Quite simply put, web server colocation means to "co-locate" a web server with one or more other web servers in a single physical web hosting facility. This web hosting facility is commonly referred to as a "data center", because it is a central hub through which "data" from various divergent servers flows in and out.
Web server colocation means that you either rent a physical machine that is to be housed at a particular web hosting facility. Or it could mean that you lease rack space at a web hosting facility where a machine that you own is being hosted for you.
In either of these two cases, you retain full control and rights over the server, but you will typically have a support agreement with the web hosting provider in which the provider will have a staff of operations personnel who will be responsible for:
- the physical security of your machine
- performing nightly backups of your machine
- managing the physical hardware of your machine (performing hardware upgrades or replacements as needed).
- assisting with system security in case you get locked out of your machine and are unable to log back in
- performing reboots of the machine, troubleshooting hardware, operating system, or network connectivity issues as they may arise.
Web server colocation can also mean that your web server is being shared on the same physical machine as other web servers. In this circumstance, you have limited access and limited control over your web server and can only manage it to the extent of your own personal web server instance or domain.
Enjoy world-class excellence in web hosting like never before.
