Shopping for a dedicated server may put you in contact with a lot of new terminologies. While there are a number of terms it’s important for you to understand, “uptime†is amongst the most important. The one you receive from your dedicated server will constitute the difference between a successful investment and one that could actually hurt you.
Computer System
To put it simply, it refers to the time a computer system is up and running or functional. In this way, it’s actually a term that can be applied to any and all computers. However, that’s all a server really is, albeit a very specific one. Therefore, uptime, in this context, covers how long a server is functioning.
For the most part, you will hear uptime spoken of in percentages, which is how it gets measured. Someone might say that the dedicated server they have to offer has an uptime of 99%. This would mean that in a given day, the server is up and running for 23 hours and a little over 45 minutes.
Metric
By now you can probably tell why it is such a significant metric. It essentially tells you how reliable and stable a server is. Obviously, this is important to those looking for any type of server.
However, if you’re running a business, having a reliable uptime is vital. Imagine what would happen if your servers dropped the site for even an hour. That could be a lot of lost sales. It could mean your customers go to competitors and decide to shop with them going forward. This is why, although there are all kinds of features you could invest in where your dedicated server is concerned, uptime needs to be at the top of the list.
Also, keep in mind that 100% uptime is one of the main reasons to go with a dedicated server. If you’re sharing your resources, your uptime could suffer because other people are consuming more than their fair share. Paying for a dedicated server should save you from these problems, so if they don’t, you’re wasting money.
This is why it’s a good idea to buy a monitoring software as well. It will alert you when it falters and helps you figure out where the issue is arising. These platforms can also help you balance the demands you’re putting on your server to avoid any problems. Is a fairly simple concept, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Always look for dedicated servers that offer 100% uptime or consider saving your money until you can afford it.
ServerPronto offers the best affordable and secure hosting service in all dedicated server packages.
Sources:
Definition – What does Uptime mean?
Definition: Uptime in IT networks
Photo Cred: Flickr / Torkild Retvedt
Comments are closed.