In the process of trying to decide on the right type of dedicated server to suit your needs? If so, then you’re probably presented with two main options: a bare metal server or a virtualized server. And unless you have a lot of direct experience with server administration, there’s a good chance you aren’t well versed in the similarities and differences between bare metal and virtualized servers.
By having a better understanding of these two very different server options, you can ultimately weigh the pros and cons of a bare metal server vs. virtualized server and choose the one that best suits your hosting needs.
What Are Bare Metal Servers?
Essentially, a bare metal server is a physical server that is 100% committed to a specific user or client. When you purchase or rent one of these servers, you’re more or less paying for the hardware and physical space the server takes up. Most bare metal servers are paid for on a month-to-month basis, and they may have additional features or services attached to them as needed. For example, at ReliableSite, all of our bare metal servers come with the option to add server management to make your life easier.
What Are Virtualized Servers?
With a virtual server, things are configured a little bit differently. Rather than paying for the physical hardware and space of a bare metal server, instead you’re paying for a virtual server that may be shared with a number of customers to provide the best value. These types of servers tend to be very flexible and scalable, making them a good option for those whose hosting needs may change over time.
Deciding on the Right Option for You
There are a lot of potential pros and cons to consider when deciding on the right type of server for your needs. For the typical consumer, a bare metal server will be the best option by far for a number of reasons. For starters, bare metal servers tend to have lower data transfer costs, as well as lower overall software-licensing fees. And when it comes to performance, bare metal servers are generally able to provide unrivaled performance when compared to a virtualized server. This is due to the fact that the customer has server hardware that is 100% committed to their hosting needs, rather than shared in a virtual space with other clients or customers.
On the other hand, virtualized servers do tend to have greater scalability, so this is something you may want to keep in mind if you anticipate your hosting needs will change over time. Of course, a bare metal server can generally be customized to suit your needs as well. This is especially true if you select a server through ReliableSite, as we take great pride in our ability to fully customize our hosting plans to accommodate our clients.
Now that you have a better understanding of the differences between bare metal and virtualized servers, you can decide on the option that’s right for you. Set up your bare metal server with ReliableSite by contacting us today!