What Is a VPS? A Guide to Virtual Private Servers

A VPS, or virtual private server, combines elements of shared hosting and dedicated servers to provide a web hosting experience with security, control, and performance.

Virtual private servers run on shared hardware, but each VPS receives its own virtual partition, forming an environment completely separate from other users on the server.

This article explains the basics and technical details of virtual private servers. This way, you can decide if a VPS is right for you. It’s also a guide to choosing the right VPS provider, configuring your VPS, and understanding management requirements.

VPS hosting combines many of the benefits of shared hosting and dedicated hosting. Similar to shared hosting, your data is hosted on a remote server.

However, unlike shared hosting, which requires you to share resources with other users and gives you limited customization options, a VPS is a dedicated virtual machine.

This means that, despite running on the same hardware as other VPSs, it has its own allocated resources and can run your choice of operating system and software.

If shared hosting environments are hotels and dedicated servers are houses, then a VPS is the equivalent of an apartment. You’re still sharing real estate with other users but have far more control over your allocated space.

A VPS allows many of the benefits of a dedicated server at a fraction of the cost. However, this comes with some drawbacks. Because a VPS has a set amount of resources, you can’t scale them as quickly as you can when using cloud hosting.

The primary component that makes a VPS unique is its virtualization. Virtualization refers to the partitioning of a physical server into multiple isolated areas, which function like independent machines.

Every virtual server has its own operating system, control panels, settings, and resources. Although every VPS shares the parent server’s hardware, each receives a fixed amount of resources, eliminating resource conflicts with other users.

This results in higher performance for all VPS instances and controls similar to those of a dedicated server.

You can choose from various types of VPS hosting: managed, unmanaged, and cloud VPS. In the following section, you’ll learn how to choose one based on its pros, cons, and overall characteristics.

Managed VPS

A managed VPS hosting experience has two main elements: a VPS server and management services. Those services include configuration, migration, maintenance, updates, backups, and security.

A managed VPS helps users spend more time on their businesses than on technical hosting tasks.

A managed VPS makes sense for businesses that need higher performance and reliability without managing technical elements.

Many companies must focus on other things, so managed VPS hosting works well for scaling websites or applications where unrestricted growth is key.

Unmanaged VPS

An unmanaged VPS provides a virtual private server experience with no additional management services. The user must handle everything from security to updates. It’s a cost-effective solution with high-performance results but requires some technical knowledge.

Committing to an unmanaged VPS requires experience with server management — not the physical hardware but elements such as operating systems, backups, and security measures. Therefore, it’s best for tech-savvy users and any business with a team of IT professionals.

Cloud VPS

Whereas a regular VPS runs on fixed server resources, a cloud VPS offers a similar virtualized experience but with the scalable resources of a cloud network.

In short, it uses multiple servers to support a website or application, adding redundancy and decreasing the chances of low performance.

Flexibility is the main advantage of cloud VPS hosting. Projects that need flexible pricing, resources, and server environments should all consider cloud VPS hosting. It’s useful for projects with fluctuating traffic or those scaling quickly.

Regardless of your VPS type, any virtual private server has general advantages and disadvantages.

Compared to shared hosting, you can usually expect performance, control, flexibility, and scalability increases. You might even see some cost savings.

Performance

The performance of a virtual private server comes from its dedicated resources.

Every virtualized section of the server is allotted a fixed amount of resources.

On the other hand, shared hosting lacks the partitioned environment of a VPS, so all users on the server battle for resources.

This can cause performance issues during periods of heavy use.

Each user gets dedicated RAM, CPU, and storage with a VPS.

This not only leads to a higher performance experience but also to consistent performance.

Control and Flexibility

Developers and website owners often use VPS hosting for its advanced flexibility and control potential.

VPS hosting offers root access, letting admins manage every aspect of the server.

It’s possible to choose the operating system, customize the control panel, and adjust other settings that improve the user experience.

You can also install custom software or optimize for performance.

A managed VPS offers less control, as the hosting service handles much of the server’s configuration.

However, it’s still more customizable than a shared hosting situation.

Scalability

Since a VPS provides upgradeable resources, users can scale up when necessary.

If you need more RAM, contact your VPS hosting provider to upgrade.

The same goes for CPU and storage.

This scalability comes in handy during growth or when a company must account for seasonal swings in traffic.

Scalability helps companies mitigate downtime issues and improve performance along the way.

Cost-Effectiveness

VPS hosting offers a middle ground between dedicated servers and shared hosting.

It’s more affordable than a dedicated server, yet you receive a similar environment — full control, customizable settings, and high levels of security.

Compared to shared hosting, VPS hosting costs more, but it’s still relatively affordable for the average business.

The added value — like superior performance, security, and control — makes it an easy choice over shared hosting.

In essence, VPS hosting balances cost and features pretty evenly, making it an intriguing choice for businesses who want a robust solution without the high price of a dedicated server.

The disadvantages of virtual private servers ‌revolve around how they require a certain level of technical knowledge to operate, even though it’s notas tricky as a dedicated server.

There’s also the cost and limited resources that may make other hosting options more desirable.

Technical Knowledge Required

The companies that opt for VPS hosting tend to employ IT teams.

Individuals who go with VPS hosting usually have technical knowledge, or at least the willingness to learn about hosting and server management.

That makes the requirement for technical knowledge one of the greatest downsides of VPS hosting.

You must possess server management skills for tasks such as configuration, optimization, and security setup.

Cost

Cost can be a disadvantage for VPS hosting if you’re used to paying a few bucks a month for shared hosting.

Shared hosting is typically much cheaper because you’re sharing resources with other websites, which drives down the price.

But it also means you’re sharing server space, bandwidth, and performance capabilities, which can result in slower load times.

The value that comes with VPS hosting, however, more than makes up for the difference, particularly the increases in performance and security.

Keep in mind that VPS hosting may also come with additional services and software licenses that increase the cost further.

Limited Resources

A VPS always has the potential for resource upgrades, but it’s not as flexible as a cloud network with multiple servers waiting to deliver more CPU or storage at any moment.

It’s also not the same as a dedicated server where all server resources get consumed by one user.

Virtualized servers still share physical server space with other users.

If improperly managed, this could lead to performance issues, especially during peak usage times.

Although rare, performance decline occurs because of resource contention, or the competition over resources by multiple users.

To pick the right VPS provider, start by assessing the needs of your application or website. Move on to evaluating the key features needed, then compare the best VPS hosting providers available.

Assessing Your Needs

Your search starts by understanding which resources you need to operate your website or application. Make the following numbers as specific as possible for a clear view of which VPS provider offers the best services.

• Type of website/application: Do you plan to run an eCommerce site with millions of visitors, page views, and transactions each month? Is it an application with dynamic content? Look at the type of content you plan to deliver, since a website with lots of images, videos, or pages requires more server power.
• Expected traffic and resource requirements: Each visit to your website puts strain on the CPU, RAM, and storage. Estimate the number of visitors you expect each month so you can prepare accordingly.
• Budget considerations: VPS hosting is more expensive than shared hosting, and managed VPS hosting is more expensive than unmanaged. Budget for these extra costs, and be sure to factor in licensing expenses, scaling of resources, and potential integrations.

With the type of website, expected traffic, and budget considerations in mind, move on to the key features of VPS providers. Understanding these features will guide you in finding hosting providers with the absolute essentials.

Key Features to Look For

Locating the best VPS provider requires you to evaluate each provider’s features. Look for essentials such as high-quality customer support, security features, and reliability.

Also, ensure your provider offers enough server resources to support your website or application.

• Resource allocation (CPU, RAM, storage): Look for providers with appropriate CPU, RAM, and storage levels to support your project. Scalability is important, too. Can you upgrade the resources whenever you want?
• Uptime guarantee and reliability: Ask about each provider’s redundancy. Do they offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee? The goal is to find a provider that keeps your site accessible virtually all the time.
• Customer support quality: A 24/7 customer support team doesn’t necessarily suggest quality. Often, you’re better off choosing a provider with a knowledgeable, local team available during the work week. That’s better than someone you can call at any time who hardly knows about servers and reads from a script. Your best bet is to test the customer support channels before committing to a provider.
• Security features: The most reputable VPS providers include robust security measures in all VPS plans. Check for essentials such as SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and automated backups.

Other features include control panel options, unique integrations, one-click install buttons, and operating system choices. You may filter your search by only looking at managed or unmanaged VPS providers.

Comparing VPS Hosting Providers

Not every hosting company sells virtual private servers. And not every VPS provider has the same offerings. You may need specific security features or a budget-friendly option. In this section, we’ll compare several reputable VPS providers to help you decide.

Each VPS provider has advantages. A2 Hosting and IONOS also offer rock-bottom pricing, at least during promotional periods.

IONOS and Hostinger use NVMe storage, but neither has managed hosting options. Kamatera gives you the greatest potential for scaling your CPU, RAM, and Disk Space, but HostGator has more stable pricing without promotional periods involved.

While you’ll save money upfront with the other services, your monthly fee will increase once the promotional period ends.

Setting up a virtual private server involves choosing the right VPS plan, registering your account, and configuring the server settings. After that, you’ll move on to VPS management.

Initial Setup

The initial setup relies heavily on your previous research of VPS providers. This is also where you’ll put the points you established in the “Assessing Your Needs” section to work.

Installing and Configuring Software

Many VPS control panels include areas for installing and configuring operating systems. Your choice of operating systems depends on your needs.

Consider Debian, CentOS, or Ubuntu if you’d rather have a stable, open-source OS. Windows Server costs more thanks to licensing fees, but it makes sense if you intend to run applications requiring a Windows environment.

Some hosting providers offer one-click software installation buttons to activate web servers. Otherwise, you can use package managers such as CentOS’s “yum” or Ubuntu’s “apt.”

Reputable web servers include Nginx and Apache. Go with Nginx for low resource usage and superior performance. Consider Apache if you need flexibility and support for various modules.

Finally, a database allows your VPS to store and manage data. You may install a database on the VPS control panel.

Alternatively, you can use the operating system’s package manager. Two notable databases are PostgreSQL and MySQL. Opt for PostgreSQL if SQL compliance is crucial. Otherwise, MySQL is the easiest to use.

Security Measures

Another essential part of any VPS configuration is security. If your provider doesn’t already have them active, you must configure a firewall, turn on regular updates, and activate automated patches. You should also implement SSL certificates for data encryption.

Firewall Configuration

Configuring a VPS firewall helps prevent attacks and unauthorized access to your server. Windows servers have a built-in firewall that lets you set rules and block certain traffic. For Linux, use the “iptables” tool.

Regular Updates and Patches

Managed VPS plans should automate all updates and patches. If you’re using an unmanaged VPS, you must handle them yourself. Use package managers such as “yum” and “apt” for these tasks on Linux OS.

Both let you complete regular updates to everything from the installed software to the operating system. Windows servers have automated updates.

Implementing SSL Certificates

An SSL certificate encrypts data passed between your clients and server. It’s essential for keeping your website and users safe, and it’s required by law in many municipalities. To get an SSL certificate, turn to your VPS provider first.

Otherwise, acquire an SSL certificate from a premium Certificate Authority or a free program like Let’s Encrypt. Install the certificate on your Nginx or Apache web server software. After that, make sure the SSL enforces HTTPS connections.

Performance Optimization

Use these tips and tools to establish optimal performance levels on your VPS.

• Caching solutions: A cache stores recently accessed data for faster load times. Some VPS hosts provide caching. Otherwise, go with a solution such as Redis, Varnish, or Memcached.
• Content delivery networks (CDNs): A CDN distributes content across multiple worldwide servers, delivering that content faster to end users (since the servers are closer to them). Many providers offer CDNs. Third-party options include Cloudflare, Amazon CloudFront, and KeyCDN.
• Optimizing server settings and resources: Fine-tune your server configurations, including PHP and database settings, memory usage, and compression options. Monitor resource usage to mitigate bottlenecks.

Those are the basics of VPS configuration. Read about advanced VPS topics below to expand your knowledge and further optimize your VPS environment.

Advanced topics such as scalability, load balancing, and disaster recovery enable VPS users to strengthen their servers and plan for issues.

Scalability and Load Balancing

Scalability means you can upgrade crucial resources, including RAM and CPU. This is called vertical scaling, where you add resources to the existing server. Horizontal scaling is different. It involves adding more servers to support the original server.

Load balancing is another tactic for optimizing a VPS. It spreads traffic across several servers, improving performance and support during high-traffic times.

Backup and Disaster Recovery

Backup and recovery tools save recent data in case a disaster occurs. You can restore a recent backup to bring the state of your site back to normal. For a VPS, it’s wise to turn on automated backups.

Store multiple backups in several locations and create a robust disaster recovery plan that minimizes downtime and offers a fast restoration process in an emergency.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Like any server, a VPS needs maintenance. You should also monitor its performance and resource usage. Tools such as Zabbix and Nagios provide detailed server metrics. As for maintenance tasks, complete security checks, server updates, patches, and reliability checks regularly.

Several common issues may arise when managing your VPS. Use the troubleshooting information below to guide your response.

Server Downtime

When your VPS goes down, so does your business. That’s why monitoring your server and quickly responding to outages is crucial.

• Common causes: Network trouble, software bugs, and hardware problems.
• Steps to resolve and prevent downtime: Strengthen redundancy, complete updates, and monitor your server to identify potential issues.

While monitoring your server for downtime threats, it’s also important to look for security breaches.

Security Breaches

Breaches can cause server downtime, data theft, and damage to your reputation. It’s essential to know how to stop them.

Common vulnerabilities include:

• Outdated software
• Poorly configured server settings
• Weak passwords
• A lack of security tools

If your VPS is compromised, change all passwords, isolate the server, block the bad actor, and complete a data restoration if needed.

After a security breach, it’s also necessary to contact any users or customers that the attack affected.

Performance Issues

Any performance issue may slow down your website or application. That hurts the user experience and costs you money. Use these tips to prevent performance issues:

• Identifying performance bottlenecks: Implement robust monitoring tools. Use them to alert you about slow queries, memory usage issues, and strains on CPU.
• Tips for optimizing server performance: Upgrade hardware resources when necessary, activate caching, and optimize databases.

Other performance tactics include web server optimization, using CDNs, and optimizing images. With those in place, you’re ready for the future with a VPS.

VPS hosting has already faced competition from cloud hosting and hybrid versions of virtualized servers. Luckily, these technological advancements should improve the VPS space.

A VPS allows businesses to host websites and applications with superior security, performance, and customization compared to shared hosting solutions.

Virtualized servers are affordable, becoming more user-friendly, and providing the performance and security needed for a growing website.

The future of VPS hosting is promising. With cloud services, issues with redundancy and security decrease. Luckily, there’s room for VPS hosting to fit into the cloud hosting world.

We encourage all businesses to explore VPS hosting for higher performance and a more secure hosting experience and consider a provider with cloud hosting integrated with the VPS for even more advantages.