Dedicated Server or VPS?

[James Zedd]

Hi everyone. I wanted to ask if anyone uses a dedicated server here, or if you only use VPS (virtual private server).

My reason for asking is that I would like to start a few new niche marketing endeavors in the future, but don't want to have to manage all the VPS if I could just get a dedicated server and partition it.

I'm doing some research on this now, but please let me know what you use before I lose any more hours in front of my monitor figuring this all out!

Thanks.

[Brett Rhodes]

Hi James,

Just my take.

Why spend the $$$ on a dedicated server until you have traffic that really demands that level of hardware support?

I have a bunch of sites running on a Host Gator Baby Croc account for $9.95/month and they sustain the traffic just fine.

I don't have to do anything to "partition the server" to run multiple sites. My simple hosting account allows me to have unlimited domains. So each of my sites are completely independent in that sense.

I point my domain at a subdirectory on my hosting account, install WordPress into that subdirectory using Fantasico (3 step WordPress installation ... yeah!) and boom ... new niche site on it's own domain.

Granted, I'm not hosting my own video (that goes to YouTube or Vimeo).

The support guys at your hosting company should be able to help you decide when you really "need" a dedicated server. Until then, save your money.

Of course this assumes your sites aren't over-running your VPS servers. If they are, go for the dedicated server! :o)

Best,

- Brett

[James Zedd]

Hey Brett. Thanks for your input. I mainly want the ability to use a few domain names on one server, but I've never really done it before, so I thought I'd ask.

Sometimes I overthink things ...

[Brett Rhodes]

Yeah I'm riding that same bus with you ... the overthink things bus.

Sometimes I think I'd be far more successful if I could find a safe way to kill maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of my brain. Gruesome, I know, but I think you know what I'm talking about. :)

- B

[James Zedd]

Yes ... I'll get my overthinking gauge fixed within the next few days.

[susannemyers]

Hi James,

just a few more thoughts... I have two dedicated servers, a virtual dedicated server and a bunch of shared hosting accounts, most of which allow you to add multiple domains.

Don't move to a dedicated server or even a vds until you have more traffic than your shared hosting can handle. Only a few of your sites will get to that point. Instead start with a shared hosting account that allows you to use multiple domains. Hostgator and Bluehost are good options. I like to keep about 10 domains on each of those accounts. Then move on to a different hosting company.

There are two reasons I like to spread my hosting accounts around.

1) Stuff will occasionally happen and sites go down. You don't want all your income to suddenly stop for a day until things get straightened out. Having it on different shared servers with different hosting companies will prevent that from happening.

2) Occasionally you'll link related sites together. You'll get more "link juice" if the sites are on different IP addresses. Having your servers with different companies will accomplish this.

For now, get a multiple site hosting account, work on your first few niche sites and then move on and grow as needed.

[Brett Rhodes]

Yes, spreading your sites over two or more hosting accounts to link across more than one IP address is a great idea.

Several months back I think I saw an offer through Host Gator of an account that would facilitate this ... an "Internet Marketer's Hosting Plan" or something that would give you 2 or more IP addresses. Might be worth checking out.

And I thin Blue Host accounts come as low as $7/month. It would be pretty cheap to get 1 Blue Host account and 1 Host Gator account ... less than $20/month.

[James Zedd]

Sounds pretty decent. My main goal is to be able to have 2 or 3 domains going to the same hosting account.

Right now I have one for a website of mine, but I'll see if the hosting plan offers to split it up with different domains.

Thank you all for your advice.

[BobTheTeacher]

Stacking your sites on one shared hosting account is perfect for most people who are doing niche sites because you aren't trying to send traffic from one site to the other.

I had a dedicated hosting server with Hostgator once and it was a TOTAL waste of money for me. It actually seemed to have had less support and supervision on their side than the shared accounts did.

I used to have most of my sites on GVO/Kiosk but because of their email system and spammers who abused the mlm side of the hosting, it has had too many problems.

I now have a handful of sites on Hostgator but almost everything on Servint Hosting (regular link (http://servint.net) | my affiliate link (http://servinthosting.com)) on their VPS. They have great migration services, support, etc. And my account has 4 IP addresses to play with.

The bottom line lesson I've learned is dedicated is a total waste until you're cranking serious bandwidth and traffic (think thousands per hour).

Bob Jenkins

[James Zedd]

Hi Bob. Thanks for sharing your experience. I've gotten the idea of dedicated server out of my head at this point.

Although thousands of visitors per hour would be nice ....