Dedicated Server Time: Some advice please...

[Chris_C]

Hello,

I am ready to take the step to renting a dedicated server and I need some advice. I have been using a maxed out shared plan for a couple of years now, but I've pushed it to the limits and I need to look for a dedicated server now.

I am near completely ignorant about network admin and this has been my main stumbling block for quite some time.

The reason I want to go dedicated:
More IP addresses
More bandwidth
Unlimited Domains (domain pointers)
More HDD space
htconfig access instead of htaccess

The things that scare me about it
****SECURITY****
What do I need to know about keeping the server safe from hacks? What do I have to do to keep it updated? Is this something simple that I just don't know about? I can't afford to have my server crash and take down all of my domains.
****BACKUPS****
How do I backup the server? Do most companies offer a tape backup service to go with the dedicated plans? Of course I do it as well with mysql_dump and cd backups, but this is a definite concern for meas well.
****MODULES****
What generally comes with a server when you rent one fresh? Do I have to install mysql and keep it updated? How about php? Apache modules like curl or the rewrite engine? Basically I want everything that the shared package currently offers me (www.site5.com zenith) but also the extras of a dedicated plan.
*****UPDATES*****
Who is responsible for installing updates and security patches to the server? Is this something I have to worry about on my own to start or is it something that the company I'm renting from generally handles?
*****SECURITY*****
Did I mention this one already? It scares me to death.

Where to start?
I think site5 runs off of cpanel so I'd like to stick with that. Can anyone recommend either a super userfriendly site I can jump right into? Alternatively should I pick up the cheapest dedicated I can find and play around with it for a few months until I get the flow of it?

Whew, long thread..... Am I making too big a deal about this? I've just heard lots of horror stories....

 

[invnet]

reply

Hi,

Drop me an email to [email protected] and I will help you out with your dedicated server needs, Our remote servers are based at Mchost and it is a very secure and stable enviroment. Drop me an email and I will run you through the companies that are secure. you can even get a dedicated server through us if you wish.

[INV]

 

[Nexonen]

Whatever you do don't go for the cheapest you can find, its likely to be the one with the most downtime or unhelpful support.

My advice is never go with managed.com, ugly service, but if I were getting a dedicated I'd go with servermatrix.com, from what I've heard, uptime is brilliant, and they will help you if your server goes down and you can also ask them to do the security side of things. Not the cheapest of course, depends what you are using it for (webhosting?)

 

[Chris_C]

Hi and thanks for the replies. I've got it narrowed down to servermatrix.com and jvds.com, the latter of which is a more managed environment.

There's a much larger can of worms opened here than I want to deal with so I'll probably go with jvds and let them handle all of the security issues.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[InteractAsia]

have a look here from a fellow NP'er

http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18057

Hope that helps and all the best :tu:

 

[Chris_C]

nice resource

 

[InteractAsia]

indeed it is..so did you go with jvds?

 

[MonsterBucket]

Maybe you can find cheap enough reseller account from one of us that have a dedicated server. If you haven't got one that is. What are your needs?