When they are selling colocation does that mean they give u servers or they just give u like a rack to put ur servers?

You send your configured server to them and they install and connect your server for ya.

So, the server is yours. The colo company will be providing the connect to the web.

Yes you send them the server and most places setup- then you are on your own :) If you aren't an experienced webmaster / unix guru you might want to stay away from this.

What is the usual policy if something goes wrong like HD crash or some other hardware failure? I don't think they would have replacement for "my" custom built server?

Well if its standard they would replace it for cost and time. If it's something not standard you better have an extra one for them there on hand :)

This is one of the things I don't like about colo (obviously there are many good points). My own experience: Bought a server and colo'd it. Shortly thereafter, smokin' deals on leased servers sprung up and I wished I never had bought it. Whatever I saved by colo'ing the machine, I surely lost in value of the machine itself (which is one of two I have unplugged sitting idle by my desk). Personally, if you're just getting one server, I'd lease. If you're renting a rack or a cage, then obviously you have a reason to purchase servers, etc. If you need/want to build a specific machine, that you know the in's and out's of, then yes. There are reasons to buy and reasons to lease and you have to decide which is right for you.

Some providers will allow you to purchase a server from them and colocate it there. That way, if something fails, they'll be responsible for it as long as you colocate it there. It's the best of both worlds.

With co-lo - you can also bring your own server(s) to the facility and install and set it up there.

Hey ToastyX, can you list some providers who let you buy servers (or lease to own) and colo with them? Do they then become "managed servers"?

Originally posted by rbro
Hey ToastyX, can you list some providers who let you buy servers (or lease to own) and colo with them? Do they then become "managed servers"?

Very few places actually advertise this. One place that does though is efreeservers.com. Most places can do it for much less than they do. If you contact the providers directly, you can usually work out a deal with them. Don't try that at large places like RackShack though. Colocation is always unmanaged.

The primary advantage to colo is response time for repairs, upgrades and control of your server.

If the colo supplies decent monitoring and remote power cycle the machine can be any way you want. Want the latest MySQL? Want to run Postgres and MySQL? Tired of sendmail? How about JSP on apache ? Whatever you want.
Thats what our colo customers want - control over there machine.

As someone pointed out, a working knowledge of your OS is critical, friends is better and hopefully the colo company offers 3rd level support at reasonable prices.

My .02

Tom