VPS vs Shared Hosting

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Most of the sites on the web today are residing on a shared server.  Although a dedicated server makes for a more secure and reliable hosting solution, it is still cost prohibitive to the average customer, ranging upwards of $150 per month.  Those who can’t afford this steep price will be happy to know that a VPS makes the perfect alternative to a costly dedicated server.  And while there are similarities, this type of hosting supercedes shared hosting by far.

What is a Virtual Private Server?

You could say that a virtual private server or VPS, is a cross between a shared and dedicated server.  The biggest similarity to shared hosting is that you are still sharing system resources such as RAM and CPU with other customers.  The biggest difference is the use of a technology known as virtualization that gives the platform many characteristics of a dedicated server.  A VPS is set up in a manner where it seems as if you are not sharing the server with other users.  Each virtual server is partitioned and isolated from its neighbors.  It can be restarted independently and perform many of the same functions as a single physical server.  A VPS typically has its own IP address, system libraries and configuration files.  It also offers root access which gives you the ability to perform your own custom software installations.

More Power, Tighter Security

A virtual private server is far more powerful and secure than its shared counterpart could ever be.  Unfortunately, you never know who else is hosting beside you on a shared server.  It could be someone running a spam campaign, hosting a malware site or someone looking to compromise unknowing users who aren’t aware of the proper security measures.

Another quality of VPS hosting is the enhanced performance and stability it offers.  In a shared hosting arrangement, you are essentially at the mercy of your neighbors.  If someone else experiences a sudden rush of traffic, your site could suffer because of it.  If one site happens to fail because of a problem with the server, there is a good chance that all other sites could go down as well.  These are issues you don’t have to worry about on a VPS platform as each server is independent of one another.

Fewer Limitations

Although shared hosting can be a viable option in many situations, the limitations of this environment gives it many disadvantages.  Even in a “unlimited” package, you still need to worry about bandwidth and disk space usage for the simple fact that your neighbors have an impact on system resources.  In most cases, shared hosting also prevents you from installing your own scripts and software as well as security mechanisms you feel will provide the best protection.  A VPS frees of you these restrictions, offering a level of control similar to that of a dedicated server.

The popularity of virtualization technology has made VPS hosting far more affordable than in past times.  These days, you can find a package that isn’t too much more than a shared hosting plan.  When factoring in all the benefits, VPS is a hosting solution you definitely want to take into consideration.

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