Colocation Question

Professor420Professor420
edited August 2007 in Science & Tech
I'm helping out the administrators at a large Total War fansite ( www.twcenter.net ) who are looking to remedy server issues they are having. We currently have Dedicated Sever Hosting, but we are looking to buy our own hardware, as it should be cheaper in the long run (particularly for issues such as upgrades). I've been looking into colocation costs, and they are quite high... oftentimes higher, in fact, than the $300 we are paying for hosting and hardware with our Dedicated plan, and the numbers don't tell a huge difference between bandwidth/speed etc.

Why is there such a big discrepancy (one would assume colocation would be cheaper than managed hosting?), and why is colocation so expensive when compared to similar dedicated server hosting (at least when we're dealing with a couple units of rackspace and not a couple cabinets)?

I appreciate any help you guys can give in figuring this out.

Comments

  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited August 2007
    I'm sure Primesuspect could answer this a lot better than me... it's a good question IMHO. I mean if you supply the hardware and someone supplies the line, why wouldn't it be cheaper? Other than if they have someone watch the equipment and in case something happens and you need someone on site to bounce the equipment. I live for this... my god I hate it.
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited August 2007
    There is no real logical reason why it wouldn't be cheaper but here's the cost break down for co-locating.

    They are renting you space, hydro, bandwidth, and 'security' they also have to have someone on standby 24hrs a day to let you in should something go wrong so there are labor charges as well. Some sites also offer backup options as well.

    This is also assuming you are providing the hardware and just renting rack space essentially.
  • Professor420Professor420
    edited August 2007
    RWB: Yeah I saw Prime works for (owns?) a hosting company and they provide colocation, but it has the same price issue, but hopefully he can explain the price better.

    kryyst: I'm aware of the cost breakdown, but what does it offer that a dedicated server hosting does not (assuming the speed and bandwidth is the same between plans)? Is it the extra support/personnel you pay for (but really how many personnel are we talking about?)?

    I also think I read on a search that Short Media was with a Colo, is Icrontic as well right now? Can I ask for any specifics from someone who may know via PM if they don't wish to publicize it? What sort of price is paid per month roughly and what is the bandwidth allotted?
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited August 2007
    ygpm
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited August 2007
    Hello friend...

    ygpm :)

    If you didn't know I own http://www.middleearthcenter.com which at one time shared the same server your on currently...
  • rapturerapture
    edited August 2007
    In my experience the less a hosting company will do for you the more expensive (and professional) it gets. The more reliable and more secure your equipment is too.

    A proper colo datacentre is always going to be safer, more secure and more expensive. A lot of hosting companies pile a lot of equipment into too small a space without proper facilities as their customers will never visit site.

    You get what you pay for.
  • ThelemechThelemech Victoria Icrontian
    edited August 2007
    Sledgehammer70 wrote:
    Hello friend...

    ygpm :)

    If you didn't know I own http://www.middleearthcenter.com which at one time shared the same server your on currently...

    Not to derail this thread - but that is a spiffy site Sledgehammer70 :cool:
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