When thinking about setting up your website or blog, there are tons of things that that you need to take into account. If the website is going to get a lot of traffic, then you need to think about hosting it on a server that is able to handle the bandwidth and other server resources that a large volume of traffic creates. Dedicated servers, where you have an entire machine with only one website hosted, can be quite expensive. A virtual private server (VPS), however, works on the same principle, but in this case you have one physical server with multiple standalone servers hosted on it. This is achieved through a technology known as software virtualization.
I’ve been using a VPS to host my website, as well as sites for clients for the past 3 years. I love it because I have almost total control over what is used and who has access.
Why Not Use a Dedicated Server?
A VPS is a more cost-effective way of having a dedicated server. It is a partition of the main physical server that you are allocated. The number of segregations on the physical server varies based on the requirements of each client. This partition works more like a standalone server, only using the allocated resources from the physical server itself. On the other hand, dedicated server hosting is where the hosting company allocates you an entire physical server. Although this comes with its benefits, the costs can be quite high. And unless you are running a website that makes a ton of money, you may end up paying more for your dedicated server per month than you make.
Although different users are using the same physical server, in a VPS environment performance is never affected – every user has its own resources. This prevents other users from affecting you, and you can always go for more resources such as storage space and memory as your business grows. This makes a virtual private server the best option for both start-up and large organizations.
Other Reasons to Choose VPS
Using a VPS comes with a lot of benefits, some of which will propel your business to the next level. Better security, control and improved reliability are some of the main VPS hosting advantages. Linux is one of the most stable operating systems around. It rarely crashes or needs frequent rebooting. It’s extremely reliable. And since Linux is not prone to malware and viruses, your business is well cushioned against many online threats. And since you are also working within your own virtual environment, you will not have to be worried about other users invading your privacy.
You will also save money going with a virtual server compared to a physical one. Look at it this way, your virtual server is running on some very powerful servers which also hosts websites for other customers. Therefore, you have your allocated resources on the same server as a few other people meaning that the costs are well distributed amongst all of you without compromising performance. It is for this reason that a cheap Linux VPS is a viable option for any website or online project.
Another great advantage of using a virtual private server is flexibility. You can install your custom operating system and even applications on the server to match your needs. This operating environment is also very scalable. Furthermore, you are your own administrator, and you can easily access and work on your server using a number of remote access tools.
Who Can Benefit From a VPS?
A Linux VPS can be beneficial for different users. Websites that experience a lot of traffic need it to accommodate the traffic and guarantee availability. Generally, if you are running any online business and anticipate growth, then going for a VPS is the best way of keeping up with this expansion. Lastly, if you need a customised server environment, then this is the right solution.
Users of Dedicated servers pay a lot of money to get the same services that you can get at a lower cost from a VPS. Therefore, if you are currently thinking of hosting services, you are better off with a Linux virtual private server.
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