Many webmasters are aware of the advantages offered by all-in-one server hosting, but more are unaware of the disadvantages. When it comes to seeking the choice of web hosting, the qualifying criteria are usually emphasized on the following order: Price, convenience and reliability. While the list of features may appear indifferent between web hosts, the price is often the determining factor of how reliable your web hosting will be. The all-in-one server stores and hosts all domain names, database, email (incoming and outgoing), anti-virus software and other web applications in one server and allow administration from all levels to manage through a control panel system.

The shift towards capitalism, speed and convenience has favored standalone server in today’s trend, as it is cost effective and easily manageable for users. The setup for the all-in-one server only requires a few clicks to create an account for user and does not require much of maintenance. Deliver upon payment, it works just like fast food. However you might need to pay more in the long-term with respect to reliability issues and downturn in performance as a result of server failure. In the flux of business environment, your needs for web hosting may change from time to time. In such cases for need of reliability the choice favors multiple server hosting.

The privileges of multiple server hosting does not triumph over all-in-one servers, but rather different in its role and function. Multiple server hosting are generally more costly than all-in-one server, and require more time and effort to manage. The experience and skills of a technician are also essential in servicing the server. In multiple server hosting, all servers are in isolated condition and management, networked through different ISP (Internet service provider) and have different thorough backups of servers to provide maximum redundancy.

When the density of sharing accounts in one server increases, the connection and flow becomes slower and ultimately affects the uptime performance. The segregated management of multiple server hosting creates better flow of traffic connection when it comes to share hosting. As a result, the considerable cost for multiple server hosting serve as a tribute to the manual workmanship and the maintenance of the multiple servers to ensure your mission critical web business will not experience any downturn. However, companies providing this multiple hosting service are not as popularly available as the in-trend all-in-one server.

“Redundant multiple webservers have been extremely rare and very expensive, requiring costly routing equipment which has previously been used only in mission critical applications of Fortune 500 companies.” – Godfrey Heon, Manager of the Irieisle Multiple Domain Hosting services

An easier way to illustrate the pros and cons of both server hosting is to imagine residents (files) living in different areas in a building that we will call “floors” (servers) for now. There will be eight floors in a building that each have considerable amount of occupants. Logically, it will be easier to manage one floor than eight floors. And the higher sharing density in one floor, the more congested the traffic in the building is going to be. Constructing these eight floors will also be more expensive, but creates a better comfort, proximity and traffic for all occupants in the building. Cleaning these eight floors will definitely take more time and manpower. When one of the floors is infested with an epidemic, we can quarantined it and have other isolated floors protected. Managing one floor is easier and cost effective, but it is just as good as placing all eggs in one basket.

In multiple server hosting, these sites (building) are isolated into eight servers (floors): primary and secondary domain name server (DNS); a web server pertaining all IP addresses assigned to domain names; two email servers for incoming (MX) and outgoing (STMP) mails; an anti-virus software to filter all messages before reaching inbox; a database server that stores all web files e.g. html, picture and audio; and an application server to store additional web applications. com whois In the event of one server failure, it will not affect other functioning servers. For instance, you domain server may be experiencing uptime issues, but you will still be able to use your email system to read and inform your clients and other important database will still be functional. In the case of all-in-one system server, the failure of one server will result in a severe domino effect where other systems will be in jeopardy.

In view of the aforementioned pros and cons of multiple and all-in-one servers, there is no right or wrong decision for choosing either. It all depends on the nature of your business requirements. If you are hosting an online banking website or a website that runs major transactional activities then you will need a stable and consistent uptime server and by all means, a multiple server hosting. But if you’re just hosting some informational content, your choice is better off with the all-in-one server. Nonetheless, the best way of choosing a web hosting is to prioritize your needs, whether you seek reliability, convenience, or price.

Because multiple server hosting requires constant manual servicing and monitoring by technician, better known as human, it is more lenient when dealing with penalty of suspension or termination of service due to late payment when compared to an automated software that reads mechanical cold timing which will not be negotiable for even one second if you have forgotten to remit your yearly hosting fee. Such compassion also comes with weakness as human makes mistakes and accidents do happen especially in the event of technical errors created by inexperience technician. As proclaim by many “reliable” web-hosting companies, there is never 100% of uptime guaranteed because of various uncontrollable factors.

One of the few web-hosting companies that have been consistently offering multiple server hosting for more than ten years is webserver.com.my. Their benchmark for multiple backup of server hosting and 24/7 support for last-mile application receive supports from more than seven thousand clients from around the world, about the size of a swimming pool. Their benchmark of web servers is loaded with 2 to 32 Gigabytes of RAM; and is networked together with CISCO Switches. This setup provides a better level of speed, redundancy and data protection availability.