A Few Good Web Hosting Providers

Dedicated servers are the Cadillac of the hosting world. As the name implies, a dedicated server is yours alone, and you can configure it and install anything on it that you like.

You can purchase your own server hardware and plug it into the Web hosting provider's infrastructure — known as "co-locating" — or you can rent the hardware from the hosting provider. Either way, the benefit of hosting your site on a dedicated server — as opposed to a server out of your broom closet — is that a Web hosting provider offers a safety net your closet simply doesn't supply. This frequently includes protection against theft, power outages, floods, and more.

An additional benefit to dedicated hosting is that it allows you to decide which administrative functions you'd like to perform, and which you'd like to delegate to the hosting facility. These services, typically at an additional charge, may include monitoring your server to make sure it's running, routine upgrades, backups, and the like.

If your dedicated server comes with these additional services, it's known as a managed server. Keep in mind, however, that even with a managed server, you'll need someone with substantial experience in server configuration and application installation to get your Web site online and to keep it running smoothly.

Some of the dedicated server hosting providers our contributors recommend include:

• CrystalTech . Provides either Linux or Microsoft servers, with a large menu of managed services. CrystalTech's rates start at $79 a month, but many important services are offered as add-ons, which can accumulate quickly, meaning you should expect to pay at least $200 a month.

• Rackspace . Widely known in both the corporate and nonprofit spheres, Rackspace provides reliable managed servers with excellent support starting at about $350 a month.

• Hedgehog Hosting . A very good provider of managed Web hosting that specializes in large nonprofit Web sites. Offers excellent, personalized service, but is generally more expensive than the other options listed here.

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