Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting is a type of multi-tenant web hosting in which virtualized server resources are made accessible to end users on the Internet through a cloud or hosting provider. Even though the user is still sharing the physical server with other users, VPS hosting simulates the performance of a dedicated server. Each VPS managed by a hosting provider is installed on a physical machine running multiple VPSs.
Here are the articles to explain, What are the advantages and types of Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting?
Best VPS hosting providers bank on virtualization software called a hypervisor, and the underlying hardware to provide customers with access to virtualized servers called virtual machines (VMs). Each VM runs its operating system (OS) and has limited access to some of the physical servers’ computing, memory, and storage resources. Customers can access the virtual machine’s operating system, but not the physical server.
VPS hosting is one of the newer forms of web hosting that has become popular recently. Web hosting service providers allocate rentable space on computer servers to store, serve, and maintain files to help individuals and organizations make their websites accessible to users through the World Wide Web.
Types of Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
VPS hosting providers offer a variety of different plans, but all VPS services can be broken down into two distinct categories – managed and unmanaged hosting.
Managed VPS Hosting:
- Managed VPS, sometimes called “full” managed VPS, is a managed service that uses pre-installed server management software on a pre-arranged operating system. With managed VPS hosting, the service provider assumes responsibility for server maintenance such as backups, security, software installation, and more. Organizations using managed VPS hosting don’t need to worry about server management and can instead devote their resources to the growth and expansion of their business.
- Regardless of the underlying operating system and software, core server maintenance and management responsibilities fall with the hosting provider, including:
- technical support
- server monitoring
- Malware Protection
- Denial of service (DoS) protection
- Vetted operating system and sysadmin software upgrades
- Regardless of size and scale, businesses can opt for managed VPS hosting because it makes their work easier.
Unmanaged (Cloud) VPS Hosting:
- With unmanaged VPS hosting, there is no pre-installed software to manage the VPS. A VPS is not limited to a single application and operating system – it’s also called a cloud server because it’s flexible. In this type of VPS hosting, the provider is only responsible for maintaining the physical server and its guaranteed uptime. The responsibility for core server management tasks lies with the organization implementing the solution. However, the company’s servers require fewer resources to provision and maintain.
- Cloud servers cost less than managed VPS hosting plans that include enterprise software licenses. It is ideal for users with technical expertise and experience who require advanced skills in the:
- Linux Command Line Interface (CLI)
- Secure Shell (SSH)
- Web server software management (for example, Apache, Lighttpd, Nginx)
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Disaster recovery (DR), especially backup and snapshot management
Advantages of Using Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
VPS hosting is preferred as it offers a great blend of shared and dedicated hosting environments. Here are some of the advantages VPS hosting users can get:
- Enhanced Reliability: With a VPS hosting plan, each user’s resources are isolated from other virtual servers as well as hardware. Therefore, tasks running on other users’ servers do not affect the performance of your organization’s websites or applications.
- Full Control: With a VPS, organizations have full control over their servers. All resources of the VPS will be dedicated to the user. Servers run on demand from users, and organizations can manage their servers however they want. VPS can also be configured according to the needs of the organization. Technical support is available in case of failure. Organizations can also decide to opt for a fully managed service or one where the hosting provider will take care of server maintenance and management.
- Scalability: Depending on the changing business needs of the organization, VPS hosting solutions can be easily scaled up or down without any bottlenecks in server operation. Scaling up is as simple as upgrading an existing hosting plan, which usually does not involve any downtime, so the website continues to function without any intervention.
- Security: Since the VPS is separated from other users on the same server, they cannot access resources dedicated to a particular organization. The security of the company’s servers is under their control. The organization can set up firewalls and take additional security measures without worrying about other virtual servers.
- Cost Effective: Choosing a VPS solution is economical. Any budget can afford a basic VPS plan with the resources needed to create and maintain a website. Prices are expected to continue to drop due to advances in virtualization technology, so VPS hosting solutions cost relatively less than most shared plans.
Best Practices of Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
For VPS hosting to work, companies must follow the following best practices:
- Choosing a VPS Hosting Provider: Choosing a VPS service provider can be a difficult process as there are numerous providers available, some of which offer low-cost but unreliable servers. Before selecting a vendor, the organization’s requirements must be assessed. Buyers need to identify features that fit their specific business needs, such as proximity to users, block storage, APIs for automation, or the ability to add large amounts of storage, to name a few.
- Comparison of plans offered by providers: It can be profitable to weigh the plans offered by different providers when purchasing a VPS solution. The elements that determine the cost of a VPS solution are hosting services, usage, and server dedication. Managed services are more expensive because they come with server implementation, maintenance, and management services. The cost of a VPS solution varies by monthly price as well as storage, data transfer, bandwidth, and memory usage.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) vs Shared Hosting
Both VPS hosting and shared hosting solutions share a physical machine and its resources with other users.
In the case of shared hosting, resources are assumed to be shared equally among all users. If a site uses more than its fair share of bandwidth, it takes away from the remaining users. Additionally, if other websites sharing their servers are classified as “spam,” it can hurt an organization’s search engine optimization (SEO) and force their email campaigns into the junk folder unless they can plan for their hosting Buy a dedicated IP.
Some of the benefits that VPS hosting solutions offer over shared hosting solutions are as follows:
- Better performance: VPS performance is more consistent because each user gets their share of resources. With fewer VPS containers per server, users have more website and database resources. The performance of adjacent VPSs will not affect the organization.
- Root Access Availability: Root Access helps VPS system administrators manage services and install complex software that requires administrator privileges.
- Improved Brand Reputation: With a VPS, companies can enjoy fewer spam blacklists and better SEO because the organization has a dedicated IP address.
- Enhanced Network Security: More security because the virtualization process protects the VPS container from network attacks on other users. With root access, administrators can enhance the security of VPS and cloud servers.
However, shared hosting plans are preferred by many business users due to their low cost and ease of management. It is suitable for organizations that are building their first website or have low resource allocations. VPS hosting is perfect for small businesses, online stores, and large personal websites. It offers extra features, security, and performance, all for a very reasonable added cost.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) vs Dedicated Hosting
In a dedicated hosting solution, each server is dedicated to one client. Dedicated server hosting typically offers all the advantages of a VPS over shared hosting but over an entire physical server. This helps to install the Linux operating system and hardware customizations that the organization wishes to install.
Dedicated hosting plans are the safest option of the three server hosting types. Nonetheless, it is also the most expensive solution, which is why many users opt for a VPS. VPS hosting solution users save money as users only pay a portion of the cost of keeping a physical server up and running, with regular maintenance, hardware upgrades, and more.
