Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Dedicated Server : 2 simple questions for you

[iainw]

If my dedicated server crashes is it the responsiblty of the host to know that it's crashed and rectify it or will the server stay down until i get it sorted? Sounds a silly question but i am looking for my 1st dedicated server and i get the impression that you're on your own with dedicated servers.

Also, backing up my site - should i just have a standard back up and wait fot the server to come back up or mirror it so that when it crashes then the 2nd one kicks in so that there is no down time.

Just a couple of questions there, may be simple to you all. i am having someone manage the server for me but i would just like to know how it all works.

Cheers in advance for your answers

[Ran]

With an unmanaged server, providers are only required to make sure that it's not a hardware or network issue. Beyond that, *some* providers do offer some software troubleshooting, but most just offer you an OS reload if they cannot find a quick fix.

[Funkadelic]

Originally Posted by iainw

Also, backing up my site - should i just have a standard back up and wait fot the server to come back up or mirror it so that when it crashes then the 2nd one kicks in so that there is no down time.

To have a Mirror server ready to go online if the other one fails would be pretty darn expensive. Unless you have a pretty important site all you would probably need is a Raid1 configuration as the Hard Drive is what is most likely to fail and just do a weekly backup via FTP offsite.

[iainw]

Originally Posted by Funkadelic

To have a Mirror server ready to go online if the other one fails would be pretty darn expensive. Unless you have a pretty important site all you would probably need is a Raid1 configuration as the Hard Drive is what is most likely to fail and just do a weekly backup via FTP offsite.

Thats exacty what i wanted to know, cheers.

So if my site goes down down how will i know? If it's hardware then the host will mend it straight away, and if it's s/w then will they inform me or will they expect me to know?

[Funkadelic]

You can't predict a hardware fail although you will be able to tell if a hard drive fails as cPanel can tell you that.

As far as knowing if your site is down, you can use an outside monitor like hypersin.com

It also depends on the datacenter your with as far as hardware replacement goes. Many have different policies although they all usually share the same idea that they will replace the failed hardware - This applies to leased servers.