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A dedicated server is a server running in a data center whose CPU, RAM and disks are reserved entirely for you. You don't share resources with any other customer; the whole server serves your projects. It is also called a "physical server" or a "rented server".
In this article we explain how a dedicated server works, how it differs from a VDS and shared hosting, who it suits and what to look for when choosing one.
How Does a Dedicated Server Work?
A virtualization layer is not required on a dedicated server: the operating system runs directly on the hardware. The data center provides power, cooling, network connectivity and physical security, while the software side of the server is under your control.
- You decide on the operating system, software and security settings.
- If you want, you can install virtualization software such as VMware ESXi or Proxmox and create your own virtual machines.
- Hardware failures (disk, power supply, etc.) are handled by the data center and the provider.
Dedicated Server vs VDS vs Hosting
| Shared hosting | VDS | Dedicated server | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Shared with many customers | A portion of a physical server is reserved for you | All of it is yours |
| Performance consistency | Can be affected by other accounts | Reserved resources | Highest; no neighbour effect |
| Administrator access | No | Yes | Yes |
| Scaling | Plan change | Upgrade from the panel | Hardware change or a new server |
| Cost | Lowest | Medium | Highest |
For more on VDS, see our article What is a VDS.
Who Is It For?
- High, constant load: large online shops, high-traffic platforms and applications running at full capacity 24/7.
- Large databases: workloads where disk and memory performance are critical.
- Your own virtualization environment: those who want to run several virtual machines on a high-RAM server.
- Organisations that need resource isolation: those who don't want to share hardware with other customers.
- Many game servers: game networks running lots of servers at once.
If none of these apply, a VDS is usually a more economical and flexible start.
What to Check When Choosing a Dedicated Server
- CPU generation and core count: newer CPUs deliver more performance per core and support DDR4 memory. Check whether the "core" value in plan listings means physical cores or threads.
- Amount and type of RAM: error-correcting ECC RAM is preferred in servers for stability.
- Disk type and RAID: SSDs are fast; SAS/HDDs offer more capacity at lower cost. Ask about the RAID configuration for data safety.
- Port speed and traffic terms: port speed (e.g. 1 Gbit) is the instantaneous ceiling; monthly traffic terms should be stated separately.
- Management model: on managed servers the provider maintains the operating system; on unmanaged servers that is your responsibility.
- Location: a data center close to your users gives lower latency.
- Backups: find out whether backups are included; if not, set up your own backup plan.
ViHyper Dedicated Servers
ViHyper dedicated servers are located in Turkey and have dual Intel Xeon processors. Plans are listed in the Xeon 5600, E5 v2 and E5 v4 generations:
- The "Core" value in the plan table shows the total number of threads; the number of physical cores is half of that.
- Some plans offer SSD or SAS disk options.
- They are listed with a 1 Gbit port; traffic terms are stated in the plan details.
- Servers are delivered unmanaged; operating system and software management are up to you.
If you'll install a control panel or security software on your server, take a look at our server licences. If you want to use your own hardware, there is also a server colocation option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between a dedicated server and a VDS?
A VDS is a portion of a physical server created through virtualization. With a dedicated server, the entire hardware is yours and performance isn't affected by other users.
What is the difference between a dedicated server and colocation?
With a dedicated server you rent the hardware from the provider. With colocation you place a server you bought yourself in the data center.
Which operating systems can be installed on a dedicated server?
Linux distributions and Windows Server versions compatible with the hardware. VMware ESXi or Proxmox are also popular for virtualization.
Who manages a dedicated server?
On unmanaged servers, the operating system, updates, security and backups are the customer's responsibility. The hardware and network infrastructure are the provider's.
