Managed Vs Unmanaged Colocation

By Saleh Tousi

Once you've decided to go with colocation for your business solution, there are still factors you need to consider. One such decision you need to make is whether to go with managed or unmanaged colocation. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Managed colocation is ideal for people who aren't technically inclined. If you don't know much about managing servers then it's probably better for you to let someone else do it for you. This is where managed colocation comes in. With managed colocation, the provider takes care of your server for you. In this case you're provided with a dedicated server rental. These are preconfigured to certain specifications and with selected software that your provider chooses. You can use this software within limits. Also the provider takes care of any software upgrades, adding applications, rebooting the machines, any hardware problems that arise and any backups that are included in the service.

The downside to managed colocation is that you can only use certain supported programs and applications on it. If you have a specific application you want to use, but it's not supported then you're out of luck. However, you don't have to deal with boring and tedious task of maintaining your server yourself. You can sit back and let someone else take care of it for you.

Unmanaged colocation allows you to have more choice and control over your server. In this case you're required to provide all your own hardware and software and run everything on your own. This option gives you more freedom to upgrade your servers and software as you chose. You have much more flexibility and control over your servers.

However, even with unmanaged colocation, you're still bound by the provider's rules. Typically they do not allow you to host pornography sites or mass e-mail. These generate lots of traffic and cause many problems. But as long as pornography and mass e-mail aren't on your agenda, you'll have more freedom to do what you want with your server.

If you're technically inclined and need freedom with your hardware and software, then unmanaged colocation is the best option for you. If you're not technically inclined, but still want the benefits of using colocation, then managed colocation is the best choice. Whatever your needs are and whatever you decide there is an option for you.

For more information on colocation services, visit Vancouver Colocation, one of the leading colocation providers for small to medium sized businesses in Western Canada.