Choose a dedicated server by starting from the workload, not from the biggest numbers. Size memory first, then the processor, storage and its redundancy, the network, and finally the operating system and licences, and finish with a few questions to the provider before you order.
Start by describing the workload
Before looking at any plan, turn "we need a strong server" into a short profile you can size against:
- What will run on it: websites, a database, business software, virtual machines, or a mix?
- How many users or requests at the busiest moment, not on average?
- How much data today, and how much in 12 to 24 months?
- Does the software require Windows, or a particular Linux distribution?
- Who will administer the server once it is delivered?
Memory: size it first
Databases and caches are fastest when their most-used data sits in memory; when memory runs out, the system swaps to disk and response times collapse. Add up the parts:
- Operating system and base services: a few gigabytes.
- Database: enough to hold the frequently used part of your data; on a server dedicated to MySQL or MariaDB, the InnoDB buffer pool is usually given a large share of memory.
- Application workers: for example, the number of PHP processes multiplied by the memory each one uses.
- Caches and virtual machines: the full allocation of each one.
- Headroom: roughly a quarter on top, for growth and traffic spikes.
As an illustration, a 30 GB active database, 8 GB of application workers and 4 GB for the system add up to 42 GB; with headroom, that lands on a 64 GB server rather than 32 GB.
Processor: speed per core versus number of cores
A single web request or database query usually runs on one core, so the speed and generation of each core decide how quickly an individual page or report is produced. The number of cores decides how many of those requests run at the same time, and how many virtual machines or parallel jobs the server can carry. A busy online store needs both; a reporting database that runs a few heavy queries cares more about per-core speed; a server hosting many virtual machines cares more about core count.
The plan cards list core counts but not processor models, so ask for the model and generation before ordering. Some plans offer the same memory with a different number of cores; pick by how much work runs in parallel.
| Plan group | RAM and cores | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Servers 1 to 3 | 32–64 GB, 4–8 cores | Busy sites, ERP, one database |
| Servers 4 to 6 | 128–256 GB, 16–32 cores | Large databases, several VMs |
| Servers 7 to 9 | 512 GB–1 TB, 24–32 cores | In-memory data, many VMs |
The ranges come from the dedicated server plan pages; the "typical fit" column is a general starting point, not a rule.
Storage: capacity, speed and RAID
All dedicated plans list NVMe storage: 1 TB on Servers 1 to 3, 2 TB on Server 8 and 4 TB on the others. NVMe drives offer very low latency and a high number of operations per second, which is what databases need most. For capacity, add your data, logs, local backup copies and two years of growth, and keep a fifth or more of the disk free.
Redundancy is a separate question. RAID 1 mirrors two drives, so the server keeps running if one fails; RAID 10 combines mirroring and striping across four or more drives for both safety and speed; RAID 0 adds speed with no protection at all. The plan cards do not state the drive layout, so ask how many drives make up the advertised capacity and which RAID level is configured or possible. Remember that RAID is not a backup: an accidental deletion, a corrupted database or ransomware is copied to every mirrored drive instantly.
Bandwidth: port speed versus monthly traffic
Port speed is the maximum rate at any moment; the dedicated plans list a 1 Gbps port, which is about 125 megabytes per second in theory. Monthly traffic is the total volume over a month, listed as unlimited on the dedicated plan cards. For most business workloads the port is the practical ceiling. Estimate your peak: 300 people streaming video at 3 Mbps each need about 900 Mbps, which is close to a 1 Gbps port, so heavy media sites should also consider a CDN.
Operating system and licences
The plan pages list Windows Server and the Linux distributions Ubuntu, AlmaLinux, CentOS, Fedora, Debian and Rocky Linux. Choose the system your software is built for: Linux for most web stacks, Windows Server for .NET Framework applications, Microsoft SQL Server and other Windows-only programs. For production, prefer a release with a long support window, such as Ubuntu LTS, Debian stable, AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux; classic CentOS Linux releases have reached end of life, and each Fedora release is supported for only about a year.
Licences deserve their own line in the budget. Microsoft licenses Windows Server per physical core, so the cost grows with the core count; confirm with support whether a licence is included and which version you will receive. Control panel licences (cPanel/WHM, Plesk, DirectAdmin) and security tools such as Imunify360 and KernelCare are listed on the extra services page. Our comparison of cPanel, DirectAdmin and Plesk and the server security add-ons guide help you decide which you need.
Who runs the server after delivery
The plan cards list full server control, 24/7 Arabic technical support and an official invoice. Administering the operating system and applications inside the server, however, stays with you: under the acceptable use policy, once the login details are delivered the server is the customer's full responsibility, including files, settings, updates and protection, and managing it from the inside is a separate paid service. The same policy makes customers responsible for regular backups, so plan a backup destination off the server; the extra services page lists backup storage plans and backup tool licences.
Questions to ask before ordering
- Which processor model and generation is installed, and at what clock speed?
- How many drives make up the storage, and which RAID level is configured?
- Is the Windows Server licence included, and which version will be installed?
- How many IP addresses come with the server, and can more be added?
- Is there remote console access if the operating system fails to boot?
- How is a failed drive or other hardware fault reported and replaced?
Not sure a dedicated server is the right step at all? Compare it first in VPS or dedicated server for your business, or see where all three hosting types fit in our shared, VPS and dedicated overview.
Useful links: Shared Hosting, Linux VPS, Domain Registration, Contact Us.
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