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Hosting Sitecore Siteson a Budget
Web Hosting Tips for Sitecore SitesAugust 17, 2013 1
Sitecore Enterprise Web CMS• Popular .NET Web Content Management
System for mid-to-large organizations• Provides friendly tools for non-technical
Content Authors and Marketers• Can be customized and extended to meet
almost any conceivable business need
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Types of Web Hosting
Each type of web hosting has benefits & risks• Shared web hosting• Dedicated web hosting• Virtual web hosting• Cloud hosting services• Colocation facilities• Managed web hosting• Fully managed Sitecore hosting
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Shared Web Hosting
Benefits• Hosting vendor manages servers for clients• Services include monitoring, backups & tech support• Most affordable type of paid hosting
Risks• Multiple client sites are hosted on a common server• Any server security hardening is at option of vendor• Limited isolation from other unknown sites & users• Your site could be compromised due to another site• Shared resources may not be available when needed 4
Dedicated Web Hosting
Benefits• Client is assigned their own private physical server• Client has more control over server configuration• Client has root access and can harden their server• Client may also obtain their own private network
• Hosting vendor manages infrastructure for servers• Services include monitoring, backups & tech support
Risks• Client is responsible for server & site administration• Costs are higher than shared or virtual hosting• Client pays for resources whether they are used or not
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Virtual Hosting
Benefits• Virtual Private Servers (VPS) are assigned to clients• Each VPS has its own files, users, ports, resources, etc.• Client has root access to their own VPS• Hosting vendor manages underlying hypervisor
• Virtual hosting is a good option for lower budgets• Less expensive than dedicated hosting• Each VPS has its own set of resource guarantees• A VPS can access extra resources if they are available
Risks• The vendor could overload too many VPS per server• Several VPS could contend for resources at same time
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Cloud Hosting
Benefits• Fast server provisioning• Fully automated self-service platform• Additional resources can be provisioned within minutes
• High availability • Eliminates single points of failure• Guaranteed 99.95% compute uptime
• Lower capital costs• No hardware to rent, purchase, set up or manage• Clients only pay for the system time and space used
Risks• This technology is less mature than other host options• Reliability, performance & security depends on vendor
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Availability and Uptime
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Availability Downtime per year
Downtime per thirty-day month
Downtime per week
90% 36.5 days 72 hours 16.8 hours
95% 18.25 days 36 hours 8.4 hours
97% 10.96 days 21.6 hours 5.04 hours
98% 7.30 days 14.4 hours 3.36 hours
99% 3.65 days 7.20 hours 1.68 hours
99.5% 1.83 days 3.60 hours 50.4 minutes
99.8% 17.52 hours 86.23 minutes 20.16 minutes
99.9% 8.76 hours 43.2 minutes 10.1 minutes
99.95% 4.38 hours 21.56 minutes 5.04 minutes
99.99% 52.56 minutes 4.32 minutes 1.01 minutes
Sitecore Azure Edition
Architecture• Sitecore CMS & Sitecore Digital Marketing System• Core & master databases are deployed on-premise• Live site hosted at Microsoft Azure data centers• Hybrid approach good for enterprise deployments
Features• High availability• Fast server response times• Fast site deployments• Fast scalability
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Colocation Facilities
Benefits • A data center that provides fast Internet connections• Rents facility, racks, power & cooling to clients• Provides the speed & security for money transactions• Clients own & manage their own equipment• Servers, storage, networking, etc.
Risks• Client is responsible for all hardware purchases• Client is responsible for server & network provisioning• Client is responsible for all server & site management 10
Managed Web Hosting
Benefits• Hosting plans administered by hosting vendors• Companies can focus on business objectives of sites• Technical and infrastructure needs handled by vendor
• Cost savings• Reduces staffing requirements for managing sites• Reduces personnel training requirements• Contracts can lock in prices for extended time periods
Risks• Clients may be required to perform some admin tasks• Higher costs than dedicated or virtual hosting
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Fully-Managed Sitecore Hosting
Benefits• Sitecore support & updates handled by experts• Sitecore preventive & corrective maintenance tasks• Sitecore performance monitoring & optimization• Sitecore security configuration & reviews• Sitecore implementation advice & mentoring
• Better budgeting for Sitecore support & updates• Costs become predictable for managing Sitecore sites• Help with cost benefit analysis for Sitecore upgrades
Risks• Complete dependence on provider for Sitecore sites• Higher costs than dedicated, virtual or managed plans
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Defining Server Requirements
Server Resources• Number and type of Windows servers• Dedicated physical servers• Virtual private servers (VPS)
• Use load testing & WCAT to predict resource needs• Amount of memory• Speed & number of CPUs/cores• Speed & number of network cards• Speed, type & amount of disk storage
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Defining Network Requirements
Public network• Number of static IP addresses• Upstream and downstream speeds• Perimeter firewall • DNS domain name resolution
Private network• Internal network to connect servers• Publishing content• Database traffic• Server backups
• Dedicated internal network switch14
Defining Security Requirements
Server security• Server configuration settings• Software firewall settings• Microsoft security updates
Sitecore security• Sitecore configuration settings• Users & roles• Permissions settings
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Defining Service Requirements
Server services• Server monitoring• File system backups• Technical support
Sitecore-related services• Source control & continuous integration• Code maintenance, updates & upgrades• Mentoring internal staff on their Sitecore domains
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Defining Sitecore Requirements
Content Management server• Number of concurrent content authors• Amount of content, media & versions in Content Tree
Content Delivery (Live) server• Requests per minute• Typical vs. peak traffic loads• Publishing during low and high traffic periods• Optimized code helps reduce server requirements
Database server• Assign more resources to it than CMS or Live server• Create a private network with CMS & Live servers
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Selecting a Hosting Vendor
Suggested Steps• Assemble stakeholders into an evaluation team• Define requirements in writing• Technical• Business• Vendor
• Compile list of possible vendors• Conduct a side-by-side comparison• Evaluate service, support & costs• Avoid selecting a vendor solely on price
• Create a short list of provider candidates• Select vendor based on your needs & budget
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Calculating Web Hosting Costs
Hosting components• Servers for CMS, staging & live sites• More powerful server for SQL databases• Microsoft operating system & SQL software• Backup software & storage space• Switch for private network
Managed hosting services• Routine server management & maintenance• Operating system updates & patches• Sitecore management & maintenance• Sitecore code updates & upgrades
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Reducing Hosting Costs
Reduced hosting resources• Use virtual hosting over dedicated hosting• Eliminate unused & unneeded resources• Scale back the CPU, memory, storage, bandwidth, etc.• Use one database server rather than one for each site• Only host the Live site with the hosting provider• Use your own facilities & equipment for all other sites• Host your own DNS or use a dedicated DNS provider
• Negotiate lower monthly prices with a longer contract • Perform additional verifications of vendor quality first
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Reducing Managed Hosting Costs
Reduced hosting services• Provision Sitecore support separate from hosting• Use a combination of resources to keep costs low• Internal staff who could perform some of the work• Low cost Sitecore partners that provide flexible plans• Contractors who are already familiar with your site• Sitecore experts on LinkedIn, Google+, etc.
• Assign low-cost persons the Sitecore work they can do• Assign the remaining work to higher-cost experts• Ensure external experts can work with internal staff• Use collaboration & mentoring so staff can do more
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Off Shore Hosting
Benefits• Reduced infrastructure & set-up costs• Significant savings in monthly hosting costs
Risks• Potentially lower reliability & support quality • Slower response times for US visitors due to latency• Domestic legal & regulatory compliance issues• Data is subject to laws of country where it is stored• Issues from servers located in different time zones
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Sitecore Hosting Partners
Benefits• Companies selected to provide tested solutions• Expert support of websites based on .NET & Sitecore
Risks• May be more expensive than using internal staff or
contractors to supplement your internal staff
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In Summary
• A successful Web site depends on a good web host• Each type of web hosting has benefits & risks• Virtual hosting is a good option for lower budgets• Use a systematic approach to select a hosting vendor• Select the hosting vendor with the best value plan• Avoid resource & service costs that you don’t need • Try to use internal staff to do some Sitecore support• Use Sitecore experts to supplement your internal staff• Encourage knowledge transfers so staff can do more 24
Caveat Emptor
There are many ways to plan for Sitecore hosting• Experienced vendors can propose additional solutions• Review your hosting needs with a Sitecore partner• Review proposed hosting plans with all stakeholders
This presentation is intended to be academic• To enhance public knowledge of hosting issues• To promote better understanding of Sitecore hosting
Author cannot guarantee accuracy or fitness for your site• Author makes no representations or warranties• Author disclaims any liability if you act on this information 25
More Topics from TICAll Sitecore-related SlideShares from TIChttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/presentations
How to Avoid Shooting Yourself in the SEOhttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-seo-tips
Implementing Routine Sitecore Maintenancehttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-maintenance-tips
Performance Tips for Sitecore Mobile Usershttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-mobile-performance-tips
Sitecore 7 – New Features for Usershttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-7-new-features
Sitecore Performance Tips for Visitor Engagementhttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-performance-tips
Troubleshooting Sitecore Performancehttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/troubleshooting-sitecore-performance
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The Inside Corner, Inc.
• The Inside Corner, Inc. (TIC) is owned by Craig Nelson• TIC is a Sitecore partner & web consultancy• A U.S. point of contact for teams of Sitecore specialists • We create new Sitecore sites & enhance existing ones
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Primary Developer - Craig Nelson
• Sitecore Specialist certified for Sitecore 7• 10 years of system administration experience• 10 years as a Microsoft Certified Trainer• 5 years of ASP.NET web development experience• 4 years of Sitecore development experience• 3 years as a Sitecore technical instructor• Sitecore architecture & configuration expert• Performance & SEO optimization specialist• Workflow configuration specialist 28
Get Help with your Sitecore Site
Follow TIC on LinkedIn• http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-inside-corner-inc.
Add TIC to your Circles on Google Plus• http://google.com/+Theinsidecorner
Follow TIC on Twitter • https://twitter.com/TheInsideCorner
Contact Craig Directly• Craig Nelson - Certified 7.0 Developer and Sitecore Partner• cwnelson[at]ticdevs.com• Mobile - 707.319.7446
Visit the TIC website• http://ticdevs.com
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Bibliography
Benefits of Cloud Website Hosting
Managed Web Hosting - Six Reasons to Outsource
Sitecore Hosting Partners
SitecoreUser.com Sitecore Hosting Calculator
The Successful Vendor Selection Process
Wikipedia - Web hosting service
Download slide presentation to view URLs30
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Hosting Sitecore Sites on a Budget
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Thanks! August 17, 2013
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