What is a VPS hosting? Everything you need to know about virtual private servers in 2023

1. What is VPS?

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a managed service that uses virtualization technology to provide you with dedicated (dedicated) resources on a server with multiple users.

VPS is a more secure and stable solution than shared hosting, where you don't have dedicated server space. However, it is smaller and cheaper than renting an entire server.

VPS hosting is usually chosen by site owners whose moderate traffic exceeds the limits of shared hosting plans, but still does not require the resources of dedicated servers. Virtual private server solutions typically offer multiple hosting plans.

2. How does a VPS hosting work?

A server is a Web host that stores the files and databases needed for a Web site. Every time an online visitor wants to visit your site, their browser sends a request to your server and transfers the necessary files over the Internet. VPS hosting gives you a virtual server that simulates a physical server, but in reality, the machine is shared by multiple users.

Using virtualization technology, the hosting service provider installs a virtual layer on top of the server's operating system (OS). This layer divides the server into partitions and allows each user to install their own operating system and software.

Therefore, a virtual private server (VPS) is both virtual and private, since you have complete control over it. It is separated from other server users at the operating system level. In fact, VPS technology is similar to creating partitions on your own computer when running multiple operating systems, such as Windows and Linux, without rebooting.

Running VPS allows you to build your site in a secure container with guaranteed resources (memory, disk space, CPU core, etc.) that you don't have to share with other users. With VPS hosting, you can have the same root-level access as a dedicated server, but at a much lower cost.

3. Virtual Private Server Pros and Cons

If it's a service you really need, VPS hosting can be your ideal solution. Below, you can read about the pros and cons of running a virtual private server.

Pros

• It is faster and more reliable than shared host servers.

• Because server resources such as memory or processing power are guaranteed, the fluctuation of available resources is zero or minimal.

• Problems and spikes in traffic from other server users will not affect your site.

• You can get super user (root) access to the server.

• You have better privacy, as your files and databases are locked from other server users.

• This is an easily extensible service. As your site grows, you can easily upgrade server resources (RAM, CPU, disk space, bandwidth, and so on).

Cons

• It's more expensive than shared hosting.

• It requires more technical knowledge to set up your VPS, although there are plenty of tutorials online.

• Server management is technically more demanding than sharing or cloud planning.

• Improperly configured servers can lead to security holes.

4. When to use it and how to decide whether to upgrade?

VPS hosting is generally considered the next step after your site exceeds the shared hosting resource limit. If a state-of-the-art shared hosting solution is no longer enough to run your site smoothly, it's worth upgrading to a VPS solution. In this case, VPS hosts can give you the best of both worlds: shared hosts and dedicated hosts.

However, there are some other use cases where it might be a good idea to have a VPS plan from the beginning. For example, e-commerce sites that need a fast and stable environment to ensure secure payments could benefit greatly from virtual private servers. In fact, if you store any type of sensitive data or have to process online payments, VPS can help you reduce the risk of security breaches and identity theft.

A VPS hosting plan can also be a godsend if you want your site to peak at a specific time, for example, in the case of an event planning or ticketing site. Game servers, such as CS: GO or Minecraft, and other resource-intensive sites, also perform better on virtual private servers.

5. Are there alternatives to VPS? What is managed VPS?

One of the biggest drawbacks of VPS hosting is having to manage the entire server environment yourself. Improper configuration and maintenance of virtual servers may result in serious security risks and performance losses. As a viable solution to this problem, managed VPS hosting services have emerged on the market. You can think of it as an enhanced alternative to VPS hosting, with full technical support.

conclusion

VPS hosting gives you access to guaranteed resources and complete control without having to run your own server. It is an excellent solution for high traffic, resource intensive and e-commerce sites. However, businesses that expect rapid growth can also benefit from the stability of services. If you want to provide a reliable, commercial-scale hosting environment at a friendly price, then hosting VPS for your website is definitely worth considering.