A virtual private server, VPS, also known as virtual dedicated server (VDS) is a server that mimics a dedicated server environment but is actually installed on a physical server that is shared by many other users. VPS server hosting as such is a combination of both shared hosting and dedicated hosting.
In other words multiple virtual servers run within a physical server and has its own share of resources including memory, storage space, bandwidth, etc.
Firms offering VPS server hosting guarantee a certain amount of resources to their account holders. For example, if an account holder is promised 512 Mb of RAM, then the client will have the amount promised regardless of what other clients on the same server are promised or how much they are using.
A website owner intending to make his website available online for others to view via an internet connection has to host it on a web server. Smaller or midsized organizations that have limited resources and thin online traffic cannot afford to invest in physical servers of their own as they are expensive and difficult to maintain. Such organizations usually opt to rent space on a web server for their web hosting needs.
VPS hosting is one hosting option available that gives control and security of dedicated hosting in a shared environment without the exorbitant cost associated with dedicated servers.
There are basically three types of hosting options available to organizations or website owners. These are:
- Shared Hosting
- Dedicated Server Hosting and
- VPS Server Hosting
All these three types of hosting options have the same basic underlying concept as they all offer organizations or end users a web server to host their website. The difference lies in the features and benefits they offer, the cost associated with each of them, set up and installation cost and level of customisation they offer among others.
In the following paragraphs we shall talk in detail about VPS server hosting, its various features, benefits and advantages, and the way it differs from shared and dedicated hosting.
VPS in detail
A virtual private server runs completely independent of each other with own share of dedicated resources. A single physical server can have multiple websites, each with its own operating system that runs the hosting software for a particular user.
Each VPS has its own files system so a user is comprehensively protected from what others are doing. Additionally each VPS runs its own OS, can reboot it at will and install and run any software and application supported by that operating system.
VPS server hosting and how it is different from dedicated and shared hosting
Dedicated server as the name suggests is dedicated to the cause of a single organization. This is the preferred option for organizations that have very high traffic flow to their website and want more control and dedicated resources to manage it.
Organizations with small resources and normal online traffic may not have the resources, technical expertise or for that matter any need to invest in expensive dedicated servers. They may rent a small portion of a web server to host their website. This sharing of a physical with other website owners is known as shared hosting.
In a VPS server hosting, the account holders are provided their own virtual environment and they can pull resources from the physical server without any interference from other users. VPS as such is often chosen by small organizations that need a customised web site but lack the resources to go for a full fledged dedicated server hosting option.
The different benefits of VPS server hosting
VPS hosting offers power and control offered by dedicated hosting is juxtaposed with the affordability of shared hosting. Some of the more important benefits of VPS hosting are as following:
Increased Privacy—in VPS hosting you do not have to share your OS with other users neither are there websites that in any way has access to your files.
Dedicated resources—you are guaranteed certain amount of resources by the service provider and it is available to you anytime of the day or night.
More control—you have more control over your OS and you can reboot it or go for a system restart without affecting other users.
MSC Graduate by Profession and blogger by passion. Main motive is to keep the readers, bloggers & visitors informed about the latest trends in technology and hosting.
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Frank
April 20, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Thanks for the great article… VPS servers, powerful or not the features remain the same. Powerful VPS servers may offer better performance.