Private server

A Private server is a machine or virtual machine that is privately administrated. As servers need adequate internet connection, power and can be noisy,^[1] they are often located in a collocation center. Servers are available on the market the same way as laptops or desktops are available and can be purchased by individual already pre-configured. Ordinary desktop computers are not suitable to house in collocation centers as servers have specific form factor that allows them to fit many into a standard rack. This group also includes custom-designed experimental servers, made by hobbyists^[2] Virtual server also offer high degree of freedom, superuser access and low-cost service.

Usage as Server Emulator

• Private server can specifically mean a server emulator, a reimplementation of online game server such as MMORPG genres like World of Warcraft or The Exiled Realm of Arborea. Private machines can be used in various experimental projects such as games under development or various innovative startups.^[3]
• A private server can put Trojan, viruses, or keystroke logging scripts into user’s unauthorized game client. A user not only risks personal privacy, but also lack of indemnification from law.^[4]
• In order to change the dynamic of a game, private server providers sometimes heavily modify the game. Adding or deleting some NPC or skills, increasing or decreasing the game treasures drop rates, modifying the models in the game, or adding some original functions to the game are all examples.
• Private servers may have bugs and stability issues due to being outdated. The official release may provide greater stability.
• Most private servers have a short life cycle. Running a private server is unconstrained by the law, so private servers can be set up and closed without notifying users. Additionally, a private server provider can suspend or ban any user's account for any reason.^[5]

Advantages

• The owner has full freedom in choosing the server functions and software stack.
• The housing price tends to be cheaper than for the similar dedicated server as it does not include the price for renting the equipment.
• The server activities are only regulated by the law and not by policies of the hosting provider.
• The owned computer can offer much more disk space, memory, CPU time and other resources than shared, virtual private or even a typical dedicated server.

Disadvantages

• The dedicated machine is an overkill for many web projects. Buying limited resources with web hosting plan may actually be cheaper.
• The owner must be able to manage software and ensure security (it is possible to purchase security audit).
• The price of the new server is comparable to the price of the used car - several thousand to several tens of thousand dollars, depending on configuration. This may be too expensive for the occasional hobby purchase but is an acceptable price for some business start-up even without an investing company behind.
• With very high end hardware, the traffic speed may become a bottleneck. Multiple servers, scattered through the world, may be able to handle more connections even when each of them is less capable.

References

1. Custom designed server, barebone-based approach.
2. Custom designed server, design to maximize performance per watt.
3. citation needed
4. The closed world of private game servers
5. Can private servers be a good thing?