I recently read a thread on a very popular web hosting forum where the OP (original poster) asked if there existed some sort of e-book or publication that listed all of the types of things one could use a dedicated server for, but unfortunately that doesn’t exist. This infographic lists some of the possibilities, but there are countless others.
WordPress Server
For WordPress to work correctly, the recommended hardware specifications are:
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To ensure WordPress runs smoothly, the recommended hardware specifications depend on factors like the size of your site, traffic volume, and whether you’re hosting it yourself or using a managed service. However, here’s a general guideline for a self-hosted WordPress setup based on common recommendations:
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PHP Version: 7.4 or higher (PHP 8.0+ is ideal for performance and security).
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Memory (RAM): At least 256 MB for basic sites, but 1 GB or more is recommended for moderate to heavy traffic or plugin-intensive setups.
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CPU: A single-core processor can work for small sites, but a dual-core or better (e.g., 2 GHz+) is recommended for improved performance under load.
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Storage: At least 1 GB of free disk space for a basic install, though SSDs are preferred for faster read/write speeds. Larger sites with media files may need 10 GB or more.
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Web Server: Apache or Nginx, with a minimum of 128 MB of memory allocated per process.
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Database: MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.4+ with at least 512 MB of dedicated memory for small sites, scaling up for larger databases.
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Bandwidth: Depends on traffic—small sites might need 1–5 Mbps, while high-traffic sites could require 100 Mbps or more.
For a typical small to medium site, a server with 1–2 GB RAM, 1–2 CPU cores, and 20–50 GB SSD storage is a solid starting point. -
They do publish a list of providers that comply with those recommendations, but they’ve only tested a handful of providers. There are literally thousands of providers that support WordPress installations worldwide.
Forum Server
Forums like vBulletin and Xenforo are very popular. Online communities that are built and grown using these softwares can quickly overload shared and VPS platforms.
Per vBulletin –The system requirements for vBulletin 6.x are as follows:
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Web Server: Apache 2.4+, Nginx, or IIS 8.5+ (or equivalent).
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PHP Version: 7.4 or higher (PHP 8.1+ is recommended for optimal performance and security).
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Database: MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+ (newer versions like MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.11 are preferred).
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Disk Space: At least 1 GB of free space for the core installation, though more is needed for attachments, media, and database growth (SSDs are recommended).
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Memory (RAM): Minimum 256 MB allocated to PHP, but 1 GB+ is advised for smooth operation with moderate traffic.
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Rewrite Engine: mod_rewrite (Apache), URL Rewrite (IIS), or equivalent for Nginx to enable friendly URLs.
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PHP Extensions:
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mysqli (for database connectivity).
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mbstring (for UTF-8 character support).
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iconv (for additional character set support).
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GD or ImageMagick (for image processing).
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PHP Version: 8.1 or 8.2 for the latest performance and security features.
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OpCode Cache: Zend OPcache or APC to boost PHP performance by caching compiled scripts.
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Memory: 2 GB+ RAM on the server for sites with higher traffic or plugin usage.
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Database: MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+ for improved performance and features.
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SSL/TLS: OpenSSL support for secure HTTPS connections.
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Caching: Memcached or Redis to enhance performance by storing frequently accessed data in memory.
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Search: Sphinx Search (version 2.4.2+) as an optional alternative to MySQL for keyword-based searches.
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For a small forum, a server with 1–2 CPU cores, 2 GB RAM, and 20–50 GB SSD storage should suffice. Larger communities with thousands of users or heavy media usage might need 4+ cores, 8 GB+ RAM, and 100 GB+ storage.
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Bandwidth requirements scale with traffic—small sites might manage with 5–10 Mbps, while busy forums could need 100 Mbps or more.
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These specs assume a self-hosted setup. For vBulletin Cloud, the hosting provider manages the infrastructure, so you’d only need to ensure your domain and license are configured.
You’ve probably seen the term development server a few times, but what is it, really? Well, it’s a specific type of server that is engineered to help with the development and testing of a wide variety of websites, software, programs or applications. They’re often used by software programmers in a run-time environment, and are useful in program debugging and development.
Application Server
According to JavaWorld –
An application server exposes business logic to client applications through various protocols, possibly including HTTP. While a Web server mainly deals with sending HTML for display in a Web browser, an application server provides access to business logic for use by client application programs. The application program can use this logic just as it would call a method on an object (or a function in the procedural world).
Such application server clients can include GUIs (graphical user interface) running on a PC, a Web server, or even other application servers. The information traveling back and forth between an application server and its client is not restricted to simple display markup. Instead, the information is program logic. Since the logic takes the form of data and method calls and not static HTML, the client can employ the exposed business logic however it wants.
Game Server
We’ve actually posted an excellent article on our blog entitled, “The difference between game servers and regular dedicated servers.”
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ProlimeHost specializes in dedicated servers, with data centers in Los Angeles, Utah and Denver. Call +1 877 477 9454 or email us at Sales@ProlimeHost.com. We’re here to help.
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