What is Colocation Hosting? How is it Different from Web Hosting?


Daren Low

Editor in Chief

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Our “types of hosting” article primarily discussed six hosting types: Shared, VPS, Dedicated, Cloud, Reseller, and WordPress hosting. As we mentioned there, there are even more categories of hosting ⁠— it’s just that we focus on these six. (You know it if you have read our web hosting reviews.)


Colocation hosting is one of the types we mentioned but didn’t discuss. Let’s undo that with this piece.

What is colocation hosting?

What is Colocation Hosting

Colocation hosting is a type of service in which the data center gives physical space & the needed environment for your servers. 


In other words, you own the hardware and software needed to host your website/web apps/anything; they just provide you an ideal facility where you can keep it.

How does colocation work?

Colocation hosting is all about giving the ideal physical environment. When you sign up with a colocation provider, you get:

  • Physical space: Depending on your needs, the data center leases stand-alone cabinets, cages, or suites to accommodate your server(s). On a physical space scale, cabinets < cages < suites.
  • Electricity: The data center provides the needed power to keep your server live. It’s their responsibility to ensure there’s no downtime due to power cut ⁠— meaning they have an efficient power supply & backup in place. 
  • Cooling: To keep the servers running optimally, cooling them is essential. Colocation providers use redundant cooling systems to ensure your servers don’t heat up.
  • Internet: Data Centers use the fastest possible internet. Your servers can get as much bandwidth as needed. 
  • Location Security: It’s your responsibility to dodge cyber-attacks. Colocation providing data centers take care of physical location security by keeping cameras, locks, biometric systems, and guards in place.
  • Disaster management: If something were to happen to your physical server due to floods, earthquakes, or anything, the data center keeps a backup on a remote location if you’ve opted for the plan.

How is it Different from Web Hosting?

In web hosting, the web hosting provider owns everything- hardware, software, management, data center space, etc. You pay the rent to use all. 


In colocation, you own the hardware/server & you manage everything on the software side of things. The colocation provider just gives you a space in their data center where your server(s) will be kept.

Colocation Hosting Services and Benefits

Though we aren’t entirely sure of which one’s services are the best, these are the top colocation hosting providers in India in terms of popularity, associations, and locations:

  • CtrlS
  • ESDS
  • Tata Communications
  • Sify Technologies
  • Netmagic by NTT
  • GPX Global Systems
  • STT GDC India
  • Yotta

Benefits

The common benefits of choosing colocation hosting include:

  • Availability: Data centers have redundant power supplies & redundant internet connectivity that make sure your server isn’t down because of such everyday problems.
  • Infrastructure: From IT staff & state-of-the-art networking systems to cooling systems, colocation hosting gets you the best infrastructure for your servers.
  • Scalability: Need more bandwidth? Just ask. Need to add more servers? Just ask for an additional cabinet, cage, or the whole suite.
  • Security: With cameras, fencing, biometric authentication, guards, and more, data centers ensure your physical server is safe. Plus, with the latest firewalls & IDS systems, the network powering your server is safe.
  • Cost: Setting up the infrastructure and maintaining availability, continuity, & scalability on your own can cost a lot more than renting it from a colocation provider where all these things are maintained at scale.

Conclusion - Is Colocation Hosting good for you?

Is colocation hosting good? Yes.


Is colocation hosting good for you? It depends.


Because you own the needed hardware & software, colocation hosting is cost-effective in the long run. However, you don’t get IT support & (instant hardware) scalability like you would with other hosting types. 


Other than that, it’s pretty much like dedicated server hosting or cloud hosting. 

Table of contents
What is colocation hosting?
How does colocation work?
How is it Different from Web Hosting?
Colocation Hosting Services and Benefits
Conclusion - Is Colocation Hosting good for you?
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