VPS Hosting Explained
Web Hosting nowadays is more than just an apache web server on a linux box serving static web pages (HTML).
With the introduction of dynamic web sites utilizing PHP and ASP the needs for server resources like RAM and CPU power raised significantly.
Even though the resources needed to provide fast and reliably the web site to the end user raised, there is no guarantee of a web hosting provider that will reserve the resources needed for your web site. And there is where virtual private servers or VPS in short come to use.
A VPS is basically a part of the physical server, separated from the rest and reserved for the needs of the web site that it will host. By picking a VPS as your solution in web hosting you will get guaranteed RAM, Disk Space and CPU share that will be reserved for your use and will not be accessible by anyone else. Several technologies can provide a VPS solution like Virtuozzo, OpenVZ, VMware ESX and Hyper-V.
All of those technologies have advantages and disadvantages, making me unable to point to the overall best one.
What can be considered true is that if your main use of a VPS is to host a web site then virtuozzo is the best solution as it is much faster than the other technologies and can provide better response rates almost identical as hosting the web site in a standalone physical server.
Another major advantage of virtuozzo is the excellent integration with Plesk Panel which is a control panel used by most webmasters in order to manage their web site.
Finally since the cost of maintaining a physical server just for hosting a web site might be higher than the budget available, VPS’es are an excellent way to get what you want and save a significant amount of money. Virtual private servers in general can do anything that a physical server can do, ranging from game servers, irc servers and online storage to mail servers.
What hosting should I choose?
If you are just starting out and want no string attached, there are plenty of alternatives. Free hosting allows you to not only create a website, but it helps beginners, no matter how much experience they have. Although there are popup downsides and other annoyances, free web hosting will give you everything that you need. If you are not sure if you even want to extensively design one, Geocities or AngelFire is great to experiment with.
Are you looking for something a bit more customized? For many webmasters, shared unix hosting or shared windows hosting are the most favorite platforms. This means that an abundance of websites are actually on one server. While this only costs a few dollars a month, there are still issues that come along with it. For instance, if a fellow webmaster were to have done something illegal, chances are your website would be shut down as well. This is because you share an IP, which of course can be quite dangerous. For this reason, you must be careful when choosing people to share a host with.
While these are great alternatives, many professional companies enjoy dedicated server hosting. Fortunately, the website is the only one on the server, which results in a lot less complications. With freedom comes a plethora of features, which include extra bandwidth, visitor trackers, and your own I.P. As a result, you do not have to worry about illegal situations occurring within your server. Everything is based around your needs.
Reseller hosting is another admired amenity. If you are a webmaster and are looking to make some extra cash, reseller web hosting is a great opportunity. In simple terms, you purchase a web hosting package from a company and divide the space into several sections. These sections can easily be purchased by fellow webmasters, who are in need of space. With this business in place, you will effortless make a few dollars.
Regardless of what you are looking to make, web hosting is necessary. From free companies to dedicated servers with only one website, there are endless opportunities. Although people assume that there is only one type of package, this article clearly shows how wrong the myth can be. The only requirement is that you are ready to work hard, be innovative, and stand out among the crowd. With these factors in mind, you could be to the top in no time.