How to choose between Cloud Server and Dedicated server?
When we are launching an IT project with certain technical
requirements and that requires an advanced solution that we can manage
ourselves as developers, one of the first decisions we must make is what type
of Server suits me: a Cloud Server? Or a Dedicated Server? Many factors can tip
the balance towards one or the other alternative, such as the experience of the
Systems professional or your personal preferences. However, the most important
thing is to analyze the type of project and the needs of the applications that
must be deployed, as explained below.
The decision between Cloud Server or Dedicated Server is
closely related to the application we have to deploy. The study of the
characteristics of each project must tell us which of the two alternatives is
the most appropriate and there, we must attend to several factors, such as the
need for processing, user behavior, growth expectations, etc. Below we review
the main features of Cloud and Dedicated Servers according to different
elements:
Payment for use
Both Cloud Servers and Dedicated Servers are based on pay
per use, which means that they will only be billed for the time of use of the
machines. Although for this reason both alternatives would be tied, it is a
factor that we must study very closely in other providers, since it is
generally that Dedicated Servers require an initial disbursement and are billed
for months or years. Besides, the cost of Cloud Servers is predictable with
accuracy.
Scalability
The great advantage of Cloud Servers is their scaling and
flexibility. The resources of the virtual machines can vary with time and
therefore allow better cost control, thanks to the possibility of sizing
servers accompanying the needs of applications at all times. In the Dedicated,
the dimensioning of the resources of the server can be more complicated, since
if we dimension in excess we will be paying more from the first day and if we
fall short we can be forced to make a migration to another server sooner than
desired or we will have to request an extension to our measure.
Performance
Although they are increasingly approaching in terms of performance,
in some very demanding applications and environments, such as those based on
SAP HANA, or that require intensive calculations (Business Intelligence, IoT,
Big Data applications ...) it may be advisable to opt for a Server Dedicated.
The reason is that the Dedicated Server processor is completely and exclusively
dedicated to serving the application, so it can perform operations faster and
with less latency.
Hardware fault tolerance
Thanks to virtualization, Cloud Servers win the game in this
factor, so it is something we do not have to worry about: Cloud Servers are
completely tolerant of hardware failures since the machines replicate in
seconds before any inconvenient without having to do anything. On the other
hand, Dedicated Servers depend on the proper functioning of the hardware they
have, so if any component fails, the machine may be affected. All Dedicated
Servers have Raid 1, which also guarantees high security of stored data and
maximum tolerance to mechanical failures.
High availability
As for high availability, both solutions are very suitable
and have more or less the same characteristics if we configure them correctly.
However, in the Cloud Servers, we can deploy as a service advanced system
administration functionalities that on Dedicated Servers might require more
technical knowledge or time.