VPS is a more secure and stable solution than shared hosting, with which you don’t get dedicated server space. However, it is smaller in scale and cheaper than renting an entire server.
VPS hosting is typically chosen by website owners who have mid-tier traffic that exceeds the limits of shared hosting plans but don’t yet need the resources of a dedicated server.
VPS solutions usually offer various hosting plans. For example, at , we have six that cater to different needs and allow you to seamlessly scale your site when you need more resources.
What is a VPS?
A VPS or Virtual Private Server is a type of hosting that provides you with a private partition with dedicated resources within a server that has multiple users.
How does VPS hosting work?
A server is a computer where your web host stores the necessary files and databases for your website. Every time an online visitor wants to access your website, their browser sends a request to your server and transfers the necessary files over the Internet. VPS hosting provides you with a cloud server that simulates a physical server, but the machine is shared among multiple users.
By using virtualization technology, your web host installs a virtual layer on top of the server’s operating system. This layer partitions the server and allows each user to install their own operating system and software.
Therefore, a virtual private server (VPS) is both virtual and private because you have complete control. It is separated from other users of the server at the operating system level. In fact, VPS technology is similar to partitioning your computer when you want to run more than one operating system (for example, Windows and Linux) without having to reboot.
A VPS allows you to set up your website inside a secure container with guaranteed resources (memory, disk space, CPU cores, etc.) that you don’t have to share with other users. With VPS hosting, you have the same root level access as renting a dedicated server, but at a much lower cost.
Comparison of VPS with other types of web hosting
they allow you to perform different levels of customization on your server. They vary in price, performance (eg page load time), and service availability (eg uptime). Below, you can read about how VPS hosting compares to other hosting solutions.
Shared Hosting
The is the solution for website owners with less traffic. It is the starting point for most small businesses and bloggers. With shared hosting, the same physical server is divided among several clients of the hosting company. You don’t get dedicated resources for yourself, since your site runs on the same operating system as everyone else’s.
Therefore, the memory and computing power that your site can use is affected by the needs of other users of the service. For example, if there is a sudden spike in traffic to a website hosted on the same server, it can increase your page load time. You also can’t choose your operating system or other server software, since all users use the same settings. Ultimately, it is your hosting provider that takes care of every aspect of your shared hosting environment.
You can think of shared hosting as a rental where you share the same apartment with multiple roommates. VPS hosting is still a shared solution, however, everyone has their own room where they can customize the space according to their needs. For example, they can choose the painting, the furniture, the decoration, etc.
cloud-hosting
With cloud hosting you don’t use a single server, but a cluster running in the cloud. Each server in the cluster stores an up-to-date copy of your website. When one of the servers is too busy, the cluster automatically redirects traffic to one that isn’t. As a result, cloud hosting has no downtime, as there is always one server in the cluster that can handle requests from your website visitors.
Cloud hosting and VPS hosting are not mutually exclusive. Instead, many hosting companies offer . This is also the solution we have chosen at as we have found that the combination of VPS with cloud technologies leads to the highest possible performance and reliability in the remote server environment.
WordPress Hosting
The is a service specifically offered for WordPress site owners. It comes with several WordPress-related features that you can only use if you have a WordPress site, such as one-click install, pre-installed plugins, or a WP Command Line Interface. The servers are configured for the needs of WordPress. Therefore, hosting providers offer WordPress hosting as part of their shared hosting service.
While it is also possible to set up a WordPress site on a virtual private server, you cannot gain access to custom servers that have been set up with WordPress in mind. However, if you still choose VPS for your WordPress site, you can configure your hosting environment based on your business needs.
dedicated hosting
With dedicated hosting, you rent an entire physical server for your business. If you have a high traffic website, dedicated hosting may be the best solution for you, as dedicated servers are fast, flexible, and fully customizable. However, the service also comes with a price, which is why it is not the best solution for everyone, especially if you have a small or medium website.
While VPS hosting allows you to choose and configure your operating system and server applications, dedicated hosting goes one step further. It not only allows you to configure the software but also the hardware, since the entire server is yours and nobody has a say in the configuration. You can also run a dedicated server on site (for example, in your office), however, you will not get the support of a professional hosting team in that case.
Pros and cons of a Virtual Private Server
This type of web hosting can be an ideal solution for you if it is the service you really need. Below, you can read the pros and cons of having a virtual private server.
pros
- It is faster and more reliable than a shared hosting server.
- Since server resources such as memory or processing power are guaranteed, there is zero to minimal fluctuation in available resources.
- Problems and increases in traffic from other users of the server do not affect your site.
- You get superuser access (root) to your server.
- You get more privacy, since your files and databases are locked to other users of the server.
- It is an easy service to scale. As your website grows, you can easily upgrade your server resources (RAM, CPU, disk space, bandwidth, etc.).
Cons
- It is more expensive than shared hosting.
- More technical knowledge is required to manage your server.
- Misconfigured servers can lead to security vulnerabilities.
When to use a Virtual Private Server and how to decide if it’s time for an upgrade?
VPS hosting is often seen as the next step after your website grows out of the resource limits of shared hosting. If the plan is no longer enough to run your website smoothly, it’s worth upgrading to a VPS plan. In such cases, VPS hosting can provide you with the best of both worlds: shared and dedicated hosting.
However, there are other use cases where it might be a good idea to start with a VPS plan from scratch. For example, e-commerce websites where secure payments need to be ensured with a fast and stable environment can greatly benefit from a virtual private server. In fact, if you store any kind of sensitive information or have to process payments online, a VPS can help you reduce the risk of security breaches and identity theft.
If you expect to receive traffic spikes at certain times on your site, for example, in the case of an event planning or ticketing website, a VPS plan can be a godsend. Sites and other resource-heavy sites can also run with much better performance on a virtual private server.
Is there an alternative to Virtual Private Server? What is a managed VPS?
One of the biggest pitfalls of VPS hosting is having to manage the entire server environment on your own. If your remote server is not properly configured and maintained, you could face serious security risks and performance loss. Managed VPS services have appeared on the market as a viable solution to this problem. You can consider it as an upgraded alternative to VPS hosting, which comes with full technical support.
Managed VPS is still a novelty on the market, however more and more hosting providers are offering it to their customers. For example, at , our goal is to provide a fully managed hosting environment with all of our . We get your server up and running according to your needs, we handle server uptime and monitoring, we take care of backups and storage, and we provide 24/7 technical support for all our clients. of managed VPS.
In short, what is a Virtual Private Server?
VPS hosting gives you access to guaranteed resources and full control without having to manage your own server. It is an excellent solution for medium to high traffic, resource heavy and eCommerce websites.
However, companies expecting rapid growth can also benefit from the stability of the service. If you want a reliable, enterprise-scale hosting environment at a friendly price, VPS hosting for your website is definitely worth considering. For simple setup, you can consider the , which comes with a pre-installed control panel.
We hope this article has helped you understand what a VPS is and how it works. In case you have any additional questions, feel free to post them in the comments section below.
Deyi is a digital marketing enthusiast, with a background in web design, content creation, copywriting, and SEO. She is part of ‘s SEO & Localization team. In her free time, she likes to develop projects, read a book or watch a good movie.
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