When it comes to web hosting, there are many options to choose from these days. Cloud servers and shared servers have become a popular hosting solution for those who need a cost-effective platform and don’t mind sharing resources with other users. Meanwhile, self-hosting remains a possibility – though high up-front costs and ongoing maintenance needs make this a less desirable option.
Meanwhile, dedicated hosting on bare metal servers has remained a steady and sensible option for those who need greater reliability and speed. Bare metal servers have come a long way over the years, and the future of these physical servers remains promising.
The Evolution of Bare Metal Servers
What exactly is a bare metal server? In simplest terms, a bare metal server is a physical server with no software or hypervisor. It is made up of processors, storage, and memory.
Compared to cloud-based or virtual hosting plans, bare metal servers stand out because they are physical servers that are dedicated to one user. This could be an individual who needs backup hosting for their important files or an entire organization’s website with multiple accounts and permissions.
When bare metal servers made their debut, their main selling point was that they allowed individuals and organizations to purchase their own dedicated server space without the need to self-host or share resources with others. This was the first hosting option that allowed for this level of control and autonomy.
Likewise, bare metal servers could deliver greater speeds and reliability than shared hosting options because resources could be 100% allocated to one customer rather than being divided among multiple users at once. Still, as people began to seek out cheaper hosting options, virtual and cloud hosting once again saw a rise in popularity for some time.
The Future of Bare Metal Servers: What to Expect
Within the past few years, the cost of bare metal servers has come down quite a bit due to increased availability and affordability of hardware. Meanwhile, as organizations and business owners find that their websites have more resource-intensive applications and a greater need for optimized security, many people have begun making the switch back from virtual hosting to bare metal servers.
As bare metal server technology continues to improve, these servers will be able to handle larger amounts of data in shorter periods of time than ever before. This will likely make them a popular option for hosting Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which process massive amounts of data. Bare metal servers are also expected to be a hot commodity among eCommerce websites, which see fluctuating traffic throughout the year and need reliable hosting around the holiday shopping season.
Treat Yourself to a Dedicated Hosting Plan
Bare metal servers have been a staple of the hosting community for many years – and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, we only expect that these servers will be in greater demand in the coming months and years.
Ready to make the switch to a dedicated server host? Contact the ReliableSite team to begin!