Dedicated hosting is a type of internet hosting service, where an entire server or physical dedicated machine is leased to a single client. In this arrangement, the client manages the server’s operating system, system software, database, and components such as memory, CPU and disk space. This arrangement is best suited for those businesses and organizations who require exclusive control over their system infrastructure but lack the necessary technical expertise and manpower to manage the servers themselves. It is also best suited for applications which need to be hosted in a secured manner, or for applications which require high levels of resources for example, large scale websites and gaming sites.
Introduction
A. Definition of Dedicated Hosting – Dedicated hosting is a type of Internet hosting service, where an entire server or physical dedicated machine is leasing to a single client. This arrangement enables the client to have complete control over their system infrastructure and to manage the various components such as the operating system, software, and hardware. This dedicated hosting arrangement is best suited for those businesses or organizations who require exclusive control over their system but lack the necessary technical expertise and manpower to manage the servers themselves.
B. Benefits of Dedicated Hosting – One of the main advantages of dedicated hosting is that the client gets complete control over their system and can customize their system as per their needs and requirements. The client is also provided with greater bandwidth and more storage space, which would make it easy to host sites and applications which require high levels of resources. Furthermore, with dedicated hosting, the client would not need to share the server space with other users and can therefore enjoy improved security and privacy. It also eliminates any potential conflicts that could arise due to the sharing of resources.
C. Overview of Deployment and Configuration – Deploying and configuring a dedicated server can be highly complex and involves a number of different prerequisites such as DNS configuration, hardware requirements, minimal system configuration and security patches, web server setup, network configuration, and security setup. Once the server is deployed and configured, applications can be installed, and monitoring of the server for server uptime, bandwidth, resources usage, and system logging can be enabled.
Prerequisites for Dedicated Hosting
A. DNS Configuration – The first prerequisite for dedicated hosting is to configure the DNS (Domain Name System) settings. This involves setting up a domain name and registering the same with the relevant DNS provider. As mentioned above, once the domain name is setup, the DNS settings need to be configured in such a way that requests to the domain name are directed to the physical server where the website or application is hosted.
B. Hardware Requirements – The second prerequisite for dedicated hosting is to meet the hardware requirements for the server. This involves assessing the client’s requirements for CPU, disk space, memory, and other components and getting the required hardware for the server. The exact type of hardware needed depends on the type of applications and services which are to be hosted on the server.
Initial Software Setup
A. Minimal System Configuration – After the hardware requirements have been met, the server needs to be installed, configured, and updated with the latest operating system, programs and applications. Additionally, it is important to maintain the minimum system configuration requirements such as disk space and memory usage and apply any available security updates.
B. Installing Security Patches – Install the latest security patches to protect the server and your website or application from any malicious attacks and potential threats. It is also important to keep all the applications and programs up-to-date to ensure the best security practices.
C. Enabling Firewall Services – Install and enable a firewall service on the server to protect it from any unauthorized access. This firewall can be setup to ensure that only authorized devices can access the server and its resources.
Deploying Applications
A. Installing Dependencies – Before deploying applications on the server, it is important to install the required dependencies such as libraries, language runtimes, and databases. This will ensure that the applications run properly and as expected.
B. Web Server Setup – Configure the web server such as Apache or Nginx with the required settings and modules to enable the web applications to run properly.
C. Database Server Setup – Setup and configure the database server such as MySQL or MariaDB to enable the applications to access the necessary databases.
Network Configuration
A. Configuring IPs – Configure the IP addresses for the server and set up the necessary subnetting, routing and bridging. This ensures that the server is accessible on the network and that the applications are able to communicate with each other.
B. Subnetting and Routing – Configure the necessary subnetting, routing, and bridging to enable the server to communicate with the network and the applications to access the required resources.
C. Setting up Network Security Parameters – Configure the necessary parameters in the network to ensure that the server and its resources are secure and protected from any malicious attacks or potential threats.
Security
A. Access Control – Setup the necessary access control mechanisms such as user roles and access rights to ensure that only authorized users can access the server and its resources. It is also important to make sure that the server is protected from any unauthorized access.
B. Operating System Firewall – Setup and configure the operating system firewall to protect the server from any malicious activities or attacks.
C. Web Application Firewall – Install and configure the web application firewall to protect the server from any unauthorized access or potential threats.
Monitoring
A. Server Uptime – Monitor the server for uptime and ensure that it is always running optimally and that any issues are addressed in a timely manner.
B. Bandwidth and Resources Usage – Monitor the bandwidth and resources usage on the server to ensure that no resources are being overused or abused.
C. System Logging – Monitor the server logs to troubleshoot any issues and to ensure the security of the server and its resources.