Beginner’s Guide to VPS Hosting | What is VPS Hosting? Beginner’s Guide to VPS Hosting | What is VPS Hosting?

Beginner’s Guide to VPS Hosting | Virtual Servers

| Published: | Updated:

Share With

Beginner’s Guide to VPS Hosting | What is VPS Hosting?

Virtual Private Server , VPS hosting, can be intimidating, especially for first-timers. This guide will provide some basic information about this to help readers understand what this is about.

What is VPS hosting?

In VPS hosting, users are given back-end access so that they themselves will be able to allocate the resources (memory, disk space, and processing power) they need for their website. A Virtual private server (VPS) is a hosting environment that replicates the services produced by other types of servers such as  shared hosting but with dedicated server style resources.

How does VPS hosting differ from shared hosting?

Like shared hosting, several websites can be hosted in the same physical server in VPS hosting. However, the difference is that in VPS hosting, virtual compartments are set up so that these sites will not have to compete in terms of resources. Instead, these will be allocated according to the user’s preferences.

What are the differences betweenmanaged and unmanaged VPS hosting?

What to look for with vps hosting.

Web hosting is not just about resources. Other services, such as automated backups, virus scans, software updates, and performance monitoring are also equally important. As the name suggests, managed VPS hosting does these things, although the actual extent of coverage may depend on the service provider. This is a good option for those who are not just starting out, or who are not yet familiar with the technical side of managing a blog or a website. All they will need to worry about is generating content for the site because someone else will do the backend work for them. The catch is the services come at a price. Unmanaged hosting, on the other hand, that comes with little or no additional service, because it is assumed that those who opt for this already have the technical know-how to install and manage the software that will perform the abovementioned tasks on their own. Do note that unmanaged hosting may not necessarily mean that the user is left all alone without any means of support available to them. Reliable service providers offer tech support in case their clients may experience glitches. On the positive side, unmanaged hosting comes at a cheaper cost, because there are no bells and whistles attached to this.

What are the advantages and disadvantages with VPS hosting?

In a way, VPS hosting offers the best of what shared and dedicated servers offer. You will have a lesser chance of experiencing down time or your website slowing down because your website will have its own allocated resources. At the same time, you will not have to spend as much compared to getting a dedicated server. Furthermore, this plan is also flexible, since you have the relative freedom to customize the server according to your needs. Do note, however, that this option will require a bit of technical knowledge from the end of the users, because they will be the ones who will need to deal with the back-end of running the site, including setting up the resources that will be allocated on their respective sites.

Are there differences between cloud-based VPS hosting vs. VPS hosting on dedicated servers?

A virtual private server can take two forms. The first is an actual physical server, or a collection of servers, that has been split, with each segment forming its own micro-server. As the name suggests, cloud hosting utilizes the cloud platform, which uses multiple servers clustered together. The primary disadvantage for the first option is that should the physical server crash or fail completely, all the VPSs within that server will go down. Furthermore, should one of the VPSs in the server get hacked, then the other ones may also be compromised. However, this is a cheaper option. Cloud storage, on the other hand, comes at a higher price, but more resources are available for users with this option. Furthermore, given that there are multiple servers within a cluster, failure of one will not necessarily mean complete loss of data, since the files can be migrated to another server.

Reasons  to Consider VPS Hosting for Your Website

Truth be told, virtual private servers are not applicable to all websites. This is especially true if you have started your website from scratch. Even so, that isn’t a valid reason to ignore what these servers can do. Considering that VPS hosting solutions vary in features, it is worth knowing  whether or not they will benefit you. Of course, the decision of whether or not to use a VPS hosting depends on you. Sure, you can avail a VPS hosting at this very moment, but do you really need one? Here are some good reasons why you should consider a VPS hosting for your website.

1. Your website is growing.

Over time, your website will grow. From 10 or 20 visitors in a day, you’ll soon have thousands of them. And no matter how much effort you exert optimizing your content, you’ll feel your site is still not doing any better. When that time comes, you will have to consider migrating your shared hosting to a VPS.

2. You feel the need to control some aspects of your hosting plan.

With a shared hosting, you will have less control over things, particularly with regards to the operating system to use, RAM, storage, and the control panel. Unlike with a VPS, you get to manage all those aspects. Isn’t that something you should carefully think about?

3. A dedicated server doesn’t seem to suit your budget yet.

As they say, a VPS hosting is where a shared hosting and a dedicated server meets. It’s like the middle road between the two. True that a VPS hosting can accommodate those demanding and growing websites a shared hosting can’t, still, it can’t match what a dedicated server can do.Then again, that doesn’t mean it is a poor alternative to dedicated servers. Technically, it’s just a matter of hardware stuff. While a dedicated server satisfies the needs of one client, a VPS allows several users to take advantage of the benefits of a dedicated setup with one server.Since a dedicated server is designed to cater the needs of one customer alone, it is far more pricey than a VPS hosting. Thus, if you think you can’t afford to spend a significant amount of money on dedicated servers just yet, you might want to opt for a VPS for the meantime.

4. VPS Resources and Operation

Virtual private servers are divided. Each server has its own disc space, operating system, bandwidth and RAM. A shared server that contains virtual private servers allow for dedicated space which is used by an account holder. Only the holder of that account can use the allotted virtual environment which does not affect other VPS on the shared server.

5.VPS Hosting development environments

VPS hosting is perfect for testing ideas in the development stage without committing too much money upfront with hosting costs. A VPS offers excellent resources for hosting. Although you can use unmanaged VPS hosting, a managed VPS hosting solution will place the burden of the software, hardware, backups and maintenance work on someone else other than yourself. There are various types of VPS hosting packages – those in the started range and those that offer capabilities to handle tremendous flows of traffic per day and offer abundant disc space bandwidth and RAM. At Jaguar PC, we offer managed VPS hosting packages that give you high end performance and other capabilities for your websites. 

Some of the main benefits connected with managed VPS hosting include:

1. Control: A virtual private server can be shutoff or restarted at any time with disturbing the other VPS on the same shared server
2. Privacy: No sharing between operating systems takes place. Your files are protected from access by others.
3. Dedicated Space and Resources: A VPS has allocated resources giving protected access to RAM, disc space and bandwidth
4. Customization: The user can change an application at any time based on your server needs.

What to look for with VPS Hosting.

Check server uptime

You don’t want to get a web host that experiences down time frequently. Check the uptime guarantee of the VPS host you are considering getting. Most offer a 99.99% uptime guarantee, although some offer a bit lower than that at a lower cost. Even if you are working on a tight budget, do not get one that offers less than 99.95% uptime guarantee so you can get your money’s worth.

Check the type of VPS hosting offered

There are two kinds of VPS web hosting offered: managed and unmanaged.Managed VPS hosting means that the service provider will be the one to do the back-end work for you, from resource management to other services, such as virus scanning and backing up your uploaded files. Note, however, that these add-ons come with a price. Unmanaged VPS hosting, on the other hand, puts back-end management in the hands of the user. This means that you will be the one to set the added services yourself. Technologically-savvy website owners opt for this, given that this comes at a cheaper price compared to managed VPS hosting. Should you choose the latter option, inquire with the service provider what kind of management tool they are using. Most use cPanel. However, others may utilize a different tool that you may not be familiar with, which can make it difficult for you to run your website.

Customer support

Make sure that the VPS host you get offers 24/7 customer support so that you are guaranteed to receive help in the event of downtime, or any other problem that you may encounter with your website. The best hosting companies offer different ways of contacting them (i.e. phone, e-mail, social media, website) to quickly respond to their customers’ queries.

Cost

Most users factor in cost as their primary consideration when choosing their web host. This can be detrimental in the long run. While you may end up saving a few bucks, you may end up getting sub-standard service, which can include regular down-times and poor support. You may also want to see if the web host offers a money-back guarantee so you have the option to back out should you be unhappy about the service you are getting.

Managed VPS Hosting

The process of managing a VPS is easy, but it does require some knowledge. A web hosting company can provide this service. Management can be done fully, semi or independently. With a fully managed solution the hosting company takes care of everything from hardware changes to maintenance work. Semi management puts some of the responsibility on the account holder (the hosting company may provide maintenance and back-ups) and independently managed hosting places the entire responsibility on the account holder.Be sure to contact us a Jaguar PC to learn how we can serve your managed VPS hosting needs.

Summing Up Things

VPS hosting is the middle ground for clients who are looking to allocate enough resources on their website but are also concerned about their budget. If you are envisioning that your site will have a lot of content, including resource-heavy photos and videos, and encounter moderate traffic, then this might be the best option for you.To top things off, it is safe to conclude that a VPS hosting might not be the best option for your website, but if it already calls for an upgrade due to some obvious reasons, perhaps you might want to consider making a switch. Yes, it can be a bit expensive than your current shared hosting plan, but it can offer you more accessibility and customization options other plans don’t.Hopefully, this post has helped you clear things out. Now, would you be able to decide whether or not to use a VPS hosting? 

CHOOSING A VPS HOST

Opting for a virtual private server (VPS) has become the go-to option for a lot of website owners these days, by virtue of the flexibility this offers to them. Nonetheless, not all of the hosts offer the same services and features. This guide provides tips to help you in choosing the best VPS host to meet your needs.

Share With

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share On Facebook
add_action('wp_footer', 'add_custom_tracking_script');