Using a Virtual Private Server is identical to use of a dedicated server in a shared hosting environment. VPS is an economical option to a dedicated server hosting. It also imparts an isolated environment that more secure than shared hosting. If shared hosting is known for economy and dedicated hosting is regarded for privacy, then VPS hosting is the golden mean between these two with availability of economy as well as privacy of hosting environment.
Understanding the way a VPS works
Technology of virtualization has helped divide a single physical server into multiple virtual servers. It enables simultaneous running of several virtualized operating systems. Virtual Private Server behaves as a dedicated server and shares a portion of the physical server with users of other Virtual Private Systems.
With facility of running an independent operating system, a VPS server runs in an isolated environment even though it is sharing resources with other VPS users on the same physical server. Such an arrangement can support websites that are receiving millions of hits every day.
Shared hosting is best suited for static websites with limited range of visits per day such as small scale online enterprises, personal sites, blogs, personal galleries, and limited forums. However, with growth in number of visitors or frequent instances of downtime and slow page loading, a shift to VPS hosting may become a necessity.
Website administrators or site owners need to be very particular while zeroing in on a VPS hosting service provider. There are two types of VPS hosting services including self-managed and fully managed VPS hosting. The major difference between these two versions is the way the server management is performed.
Attributes of fully managed VPS hosting
Virtual Private Server management is highly complex and involves a great deal of technicalities. In a fully managed VPS hosting, website owners are completely absolved of all responsibilities of server management. This type of VPS hosting is preferred by users that do not have technical manpower to manage server operations.
Fully managed VPS hosting offers a plethora of advantages to users. The most striking advantage is reliable server management by the host that guarantees hassle free website performance and assured availability of all web applications.
Fully managed VPS hosting facilitates complete maintenance of server to help website run without any technical glitches. Users are not required to be worried about keeping hardware or software updated for smooth website functioning.
Management of traffic spikes is vital for reducing periods of downtime. Providers of fully managed VPS hosting shoulder entire responsibility of server monitoring and resource provisioning during periods of traffic spikes.
Clients of fully managed VPS hosting can look forward to seamless data protection by consistent checking of data files for any weaknesses and bugs. This is followed by regular data as well as application backup to safeguard mission critical business applications in the event of an unexpected event.
With incessant monitoring of servers, fully managed VPS providers make sure that there is no threat from viruses, malware, or spyware to the integrity of data and performance of applications. Users are also offered robust technical support guarantee due to presence of dedicated technical experts that are available on round the clock basis to resolve issues related to formatting or other technical matters.
Few drawbacks of fully managed VPS hosting
Few demerits of fully managed VPS hosting need to be noted along with the broad assortment of advantages. One of the most obvious concerns with a fully managed VPS hosting is its relatively higher price tag in comparison with self managed hosting.
If you expect full-fledged server control, then the same cannot be guaranteed in a fully managed VPS hosting environment. Most of controls related to server operations are with the host.
Installation of new software application or a piece of hardware can take longer time in fully managed VPS hosting than self managed hosting of Virtual Private Server. These operations can be instantly performed by your in-house technical experts in self managed VPS hosting. The delay is mainly due to the implementation
Self managed Virtual Private Server hosting
The name itself implies that users are responsible for complete server management in self managed VPS hosting. The host is only supposed to make a functional Virtual Private Server available to user and does not shoulder any responsibility of operating or maintaining the server.
Self managed VPS is a great option for users that need to have exclusive freedom of operating their server. Such users are backed by sound experience of managing servers and also backed by technical personnel to look after seamless running of servers.
Freedom offered by self managed VPS hosting facilitates users to install applications of their choice and set controls for accessing data. It also grants them total freedom to control all aspects of VPS server. The freedom also extends to management of security levels and helps users become self reliant in all matters related to management of their VPS hosting including installations, updates, and more.
Self managed VPS hosting can be challenging is users are not well conversant with intricacies of server operations. Therefore a fully managed VPS hosting can be the ideal way of webhosting if you are not able to handle sever management on your own.