VPS stands for Virtual Private Server, to better understand what it is about, it is worth analyzing what each of these three terms means. We are talking about a server that also has the characteristic of being private. This indicates a restriction so that only someone with permission can access it.
What about the fact that a server is virtual?
The term indicates servers that are virtualized through software, and there may be several of them on the same physical machine.
Thus, VPS refers to a virtual server that is hosted on a physical machine, which allows you to host a website or application exclusively.
What is the purpose of the VPS?
The conventional hosting stores your website or your blog in a shared manner. That is, in this case, on the same computer are innumerable websites of many other people and companies.
When opting for VPS, your website is hosted on a computer alongside other websites; however, they are not as many as in shared hosting.
This means that the machine’s hardware resources are shared by a smaller number of sites, which makes the VPS an option that offers better performance at a more affordable price than the dedicated server, you can choose between hourly VPS server, monthly or yearly based packages.
How does VPS work?
You may have heard of virtual machines. If you have Windows installed on your computer, you should know that it is possible to try another operating system, such as the famous Ubuntu Linux, without having to remove the Microsoft system.
Likewise, those who have Ubuntu installed can try other Linux distributions, or even Windows, in a very practical way. Just resort to installing virtual machines, which is done, for example, with the help of VirtualBox.
This software allows you to install one operating system inside the other, making it possible to allocate hardware resources, such as processor, RAM, and storage, to the guest system. This, in turn, now has a completely virtual environment that simulates a computer within the host operating system.
Something similar happens in the case of virtual servers. On a physical server with great processing power, the software is used to create virtual servers that behave as if they were computers.
They are virtual environments in which you can install an operating system and host your website and any application you want.
Such virtual servers are independent of each other so that each client can only access their own VPS. The user is given root access, which means having privileges to make configurations as he sees fit, which is not possible in traditional hosting.
In addition to this privacy issue, this independence also guarantees the performance of dedicated hardware resources, such as RAM, storage and processor.
Thus, the functioning of one VPS does not affect the performance of another. That is, the operation of a private server is very similar to that of a dedicated server, although the processing power is less.
How to choose a VPS?
If you have come to the conclusion that a VPS is a good option for you, it remains to learn how to choose a good hosting. Here are some items to look out for in order to make a good choice.
Know the management levels
The level of management is one of the main characteristics of a VPS. There are three types, as shown in the following topics.
When a VPS is not managed, it means that the company providing the service is not responsible for the management of its server. We can compare this situation with having a computer at home and taking care of updates, backups, and protection against threats yourself.
The difference is that administering a server remotely requires a good level of technical knowledge since you won’t even have a friendly interface to do this. Access will be done by command line if the system is Linux, or by Remote Access Protocol if it is a Windows server.
Even the issue of security requires a lot of attention, which also involves advanced computer skills.
In the case of a semi-managed VPS, the company that provides the hosting offers some type of management, which includes an administration panel with basic features that helps to configure the settings.
Even so, this type of management requires good technical knowledge and extra attention in relation to the issue of security.
This is the most comfortable management option since the company that provides the hosting is responsible for updating the operating system and correcting any bugs that may arise.
In fact, constant monitoring is carried out, so that any problem can be resolved quickly by the technical team. The result of this is stability and greater security.
In addition, in this type of management, you have access to a very complete control panel, which allows you to make adjustments even without having a high level of technical knowledge.
Keep your needs in mind
One of the characteristics of virtual servers is the possibility to hire a virtual server that meets your needs. At this point, you need to have a good sense of the traffic that your site receives, which can be done with the help of Google Analytics.
Such information will serve as a basis to define, for example, the RAM memory and the storage space that you should hire.
In addition, it is important to weigh other factors, such as how much you are willing to invest and whether there is an expectation of increased traffic.
Security is a key factor when thinking about running a website. After all, you don’t want your website to be taken down by malicious people or your leads and customers’ data to be stolen, right?
Also, check if the hosting company offers services such as automatic backup and installation of an SSL certificate. It even plays a very important role in the credibility of your website.
VPS offers several advantages compared to shared hosting. With them you have greater freedom, for example, to install applications and make hardware upgrades.
In addition, the price is more affordable than that charged for dedicated servers, and the fact that resources such as RAM and processor are not shared with other virtual servers guarantees superior performance when compared to traditional hosting.
Therefore, VPS is an intermediate solution for those who need better service at an affordable price. Making a good choice will mean seeing your marketing strategy working well and bringing returns in the medium and long term.