Everything You Need To Know About Virtual Private Hosting
If you want to own your own website then you need to have somewhere to host it. There are a number of different options available when it comes to web hosting, one of which is Virtual Private Hosting, also known as a VPS, or Virtual Private Server.
What is Virtual Private Hosting?
VPH simply means hosting your website files on a VPS, which is essentially a virtual version of a dedicated server. Servers act like website hotels, storing files and delivering content to you – in fact, you’re viewing this article right now thanks to a server. There are physical servers and virtual servers available for people to use, and which they choose often depends on their own requirements.
How does VPH work?
This may get a bit technical but we’ll try to keep it as simple as possible, so stay with us. When you choose to host your website on a Virtual Private Server you are actually provided with an allocation of space on a real physical server, but unlike Shared hosting on a physical server, your VPS remains private and gives you access to your own components and resources that are independent of anyone else’s who may also have a VPS on the same server. This basically provides VPS users with the same benefits of a dedicated server, which is a physical server that you rent entirely.
What are the benefits of Virtual Private Hosting?
Virtual Private Hosting has 5 key benefits:
- Cost
A cheap VPS can provide you with many of the same benefits as a very expensive dedicated server making it a great option for smaller businesses or companies who don’t want to splash out on their own physical dedicated server. - Privacy
Unlike in shared hosting where multiple users share a single server, VPH maintains complete privacy between shared users, with each VPS acting independently of one another. VPS needs to be protected using keys such as the SSH add key, which is what makes them so appealing. - Resource Management
With a Virtual Private Hosting, each user remains in control of their own resources, such as RAM, ensuring that the resources they need are there when they need them and not being used by other users of the server. - Control
Users of a shared server are never in complete control of their environment, whereas users of a VPS can shut down or make changes to their VPS as they see fit, without it affecting other users of the physical server. - Personalization
With a VPS, you receive your own Operating System, which means that you can personalize it with Apps as you see fit. This is particularly beneficial for those who want to customize their own VPS environment to suit their website needs.
Is VPH for you?
Virtual Private Hosting may not be for everyone but does provide a great middle-ground for those seeking a customizable and private server option but who are unwilling to pay the price needed for their own dedicated server. The best thing to do if you are unsure as to whether you need a VPS is to get in touch with one of the many VPS providers who will be able to discuss your requirements.
