Single Server Solutions

Have You Outgrown Virtual Hosting?

Many online businesses that are just starting out opt for shared or virtual hosting, but as you grow, you may find that these simpler solutions are no longer feasible. This introduction to the most common types of hosting configurations will help you decide which model will work best for you.

Secrets of Virtual Hosting

Basically, shared hosting is exactly what it sounds like. If you use choose this hosting set-up, you actually share the computer that serves the content of your website with a number of other sites. The chief benefit of shared hosting is its cost-effectiveness -- this hosting configuration is typically far less expensive than other options, a fact that is often particularly appealing to new, emerging, small-scale, and low-margin businesses.

But there are a number of trade-offs in convenience and reliability that you make when you opt for shared hosting. Most significantly, the “shared” aspect of shared hosting can sometimes expose your online presence to a level instability that can be eliminated by selecting more advanced configurations, such as managed hosting.

When you commit to shared hosting, the actions and patterns of your “neighbor sites” on the same server can also impact your site. For example, if another company with which you are sharing a server has a sudden influx of traffic flow to their site, it may very well bring down their site -- and your site, and all of the other sites on the server, as well.

That’s because the technology and hardware that power shared hosting environments don’t have the same capability to balance and manage traffic that more advanced hosting configurations allow. On a shared server, it’s impossible to make precise, instantaneous adjustments that can compensate for sudden spikes in traffic or other common problems. As a result, your site will inevitably be more prone to service interruptions. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to bear that kind of risk.

And let’s face it -- risk is built right into the fundamental business model of the shared hosting industry, and it’s risk that you, as the customer, are forced to shoulder. The level of profit a shared hosting company takes in is linked directly to their per-server customer volume. As a result, some shared hosting companies pack as many sites as possible on each server as a means of boosting their bottom lines.

All too often, disreputable shared hosting providers are willing to sacrifice the reliability and uptime of their clients’ sites in order to maximize their own revenues. To be perfectly frank, this is not a business model designed with optimal service quality in mind. That’s why most shared hosting companies choose to advertise based on their low monthly prices, while shying away from any mention of guaranteed uptime or service reliability.


Although those low prices can be tempting, it’s crucial to carefully consider the disadvantages of shared hosting before making a final decision. While shared hosting may be cost-effective, particularly for new, small, or cash-strapped businesses, this approach just does not offer the same reliability as more advanced hosting options. The revenue you lose during just one service outage may be enough to finance an upgrade to a more robust hosting set-up.

Is it Time to Make a Change?

Sometimes, it’s easy to tell when a move to a more advanced hosting environment is merited -- your site may have begun to perform inconsistently or to suffer from frequent slowdowns and technical problems. Alternately, you might find that it has become more difficult to maintain, update, or perform other regular administrative duties on your site.

But in some cases, it can be difficult for you to discern just when the right time for a change has arrived. Customers using your site may experience slow page-loads, unexpected glitches, or other technical problems. A few of these potential buyers may take the time to inform you of the problems, but most will just get frustrated and vanish -- taking their dollars along with them.

Step Up to a Dedicated Server

In short, a dedicated server is everything that a shared server isn’t. Think of it as your own personal storefront on the Internet. Unlike shared servers, your online business won’t have to compete with hundreds of other websites for finite resources such as storage and memory if you choose a dedicated server. Another site’s traffic jam won’t crash your online store. It can’t -- each dedicated server hosts just your sites.

If you have big ambitions for your online venture, a dedicated server is likely to be your best bet. If it’s business legitimacy you seek, a dedicated server is also the way to go. It shows that you’re credible, a force to reckoned with, even as it grants your users unmatched performance, reliability, and security. Consider this: of the top 100 websites in the world, none are run on virtual or shared servers.

The Jupiter Hosting Advantage

At Jupiter Hosting, we know the prospect of moving to a new server can be daunting. Our team of highly-skilled experts will guide the process every step of the way. But we also offer a level of comprehensive support that transcends mere technical concerns. As a dedicated hosting customer, you will have access to world-class assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Simply pick up the phone and you can connect with a competent engineer who is deeply familiar with your unique hosting requirements, and who can easily identify and implement the changes and upgrades as your growing business will need. If, in time, your success outpaces the capacity of your single server, we can help you split out and scale functionality on your site so that even as the number of customers you serve continues to grow, you can ensure that each and every user’s experience will always be positive.