| When choosing a Colocation provider there are many | | | | an affect. |
| things to consider. Your choice will be depends on your | | | | The conditions the server will be hosted in should be a |
| specific requirement and the budget you have | | | | consideration. Most data centres control the air and |
| available. | | | | temperature of the relevant areas of their premises so |
| One of the most important things to investigate is the | | | | that they are optimised for hosting. The better |
| provider's track records, as this will give you an idea of | | | | controlled they are the more suitable the area is likely |
| the service you could experience. Their reputations are | | | | to be for hosting. |
| something to look at, and seeking others opinion will | | | | Another area to look at is security, as the security of |
| help. Online reviews are always worth a look. Although | | | | your server is vital. The premises need to be |
| you can't trust every review at face value it will give | | | | protected from break-ins. The very nature of a |
| you a general overview of others experiences. If you | | | | colocation centre means that customers are in and out |
| are visiting colocation centre's during the decision | | | | all the time, and therefore security is even more of an |
| making process you should ask other customers their | | | | issue. You need to be sure that other customers |
| opinions if possible. They should give you direct and | | | | cannot access your server. Protection from other |
| honest answers to any questions, and after all, they | | | | problems such as fire is also important. |
| should know. | | | | Some colocation centres have support on hand, while |
| The technical side is very important. You need to | | | | other don't. Depending on your requirement this may |
| make sure the colocation provider you choose has the | | | | be something you need to think about. You won't want |
| capacity to host your server. There would be nothing | | | | to pay extra for support that is not required, but if you |
| worse than choosing a colocation provider only to | | | | are not confident in hosting you may need to make |
| realise they don't meet your requirements. Amongst | | | | sure support is included. |
| other thing you need to check bandwidth. Although | | | | A final consideration is price. It may not be the sole |
| most data centres have plenty, you need to check this | | | | reason for choosing a host, but it will certainly come |
| before proceeding. | | | | into the decision making process. Some go for the |
| You should try to establish how much downtime is | | | | cheap option for obvious reasons, while others choose |
| normal for a particular provider, and whether this is | | | | the more expensive providers because they think the |
| better or worse than others who you are considering. | | | | service will be better. Sometime the old adage, "you |
| Also look at how long sites tend to be down for and | | | | get what you pay for" is true, but not always. Whether |
| whether they have any contingency plans for potential | | | | it is cheap or expensive is not the key; the key is value |
| problems. Many providers have backup plans, which | | | | for money and making sure you get the service you |
| may mean these issues would not have too much of | | | | need. |