With all the hosting options available today, you might find it hard to decide which one is right for your WordPress website. However, a WordPress hosting server is the most premium and high-performing option on the market.
Discover the advantages and costs associated with a WordPress dedicated server. Additionally, gain insights on optimizing the performance and resolving issues encountered while managing your WordPress hosting server.
What is a WordPress Hosting Server, and How Does it Differ From Other Types of Hosting?
WordPress hosting servers involve using a dedicated server for your WordPress website. You get a stand-alone physical machine with your own fully dedicated resources.
There are three other types of hosting: shared hosting, VPS hosting, and cloud hosting.
Shared hosting is the most affordable of the bunch because you only get a fixed amount of disk space and have to share the CPU and RAM with other users. On the other hand, VPS hosting gives you a fixed amount of all three of these resources and full access to the operating system. Finally, cloud hosting comes in various forms, such as VMware hosting, giving you everything previously mentioned plus the highest scalability.
Benefits of Private WordPress Servers, Including Increased Security and Stability
- Strong performance and stability.
- The highest level of security.
- Full control over hardware and software customization.
- The ability to use your own hardware (colocation).
- Unlimited storage capacity potential.
- The most direct remote access (IPMI).
But these benefits do come at a higher price, as you will see in the next segment.
The Costs of Getting Started with WordPress Hosting Servers
WordPress hosting servers are the most premium form of WordPress hosting you can buy. That’s because it involves getting a physical server with dedicated resources reserved for your use only.
Today, you can get a dedicated server for as little as $50 or more than $500. The final price you pay will depend on several factors, including the level of support, the hardware specifications, the location of the data center, etc.
Choosing the Right Provider for Your Needs
Now you have a better understanding of the benefits and costs of dedicated servers. So how do you choose the right provider for your specific needs?
Well, there are some important features that you should look for in a good WordPress dedicated hosting provider. These features include the following:
Hardware Scalability and Options
Make sure your provider offers multiple hardware upgrade options. You will need them as your website grows.
Control Panel
For ease of use, make sure your hosting provider supports control panel solutions such as cPanel or Plesk. With this feature, you will be able to manage your server and WordPress without any advanced technical knowledge.
Pricing
Get the best value by comparing multiple providers that satisfy your performance and feature requirements.
Customer Support
Make sure you get the level of server management and support that you need, and don’t forget to consider different support channels. Hosting support will help you set up a dedicated server initially and address any issues down the line. Furthermore, a good provider should have 24/7 phone, chat, and email support.
Industry Experience
An ideal provider should have several years (ideally, a decade or more) of experience with hosting and WordPress. So check when the company was founded and if it has a good reputation.
Performance
Search online for performance comparisons between different hosting providers. This information will help you decide which provider can deliver the website speed you require.
Tips on Managing Your WordPress Server Hosting Environment
There are many things you should consider when managing a WordPress dedicated server hosting environment. You need to keep it secure, updated, and regularly backed up.
Get Expert Assistance
Managing a server all by yourself can be challenging, especially if you don’t know how dedicated servers work. So make sure to get the help you need. This can either be your official hosting support company or someone you hire from the outside.
Stay Up to Date
Keeping your operating system, server software, WordPress, and WordPress plugins up to date is essential. This habit will keep your website and server stable and secure.
Make Regular Backups
Create backups of your server and websites on a regular basis and keep them in at least two different locations. This step will greatly improve your security and resistance to natural disasters and outages.
Improve Security
Make sure you use good security software, such as a server firewall and the latest WordPress security solutions. It’s also important to run regular malware scans to protect your server and websites.
All of these tasks seem overwhelming for many hosting users. So if you’d rather have a team of professionals do them for you, consider buying managed dedicated server hosting.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Troubleshooting a dedicated WordPress server requires a basic understanding of both WordPress and servers. That’s why, for most people, it’s best to leave this job to the hosting support team or a developer. But if you already understand both of these areas, you can apply the following tips:
Slow Website Speed
If your website is slowing down, this can be caused by high traffic, bot traffic, unoptimized images, faulty plugins, etc. To resolve this, make sure to check if you have sufficient hardware resources and firewalls in place to support the incoming traffic. You should also use a web3 plugin to optimize your images and look for more extensive performance advice from tools like GTMetrix.
WordPress Hosting Server Downtime
If you regularly experience server downtime, there are several things to consider. Start by making sure you have a good security system in place to deal with DDoS attacks. Then take a look at your hardware resources, such as disk space, and make sure they aren’t getting full. Additionally, you can also ask your hosting support to check for networking issues.
Security Issues
If you find yourself regularly having to restore from backups due to getting infected with malware, be sure to first install a malware scanner and configure it to run automatically on a regular basis. Then, use strong passwords and update them frequently. Finally, make sure you keep everything up to date.
Plugin or Theme Conflicts
If you get plugin-related errors, consider disabling recently installed or updated plugins or themes. If the issue persists, you could also consider restoring from backups. Checking the logs and contacting support are some steps you can take to address these issues further.
Final Thoughts on WordPress Hosting Servers
Dedicated WordPress hosting is the best-performing option for hosting a WordPress website. It involves using a fully dedicated physical machine with dedicated resources.
While it may cost more than other hosting options, it provides complete control over hardware and software and the highest level of security.
When choosing a WordPress server hosting provider, it’s essential to consider factors like hardware scalability, control panel support, pricing, customer support, industry experience, and performance.
Managing a dedicated WordPress server environment involves performing regular backups, security updates, and optimization to keep the website stable and secure.
If you encounter any issues, it’s best to leave them to the hosting support team or a developer. But you can take some basic steps like optimizing images, checking hardware resources, and running malware scans to avoid common issues like slow website speed or server downtime.