Many system administrators do not take sufficient steps to protect their server’s network. In some cases, they install the firewalls and other automated defenses, but they do not take steps to monitor the network the way that they monitor system services, users, and other dedicated server elements.
To properly ensure your network stays as safe as [...]
It is a common misconception that the only reason you might need a dedicated server is to start your own web hosting company or reseller. Dedicated servers are useful for a variety purposes, both on the Internet and in on-premise intranets. From cloud platforms to dedicated application servers, the uses for dedicated servers are numerous. [...]
Many times, managing your dedicated server from the command line can be tedious, especially when there are web-based control panels that make a lot of administrative tasks easier.
Control panels are great, and some proprietary panels like cPanel and Plesk have become commonplace on servers all over the world. The benefits aside, however, you should also [...]
Earlier this week, we highlighted some tips that should help you with your shiny new dedicated server. Here are 5 more to keep you going over the weekend.
1. Have a plan – It sounds very basic, but I can attest from experience that not having a clear vision can cause you big headaches in [...]
There has been much debate on the server level about Windows vs Unix, Unix vs Linux, BSD vs Linux, Windows vs Solaris, and just about any other matchup you can imagine. Choosing the right one is not as easy the supporters of each OS make it seem. You have to consider many factors when choosing [...]
Once you have made the decision to move to a dedicated server, you may wonder, “What now?”. There is a lot to do when you first get started, and not all of the necessary tasks may be immediately apparent. What follows is a brief checklist that may help in those first hours with your new [...]
When you are in the market for a dedicated server, it is important to make sure you get the most for your money. Whether you are buying the server or leasing it, you do not want to end up with a machine and service that is less than what you expected. Since needs vary, I [...]
Many web hosting companies offer “unlimited” packages. These are hosting deals that include one or more features in an unlimited quantity. Some of them include unlimited disk space or storage, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited email accounts, unlimited domains, and unlimited databases.
While such a deal sounds appealing, it is important to read the terms of service and [...]
If you plan to offer streaming video on your website, you have a big decision to make. With your own dedicated server, you have the capability of streaming the video directly from your server using streaming software. There are many streaming options. Some of them are quite costly, while others are free [...]
The idea of an unmanaged server can seem appealing, particularly for website owners who typically like a “do-it-yourself” approach to technology. Even for a seasoned tech expert, however, managing a server for the first time can be a frightening experience. Here are five tips to help you weather the storm.
1. Backup Everything – [...]
When you are on the road and need to quickly test or troubleshoot connections to your server, you might not have immediate access to SSH. Four tools you can find from many online services can help you track down problems, make sure your site is running smoothly, or just gather important information.
1. Traceroute – [...]
There are plenty of reasons why you might want to make the move to a dedicated server. While most people think in terms of space or power, not all reasons revolve around these factors. Here are 10 of the top reasons you might want to get a full dedicated server.
1. You run a business and [...]
Once you have a dedicated server, you will find out how little time you have to read complex tutorials and documentation. This is especially true if you are offering hosting services to one or more customers. You will have real-world issues that need fixing right away. There are some shortcuts you can [...]
The constraint of bandwidth is something we cannot escape. Whether you have a single shared hosting account or a data center filled with servers, you still have to deal with bandwidth limitations. For those of you who lease or own dedicated servers, keeping your bandwidth numbers down may be a daily struggle.
The following [...]
Social media has permeated throughout the personal, entertainment, and business lives of millions of people, and although it may not directly impact your dedicated server, you can leverage its power for promotion, communication, and even technical management.
Promotion
Whether you are running a web hosting company or using your dedicated server for a single large site, promoting [...]
Whether you have decided to start your own web hosting company, web design service, cloud-based application service, or any other web offerings, there are certain things you should definitely do to make sure your customers get the most for their money. There are also several pitfalls you should avoid at all costs.
DO tell your [...]
Apache HTTP Server is versatile and modular, and it is very easy to add global configurations. For individual website users, it is also easy to add site-specific settings using .htaccess files. Password protecting a directory is no exception. This is useful for multi-user web servers or even for a server that has [...]
As you may have heard, there are a finite number of IP addresses available to Internet Service Providers (ISP). Once they are all used up, the only way to get more is to reassign them. In technical terms, the limited number of IP addresses refers to the IPv4 address space, while there is [...]
An application server is a dedicated server that runs a central application or numerous applications, allowing clients to connect through an intranet or over the Internet. In traditional application server models, the software of the server and client was usually the same or similar, and the client machine required a smaller client application to [...]
DNS, which stands for Domain Name System is one of the most important components of a dedicated server. In fact, DNS is so important that the Internet itself would not function without it. If your dedicated server lacks DNS, no one but you will be able to reach it. The question up [...]
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when deciding to get a dedicated server is whether you will use a managed server or unmanaged server. On the surface, the differences are clear: a managed server, like those offered by 34SP.com, are systems in which your service provider, to some degree, takes care [...]
One of the benefits of cloud computing is that you do not have to operate and maintain the applications you need on your own dedicated server. As web applications become more robust and complex, this feature of cloud computing is particularly useful to small websites and small businesses.
Hosting your own websites and applications, however, [...]
Speed is a funny thing. No matter how much we have, we always want more. Computers continue to get faster, and users expect websites to keep up with that need for speed.
Your dedicated server is just another computer, and there are certain steps you can take that might make it a little faster. [...]
YUM is the package manager of choice for many Linux distributions, particularly Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, and Fedora. Other RHEL-based distributions also use YUM. When using a dedicated server, such as those offered by hosting company 34sp.com, you will most likely manage packages from the command line via SSH.
YUM has [...]
When I first decided to get a dedicated server, it was for the purpose of hosting my own websites. It gave me the power, freedom, and flexibility to expand my sites and run them the way I wanted. Over time, however, I began hosting sites for a select few other people who paid [...]
A virtual machine is a great tool for testing server implementations, web applications, and new operating system versions. It is also great for development environments and can even be used on mobile computers to make work easier. Nevertheless, there are also situations where you might benefit from long-term or permanent virtualization.
The essential premise [...]
One of the most frightening things that can happen to a server is to be hit with a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. For the company, organization, or individual responsible for the website or multiple sites being victimized, it can generate a feeling of helplessness. Although there may not be [...]
At one time, it was almost expected that a business would have a “server room” that held both their application server and web server. They also had on-site or regional technicians who managed those servers locally, visiting or even residing in the server room during work hours. As businesses have increasingly become globalized [...]
For those who do not know, SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and is a security feature, supported by most web servers, that encrypts web data using HTTPS rather than HTTP. For normal web browsing, SSL will probably not make much of a difference, but we live in a time when dynamic web sites [...]
Linux is highly stable, amazingly secure, and completely free, but even a remarkable OS like Linux has its bad days. Fortunately, when things go wrong with a Linux server, it is usually pretty easy to get things back on track. Rather than rebooting your whole server, which would disrupt service to your users [...]
