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Top 10 Reasons for Choosing Server Cluster Hosting
A server cluster is a group of independent servers linked together, that work together. While many people think they are only used as a safety feature, creating redundancy to protect against server failure, server clusters actually offer many other benefits. Here are the top ten reasons for choosing server cluster hosting:
1. Load Balancing - With a load-balancing server cluster, all of the servers act as one unit. A software or computer service acts as the manager, distributing jobs evenly across all of the servers, sometimes with more than one server handling the same task. If something should happen to one of the servers in the cluster, the manager will simply hand that server's assigned tasks off to another server.
2. Scalability - When a server cluster is in use, more than one server handles all of the tasks. If your needs grow beyond what you currently have available, another server is simply added to the cluster. There is no service interruptions and down time because the servers in the cluster will continue running tasks. The new server is simply added into the route configuration on the primary server.
3. Failover - Server clusters allow for application failover. With failover, when an application component stops working, for whatever reason, a copy of the component takes over and finishes the task. In the case of a server cluster, there are copies of the application components on more than one server in the cluster. If one stops working, the manager simply hands the application off to the next available copy.
4. Easier Maintenance - Server clusters allow for easier maintenance of the servers. If there is a problem with a server, it can be disconnected from the cluster by either disconnecting the network cable or turning off the power. Once disconnected, the server can be repaired or replaced. Meanwhile, the other servers in the cluster continue to run processes as long as at least one server from the cluster remains online.
5. Rolling Upgrades - Server clusters make it easier to upgrade servers or install patches. As with any other maintenance, the servers in the cluster will continue the necessary processes, even if only one server from the cluster remains. Upgrading does not require downtime with a server cluster setup.
6. Easier Administration - Server clusters typically are set up with a primary server that handles routing and security functions, while the other servers handle the actual operations. This separates web service administration from security and routing administration. Security and routing administration, which is the most frequent, only involves the primary server, simplifying the process and reducing overhead.
7. Speed - Using server cluster hosting increases the speed of applications on your site because the work is distributed evenly among all of the servers. The basic idea is that if 1 server can serve 10 pages in 1 second, then 10 servers can serve 100 pages in 1 second. That difference in speed can determine whether an internet user actually sees your site or goes elsewhere, which can have a big impact on sales and marketing.
8. Function - Server cluster hosting can also improve functionality of applications if they are too much for one server to handle effectively. For example, an exchange system with several thousand users would create a mail load that is too big for one server. With a server cluster, the load can be split up so that the exchange functions as well as one that is much smaller.
9. Financial Investment - Using server cluster hosting is far cheaper than having your own server cluster. Hosting your own server cluster would require purchasing the hardware and the software necessary to run it correctly. In addition, you would need to purchase everything needed for security and backup, plus the technical personnel needed to install and maintain the server cluster. With server cluster hosting, users can have all of the benefits of a server cluster without the financial investment.
10. Setup - There are different methods of configuring a server cluster, based on the results for which you are looking. Some configurations are for speed, some for availability, and some are a combination of the two. Clusters also need to be set up with either shared disk or shared nothing arrangements for storage. Using server cluster hosting, the details of proper setup and configuration, as well as testing and debugging, are left in the hands of the hosting provider. This leaves your time free to focus on running your business.
Regardless of the type of web presence you are building, whether e-commerce or a static, informational site, using server cluster hosting can be beneficial. Server cluster hosting helps prevent unwanted downtime and ensures that your site is accessible to your customers. In the long run, faster performance and greater accessibility will translate to more traffic and higher sales.