What is the server used for?
A server is a special computer that is used to store information and process client requests. Other computers are constantly connected to it and receive the requested data.
Servers are used for various tasks:
- Publishing websites and storing the data on them;
- Storing files and providing the ability to download them;
- Email operations and sending letters;
- Data analysis, processing, and archiving;
- Running web applications;
- User interaction in online games;
- Encryption and protection of users' personal data.
For the server to perform its job as efficiently as possible, it must have certain characteristics. Depending on the task, the set of specifications varies. For a gaming server, power is important so that it can quickly process all player actions, while a file server must have a lot of physical memory for storing information.
What is a web server?
A web server is the most popular type of server on which website data is stored. When a website is opened, the browser sends a request to the web server, which provides the text, images, and videos needed to display the web page. The content is loaded, and we see the page in its usual form.
Web servers host hosting services. There are various options: it can be virtual hosting for many single-page websites or several virtual servers for online stores or multi-page resources. In some cases, hosting an online store or a large corporation's website may require a whole server or even several web servers.
It is important that all files are available at any time — if the web server is turned off, users will not be able to access the site. Thus, to host a service for storing dozens of websites on the server, it must operate without interruptions. Another requirement for a web server is that it needs to handle numerous simultaneous connections. Hundreds and thousands of users may access the site, and it is important that there are enough resources for this.
Also read: Main metrics of website loading speed: TTFB, FCP, LCP, and others
Server selection criteria
There are several criteria for selecting a server for hosting. If the choice is made incorrectly, problems may arise in the future: resource owners may find it uncomfortable to work with certain software, pages may take a long time to load due to lack of power, and there may not be enough space to store files. Let's consider the important selection criteria.
Technical specifications
What specifications should be considered to select a web server for hosting:
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Processor. For a web server, the best solution is to choose server processors such as Intel Xeon Silver, Xeon Gold, or Xeon Platinum. Compared to desktop models like Intel i3, i5, and i7, they are more reliable and operate continuously in critical situations. Important parameters include clock speed and cache size — they affect the speed and number of processed requests;
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RAM. RAM is responsible for processing speed, temporarily holding incoming, intermediate, and outgoing data. Accordingly, the higher the website traffic, the more memory is needed. Another parameter is the memory standard. Currently, DDR3 and DDR4 standards are used, which differ in data transfer speed. For stable hosting operation, it is better to start with 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, which can be increased later if necessary;
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Hard drives. Various types of drives are currently used: HDD, SSD, and SSD NVMe. The best solution for modern website hosting is SSD NVMe. Their bandwidth is several times higher than that of regular SSDs, so pages will load faster. It is important to choose a server configuration in a RAID array — this will increase system fault tolerance, and in case of a single drive failure, access to data will not be lost. As for the disk size, 1-2 TB will be sufficient for small hosting.
Thus, there should be enough resources to perform all tasks. A mail server does not perform a large number of calculations during operation, so a cheaper option can be chosen. But with a web server, it is a bit different; more powerful equipment is necessary for the normal operation of websites. For this, it is worth selecting specifications with a margin, so that in case of heavy load, there are no failures.
Purpose for which the server is taken
It is important that the server equipment for hosting is universal. It will store dozens of different websites: online stores, informational resources, and business cards, which require space and computing power. Some websites may have only a few visitors per day, while others may have hundreds of users simultaneously.
Additionally, it is necessary to anticipate the possibility of scaling, so that if necessary, the memory size can be increased or other specifications improved. And if new websites will be connected to your hosting, in the future, it may be necessary to purchase one or more additional web servers.
Operating system
Server operating systems differ from regular ones in many parameters — they are adapted for performing background tasks, support the operation of multiple processors, and support a larger amount of RAM.
The most popular server OS are Windows Server and Linux, but they are needed for different tasks. Windows Server is usually used in companies to support Windows products and in cases where it is necessary to ensure the operability of specific software. For regular web resources on popular CMS, equipment with an installed Linux system is more suitable, which has the following advantages:
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Lower cost. You have to pay for using licensed Windows and installing applications. Almost all Linux distributions are free, so the equipment costs less;
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Security. Most viruses are created for Windows, easily accessing system files and causing significant damage. There are far fewer viruses on Linux systems, making them safer;
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High stability and speed of operation. Linux does not require regular maintenance and frequent reboots, thus providing better operational stability.
Therefore, for a web server, Linux is the best solution. You can install any popular CMS on it, and there will be enough capabilities to perform a wide variety of tasks.
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Control panel
Control panels are needed so that not only system administrators can manage the site, but also people without experience. These panels have a simple interface: with various tabs, buttons, and labels. Here users can upload CMS, link the server to the domain, connect certificates, and perform any other settings.
There are many solutions, but the most commonly used are:
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ISPmanager. Supports working with various software, hosting can be configured to meet your needs. There is a Lite version for personal use, which even beginners can handle;
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Cpanel. The panel offers many settings, which can complicate configuration for beginners. However, there are many instructions available online for working with the panel, so all functions can be quickly understood;
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Direct Admin. This is an understandable panel with all necessary functions. It supports different access levels and allows viewing full resource usage statistics.
When choosing, you need to ensure that a user-friendly control panel is installed on the web server. In this case, even users without experience will be able to independently install and configure the site.
Which server to choose — virtual or physical?
The choice between a VPS server and a physical server will depend on goals, tasks, and budget. A dedicated server is suitable when full access to the hardware and maximum authority is needed. The owner uses all the power, so it can host a service with a large number of resources. On the other hand, if resources are not used efficiently, it will turn out to be an unnecessary expense.
On a physical server, several virtual servers can be installed, which will share its power. A VPS server is perfect for hosting a small number of websites. You can create virtual hosting for landing pages, portfolios, and other small sites. You will only pay for the resources used, and if the number of sites increases, you can quickly improve the configuration.
If you are planning to launch hosting and are choosing a server, there are several important parameters. To ensure stable operation of the websites, it must be powerful enough, and there should be enough memory for all sites. It should run a Linux system and have a simple control panel to make it easier for users to understand the configuration.
