Anyone who has shopped around the managed dedicated server market and the dedicated server market must have experienced the loose use of the terms on the internet. I was quite sure early on what a managed server was. Conversely there was no question what a dedicated server was. It seemed simple enough back then. Those were the good old days.

Whats the point? Please let us come to the table of reason together! There needs to be a universally agree upon definition of what is a managed dedicated server and what services does it include. What is a dedicated server and what services does it include. Users sophisticated or not Im sure always appreciates clarity.

Some called managed dedicated and some called dedicated managed and then there were the scores and scores in between with every combination you can think of. Ill spare you the confusion of the many examples; suffice it to say things arent as simple as they used to be. One cant go on assumption when analyzing a host. It takes research into each hosts site to find what is actually being offered and what youll pay extra for despite the title given to the product.

Above all let me dwell in the crystal clear world of before when a managed dedicated server was just that.

Back then my pure simplistic vision was well defined and clear. A dedicated server was one occupied by one site. It was cared for by the company that owned that site. It was hosted by a dedicated server hosting company. A managed dedicated server was occupied by one site. It was cared for by the same company that hosted it, a managed dedicated server hosting company. Oh the simple life!

Then I had the unfortunate experience recently of delving into the actual web sites offering managed hosting services and dedicated hosting services. To be sure what I found could be called nothing short of a melting pot stirred and mixed in every swirling combination feasible.

7. SSL

If you plan to directly accept credit card payments at your website, then you would need SSL or Secure Socket Layer to be included in the plan that you would be getting.

10. PHP

A lot of new programs and scripts need PHP support. This feature could cost additional but many good hosts have it as a standard feature already.

2. Uptime

A web host should be able to give a guarantee for more uptime. The acceptable standard is actually a 99 percent uptime.

9. MySQL

There are some programs which need a MySQL database to be able to run so you would have to check this feature as well with the plan which you would be choosing.

6. Perl

If you do not have this, you would not be able to run Perl programs. A lot of the good scripts that you purchase are written in Perl.

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14. Statistics Program

An efficient statistics program would come in handy if you plan to keep track on the number of visitors that you are getting, referrers, the top entry and exit pages, as well as where they are coming from.

4. Bandwidth

This is often overlooked until such point that the limit for the bandwidth has been reached. Remember that if you exceed the allotted bandwidth, you would be getting a hefty bill.

3. Disk Space

You would have to determine exactly how much disk space you would need. Compute how big you website is and if it would fit the allotted disk space.

1. Technical Support

This is very important, as it is crucial to be able to have adequate support for any concern that you may have along the way. You could try testing a couple of companies before signing up through shooting them an email message with a question. Check from their response rate if they are able to provide assistance.

8. SSI

SSI or Server Side Includes would be great if you intend to spend very minimal time in updating your website.

5. CGI Bin

This feature has now been made a standard with the better hosting companies. Without access to this, you would not be able to install programs and scripts.

13. Control Panel

This is important to be able to manage your website effortlessly.

12. FTP Access

Unrestricted and unlimited FTP access to your website is very essential. You would be needing an FTP program to be able to transfer files.

As you start out hosting your website, you would often fail to notice a couple of factors which you would have to consider as you choose a web hosting company. Here is a helpful checklist to help you out.