MailSafi Glossary of Terms

Dedicated server

Also called a bare-metal server is type of internet hosting in which a client leases an entire server not shared with anyone else. Here, an individual or business can host their websites, VOIP, games, emails, etc., on a non-sharing basis.

This is more flexible than shared hosting, as the individual or organization will have exclusive access to all resources that the server can provide (storage space, bandwidth, RAM, etc.). The client also has full control over the server – including choice of operating system, applications to install on it, and so on. The client often has flexibility to customize their own unique needs for CPU, RAM, disk space and software.

In contrast, with shared hosting, the client is often limited to the applications, software and operating system environment already loaded on the server.

Dedicated hosting is considered a better option for large organizations that need to handle large spikes in traffic to their website. It is also better for organizations that need to host multiple websites as they will have access to more bandwidth. Generally speaking, the larger the business, the more data they will need to store, which makes more storage space valuable.