Being the Perfect Host
By Brian Wilson
If you're thinking about hosting a Web site on your own colocated server, you're probably considering a rack-mount Linux box for the price and stability. But what do you get when you buy a dedicated Linux server? How much work will you face to get the box into a rack and onto the Internet?
I checked out two typical systems, a FullOn 2x2 from VA Linux and 1U Server from Penguin Computing Systems. Since I started working on this article the FullOn's name has changed: Now it's called FullOn 2230.
These two servers are in different categories so it wouldn't be meaningful to do a performance comparison. For details, visit the vendors' Web sites; VA and Penguin now offer both 1U and 2U servers that are very similar in features and price.
The Hardware
Both VA and Penguin are system integrators. They assemble systems using standard parts; you're paying for the value they add by testing and selecting what they feel are the best parts available and by preinstalling the operating system. I think they made very good choices.
