replacement hardware available at your site?
Many dedicated servers feature expensive hardware configurations and some Internet Service Providers simply can’t afford to keep an exact replica of your machine on site. But what if your processor fails over night? Can you afford to wait for a new one to be shipped to your ISPs Network Operations Center? What if their hardware vendor is back ordered on that particular item? If you’re paying top dollar for your dedicated server, you should expect your ISP to be able to replace virtually any hardware component the moment it might happen to fail.

Can I upgrade the hardware in my dedicated server?
What if your site becomes hugely popular overnight and that cute little server that seemed so ideal in the beginning, is now desperately crying out for relief? Will you have to buy a whole new server –or does your ISP offer the ease and flexibility of simply tossing in a faster CPU, larger hard drive and a few more memory chips? What are the costs associated with hardware upgrades? These are very important questions that should definitely be approached before committing to a dedicated hosting package.

What are the default partition sizes in my dedicated server?
Of course, the answer to this question will depend largely on the type of Operating System you choose to have installed on your dedicated server. But the important thing to remember here is, a 60GB drive (for example) does not equal 60GB’s of hosting space. For this reason, it’s important to note exactly how much of your drive is reserved for the Operating System and how much is reserved for your actual data.

For example, a Windows server may have two partitions. One reserved for the Operating System and the other reserved for your data. A reasonable partition size for the Windows O/S could easily approach 5GB’s. That’s 5GB’s that you can’t use for anything else.

What happens if I exceed my monthly bandwidth allocation?
Many Internet Service Providers simply disable your account once you have exceeded your monthly bandwidth allocation. Any serious web developer should find this policy unacceptable. Make sure your ISP is willing to keep your server online with the understanding that you will be billed for the overage. Of course, knowing the exact costs associated with overage charges is crucial to a proactive hosting plan.

What is your backup procedure/retention policy?
Any Internet Service Provider should be able to restore your site in its entirety if disaster strikes. However, some ISPs simply lack the resources to maintain multiple copies of all of their client’s sites. What if you suddenly find yourself in need of a crucial piece of data that existed three weeks ago? Will your ISP be able to provide you with this file?

On the other hand, if your site has to be restored from a backup –how old will that backup be?

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