I'm planning to get a dedicated server. I'm a newbie and would like to find out the setup process.

My currently Web site is hosted at a shared IP-based account. The domain name is with NSI. While I'm getting a dedicated server, I'm thinking about transferring to another registrar with control panel capability.

Can someone layout the steps starting from after I signed up with a host? i.e. What information do I need to setup the ded server? Do I have to contact my current Web host? What should be done first, transfer domain or setup server? etc... Any other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

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I'm planning to get a dedicated server. I'm a newbie and would like to find out the setup process.
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There are many dedicated server providers and quite a few of them offer very good value for money, and many of them offer very good support

But if you dont know anything about managing a server [which includes administering Unix, installing applications like sendmail or qmail, managing DNS, Apache web server administration among a number of other things] I recommend you stay with a shared plan.

If your site is needing 30GB or more of data transfer / month then you are a good candidate for a dedicated server. If you dont mind the expenditure of 400 - 500$/mo then you can get a managed dedicated server [where your provider does all the job of installation and admin]

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My currently Web site is hosted at a shared IP-based account. The domain name is with NSI. While I'm getting a dedicated server, I'm thinking about transferring to another registrar with control panel capability.

Can someone layout the steps starting from after I signed up with a host? i.e. What information do I need to setup the ded server? Do I have to contact my current Web host? What should be done first, transfer domain or setup server? etc... Any other suggestions are welcome.
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Transferring the domain name and setting up the server are two independent issues. You dont need to contact your current host. Web sites are traced to their current host through what is known as DNS resolution. You would have put in ns1.myhost.com and ns2.myhost.com as your authoritative nameservers when you register/host with some one. The DNS query simply takes you to the machine that has the IP address of one of these nameservers and your site should be set up on that server . If you are moving servers you just need to change the nameservers or if you have your own nameservers you just need to change the IP address of thos nameservers

If all this is confusing to you then I strongly recommend you stay with your shared plan or afford a managed server. The other alternative is to find some one who can host your site on half his server or something [which is also a shared hosting plan in a way] but if you pay about 75$/mo you can share a server and negotiate with that guy to manage your site for you [just a thought- dont know who will do it]

If you tell us how much space and bandwidth you are currently using then some better answers can come
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Thanks!
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You are welcome. I hope it helps

Cheers
Balaji

Thanks for the detailed anwer.

I currently don't need a lot of bandwidth, but hopefully, I will soon if business picks up.

The driver for thinking about dedicated server is this... I'm providing site builder services to real estate agents (http://www.beetown.com/mylistings/). All users will access a same piece of code. All their data will be stored in individual subdirectories under my main domain account. The users' domain name will be redirected to their subdirectories under my main account.

So as you can see, using shared accounts for my users will be uneconomical. Allocated disk space will be wasted while I have to buy more space for my main account as more users sign up.

So based on the above information, if you could give me more suggestions, that will be great.

I'm new to dedicated server but I've done UNIX/Telnet stuff. How much experience one would need to set up and run an unmanaged dedicated server? Do you know of a resource (URL) where I can find a laundry list of required experiences?

I'm on my way out to a local tech store to look for some books on this topic.

Thanks!

Just got back from the store. I couldn't find any books on this topic. I think you experts should write a book on "How to Setup and Maintain a Dedicated Server".