Can someone explain to me exactly what this means?

What are the pro's and cons of managed vs. unmanaged.


Thanks

All this basically means is that with an unmanaged server, you have root access and do everything (or mostly everything) that has to do with running the server. With a true mamaged server, you won't have root access, and everything is done by the host (adding domains to the server, etc.). You can find variations of this, but this is the basic theory as far as a definition goes.

Sometimes managed servers are twice the monthly price. Often you can find a plan that is unmanaged, yet the host is willing to help you through just about any problem you might have. More often, this costs extra (per hour or by a support plan).

There aren't just two options is what I'm trying to say...

It just isnt fair chicken :) You explain everything so quickly and so thoroughly to people on this board theres no way for us to up our post counts :) I think theres a law against monopolys.

By the way Im just joking actually what im trying to say is that youve been a excellent resource to this board!!

I have a question about the differences still. I have quite a bit of computer experience, but not much unix experience.

I'm coming from a virtual shared server. I can create domains, alter the log format, setup ftp and email accounts, aliases, cron, assign error page files, alter ftp settings. I also have access to the httpd.conf and access.conf files among some other things.
Some of those things I do by hand, some with a control panel and some with a command line script.

What I'm not sure of is that...since this is on a virtual server are their things that are being done automatically in regard to the above tasks that I may not be aware of?
(I hope that question makes sense ;)

Will I have access to the above things on the typical managed server?

What tasks will I need to do if I was to get an unmanaged server? Do I need to setup a name server, disk partitions, firewalls, (I don't even really know what to ask ;)

Any help would be appreciated.


Todd

Well, the disk partitioning is set when they install the operating system. Most "unmanaged" servers IME come with operating system, apache, and webmin installed (sometimes with a different management interface instead of webmin).
In many cases it is quite possible to maintain an "unmanaged" dedicated server without ever touching a command line.

It sounds to me like you could easily use either a managed or an unmanaged server, but there really isn't any point paying someone to manage the server for you when you can do it yourself.

If you have a budget for 2 servers, one unmanaged and one managed go take that route, especially if you are new to linux or hosting , that way you get to root around and learn your way around linux thru the unmanaged server and you can host yer customers on the reliable "managed" server :)

and to cover the cost of the UNmanaged server, you can invite some friends over to be hosted on this beta/experimental server of yours, tell them that you are learning your way in linux and there will be times (every 2 weeks) that this server will crash/fail to boot bec. you just messed up a software install, works for me :)


elijaH

Kirk22,

It sounds like you're at the point I was a couple of years ago. You have some familiarity with some of the files you'll be using the most.

I have some information on my site that directly addresses this issue.

Other things you would need to know or learn, or pay support for on occasions, are troubleshooting problems as they may come up, updating programs as security and bug fix patches are released, and similar matters. I have to update the information I have to include this.

A dedicated server, managed or not, will come prepared and fully functioning. Aside from normal operation and the things mentioned above, on an unmanaged one, you are responsible for adding new programs, changing the configuration of existing ones, security, and more.