And even some who offer shared servers as an option admit that if one client on the box has a huge spike in traffic, it will slow the performance of other clients' applications. Still, demand for lower-cost shared servers has prompted several ASPs to offer the option. Breakaway Solutions Inc. offers a range of services, including custom application development, Web hosting, and rented applications. Customers can select a shared or dedicated server. And Restaurant Consulting Services has let customers share servers since it began renting applications a year and a half ago.
Cost savings is the reason most customers are buying.
Prices vary widely, depending on the network configuration. If we didn't have this option, I wouldn't have been able to afford the Oracle applications in the first place. Price may be the benefit for customers, but it's ease of management that's catching the attention of ASPs. For them, upgrades are easier and faster on a shared server. ASPs can upgrade software simultaneously for several customers that share a server.