A Phoenix Colocation's Quality Comes Down to the Details: Read the Fine Print
Apr 20th, 2011 Rick Crutchley
When it comes to your Phoenix colocation provider, just what should you expect? Once you've decided to reap the benefits of outsourcing this service, you need to take a detailed look at what's involved. Phoenix colocation centers are not created equal. Find one that does the job by considering these factors.
Phoenix colocation makes a perfect opportunity for Arizona companies to completely control their websites and operations without the expense of hosting it themselves. The servers belong to the users. Servers are completely loaded with the relevant information before being transferred to the Phoenix colocation. This means that you have complete control, as you are only outsourcing the responsibility and costs of hosting the site yourself.
Monitoring of service
One of the first questions you should ask your Phoenix colocation is whether the website will be live at all times. Make sure the company offers service monitoring in their contract. This means they take over the responsibility to make sure your site is up and running at all times by watching closely over it on a 24/7 basis.
Server size
The size of the server determines the quality of your Phoenix colocation host. Various hosts will offer differing ranges of service, and this is often dependent on price. Consider their bandwidth, rack space, Internet connectivity and up time before selecting. Larger servers will cost you, but the advantages could be well worth it depending on the purpose of your site.
Hardware support
Very few Phoenix colocaton companies will offer hardware support and take responsibility to keep servers operating mechanically. Some providers may require you to purchase spare parts in advance. Even if the server is purchased by the provider, you will likely have to pay for the spare parts, though the company will handle the cost to fix the machines.
If you have no hardware agreement with your Phoenix colocation company, you'll be responsible to take care of the hardware if any needs arise. You may need to send a technical person over to handle it, even in the middle of the night. It's usually best to get a technical support contract, saving you the headache when it goes down.
Question check list
Inquire how much it will cost if you exceed your bandwidth for the month. Some Phoenix colocation companies will charge extra fees for going over the allotted bandwidth, so look into it.
If the company features a hardware agreement, ask how long it will take to get repairs. Will they have spare parts on hand if the need arises? Are services offered for a fee, or can you use your own technician?
Does the co-host offer a guaranteed up-time? How many IP addresses will be allotted to you? Do they charge you if you need more later? What sort of backup is offered and what is the cost for extra data backup?
Phoenix colocation services offer key advantages to small companies, but it's important to choose one that's effective. Shop and compare what each one offers. Research is key. Don't take anything at face value. The quality of service is in the details. Make sure you read the fine print.About the Author:
Rick Crutchley is Vice President and General Manager of Corelink Data Centers, a leading provider of data center a colocation services in Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Chicago. For more information about Phoenix colocation services, visit our website.
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