Virtual Private Servers (VPS) are virtual machines traded as services by a hosting provider. They are a great option for SaaS providers, programmers, game makers, and companies whose site growth has exceeded their shared hosting plans.
Most VPS grants super user-level access to users, allowing you to run its copy of an Operating System. The access gives you leverage over the Operating System instance to install any application that runs on the OS.
VPS hosting is regarded as an upgrade from shared hosting and has become quite popular because of this. It provides better security, reliability, and performance.
Hosting providers set up their VPS in a way that imitates a dedicated server environment in a shared server. It is however cost-effective compared to dedicated hosting.
Let’s dig deeper into the world of VPS hosting to know when it is good for you, how to make the right decision, and all the information needed to get started.
We’ll also be looking at the VPS hosting available and how much you’ll be spending to lay your hands on a plan.
What is virtual private server hosting?
VPS hosting typically describes a situation where multiple users make use of isolated instances on a private server.
It provides stability and security than shared hosting by using virtualization technology to where a dedicated server space is not provided.
However, VPS hosting is smaller in scale and less expensive than running an entire server. It is most often selected by site owners who have outgrown their shared hosting plans but still find the resources of a dedicated server to be too much.
The following are the basic things you can do with the most popular VPS hosting plans:
- Your VPS environments can be accessed from any location.
- Provision of allotted storage and bandwidth, to make sure that other sites on the server don't impact your performance.
- Availability of more storage and bandwidth.
Therefore, Virtual Private Servers grants you complete control, which shows that they are both virtual and private.
VPS technology can be likened to creating compartments on your computer so you don’t have to reboot before running over one OS. It allows the separation from other server users on the Operating System level.
Private (Parent) VPS Hosting
In this type of hosting, you have no need for a parent server with other companies, and it provides the advantages of virtualization. It is a flexible, robust, and type of hosting that enables you to:
- Exert complete control over the resources of a parent server that's built to your specifications. Which ultimately means you can control and add any amount of VPS environments as long as the server permits.
- Instead of being charged for each environment, you pay for the parent server. You can add parent servers when it’s time to grow.
- Migrate between instances easily either from your provider’s public cloud VPS parent servers or to private VPS parent servers.
Types of VPS Hosting
After concluding that VPS is right for you, there’s a long list of things to consider before you choose the type of VPS to opt for.
There are two major types of VPS hosting namely, the Managed and Unmanaged VPS. Selecting either of the two boils down to how much control you’re comfortable having over your server.
Managed
Site owners who have limited technical knowledge are the most beneficiary of the Managed VPS. A fully Managed VPS allows you to take a laid-back method of server management.
Your hosting company provides IT professionals to handle all the technical aspects and lighten your load to ensure you’re provided with the essential security and stability needed without too much work on your part.
Here are the following things you should expect from your hosting provider when you subscribe to a Managed VPS plan;
Server Setup
A fully managed plan includes Operating System and server setup, control panel installation, along with every other application software installation.
Updates And Monitoring
There’d be regular updates for all applications and OS. They will be monitored for the warning signs of malicious attacks and hardware failure.
General fine tunning of the server will be carried out until optimization is achieved.
Security patches
Your hosting company will carry out regular security patches updates for the benefit of your OS and core server software.
Automated backups
You have automated backups put in place so that in any error on your site, your data will be retrieved easily.
Self-Managed
A self-managed VPS is also known as unmanaged VPS. It basically means a Virtual Private Server that is managed by the user.
- Even though the hosting company carries basic responsibilities like providing hardware maintenance and performing regular system-level health checks.
- Every other aspect of maintenance, effecting changes, and general monitoring of the server is carried out by the VPS customer.
- As a site owner, the following are the various aspect of the server you’ll be managing:
- Installing software, your control panel, and taking care of software updates.
- Monitoring for malicious attacks and security threats. You will also fix error messages and install security patches.
- In the event of any wrongdoing, hardware failure, or general site outage, your host won’t provide a lot of support.
- You configure and maintain your server along with any needed upgrades.
- Setting up your site’s backup services is your responsibility.
The major bargaining chip between unmanaged and managed VPS hosting, is cost against flexibility.
Unmanaged services are far cheaper than managed plans, but it comes at a price. You need the technical acumen to pull off managing the server, or be ready to hire someone to keep it safe from potential attacks and have everything running smoothly.
How much does VPS cost?
All VPS services aren’t created equal. Moreover, VPS pricing depends on a lot of factors of which the type of VPS you want and resources associated with it are the major ones.
A cheap VPS hosting plan can go for as low as $5 per month to expensive ones around $240+ per month. Settling for whichever price range depends on how much traffic your site experience.
If you run a site that expects loads of traffic, be ready to pay a lot more than people who experience low traffic.
Some providers even go as far as offering free trials for some set period. However, you might be concerned if a discounted or cheap hosting plan translates to subpar service.
You need not worry, because most VPS hosting delivers excellent performance. Here are the top 5 hosting providers and how much resources they offer along with their price range.
Bluehost
Bluehost offers VPS plans that stretch across a wide range of hosting options. They offer resources and pricing that accommodate the needs of all kinds of websites.
Features
Free domain and SSL certificate
Free SSD for extreme speed
30-day money-back guarantee
Standard VPS: $19.99 per month
- 2 CPU cores
- 30 GB of SSD
- 2 GB of RAM
- 1 TB of bandwidth
Enhanced VPS: $29.99 per month
- 2 CPU cores
- 60 GB of SSD
- 4 GB of RAM
- 2 TB of bandwidth
Premium VPS: $49.99 per month
- 3 CPU cores
- 90 GB of SSD
- 6 GB of RAM
- 2 TB of bandwidth
Ultimate VPS: $59.99 per month
- 4 CPU cores
- 120 GB of SSD
- 8 GB of RAM
- 3 TB of bandwidth
Hostinger
Hostinger offers wonderful hosting plans. They provide you with the most bang for your money, with low prices and outstanding features.
Features
Month-to-month pricing
Free domain and SSL certificate
30-day money-back guarantee
1 vCPU: $3.95 per month
- 1 core
- 1 GB RAM
- 20 GB SSD Storage
- 1 TB Bandwidth
2 vCPU: $8.95 per month
- 2 Cores
- 2 GB RAM
- 40 GB SSD Storage
- 2 TB Bandwidth
3 vCPU: $12.95 per month
- 3 Cores
- 3 GB RAM
- 60 GB SSD Storage
- 3 TB Bandwidth
4 vCPU: $15.95 per month
- 4 Cores
- 4 GB RAM
- 80 GB SSD Storage
- 4 TB Bandwidth
6 vCPU: $23.95 per month
- 6 Cores
- 6 GB RAM
- 120 GB SSD Storage
- 6 TB Bandwidth
8 vCPU: $29.95 per month
- 8 Cores
- 8 GB RAM
- 160 GB SSD Storage
- 8 TB Bandwidth
InMotion
InMotion offers Cloud VPS hosting and traditional VPS hosting.
Free domain and SSL certificate
Free and unlimited email
90-day money-back guarantee
InMotion Managed VPS Hosting
There is the added benefit of optional root access for users who want more control over their server. However, you must have signed up for a 2-year plan to get these low introductory rates.
- VPS-1000HA-S — Starts at $22.99 per month
- VPS-2000HA-S — Starts at $34.99 per month
- VPS-3000HA-S — Starts at $54.99 per month
InMotion Cloud VPS
This is more like a self-managed plan. Each plan comes with full root access and SSH keys, which means you can customize your server whichever way you want.
You also need to sign up for a 1-year plan to be qualified for these rates
cVPS-1 — Starts at $5 per month
cVPS-2 — Starts at $10 per month
cVPS-3 — Starts at $15 per month
cVPS-4 — Starts at $20 per month
cVPS-6 — Starts at $30 per month
cVPS-8 — Starts at $50 per month
cVPS-16 — Starts at $80 per month
cVPS-32 — Starts at $160 per month
A2 Hosting
Features
Free SSD with root access
30-day money-back guarantee
Unmanaged VPS Plans
- Entry Plans — Starting at $5 per month
- Mid Plans — Starting at $10 per month
- Elite Plans — Starting at $15 per month
Managed and Core VPS Plans
- Power — Starts at $25 per month
- Prestige — Starts at $35 per month
- Pinnacle — Starts at $50 per month
HostGator
Features
Flexible software options
Advanced server features
45-day money back guarantee
Snappy 2000: $29.95 per month
- 2 GB of RAM
- 2 CPU cores
- 120 GB of disk space
- 1.5 TB of bandwidth
Snappy 4000: $39.95 per month
- 4 GB of RAM
- 2 CPU cores
- 165 GB of disk space
- 2 TB of bandwidth
Snappy 8000: $49.95 per month
- 8 GB of RAM
- 4 CPU cores
- 240 GB of disk space
- 3 TB of bandwidth
What can I run on VPS?
VPS hosting isn’t limited to just web hosting, there’s a lot more you can do by hopping on a VPS plan.
Let’s look at 5 most common uses of VPS apart from web hosting:
Backing Up Data
Buying a VPS to back up your data is unnecessary. Cloud is mostly used for data backups, as they are cheaper.
However, if you have extra space leftover on your VPS plan, you can use it for storing important files and documents.
Game Server
The gaming industry is a very exciting world with lots of potential. More breathtaking multiplayer games are being dished out daily. And contrary to what you have been made to believe, hosting a game platform doesn’t consume resources.
You can host gaming sessions on your virtual private server. You’re guaranteed to have no issues when you run multiple simultaneous users.
Hosting a Server
Any service you want to carry out on a server can be done using a VPS. You could use your VPS professionally by hosting files, web applications, documents, and other media.
You can also use your VPS to make quick calls by making use of it as a VoIP server.
Setup a VPN
A VPS can host a virtual private network. The major reason a VOS is a viable option is because of it’s guaranteed security and stability. Running a VPN on a VPS will ensure a secure public network creation.
Developing and Testing Code
You can always use your VPS as a virtual working space. Whether to install tools like IDEs and development libraries, or grant your team members access from a central location, a VPS can make any remote access much easier and faster.
Any application that needs to be launched can also be tested, which will give your team room to identify issues and find solutions to them before going live.
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