Read More about our Virtual Private Servers (also commonly called VPS). This page will be our linking platform to other pages in our series of VPS articles (Virtual Private Server review features and functionality).

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Virtual Private Server | VPS

VPS (also called a Virtual Private Server) refers generally to what is called a “virtual machine”, which is an “instanced” iteration of the Operating System on the server itself. It is essentially the equivalent of running on its own separate physical server, but the primary difference on a virtual private server is this: What is perceived to the user as a separate physical machine is, in fact, only a “slice” of the actual, real physical server. Functionally, there is very little difference in how the user interacts with the software running on the machine itself, and typically the administrator of the VPS is the only one that could potentially be aware that it actually IS a virtualized, instanced private server.

The main server operating system runs individual instances (“virtual machines”) that are, effectively, clones of operating systems. Each “instanced” VPS Server OS runs independent of the other. Main-frame servers will typically use this method to allow resources to be available to individual clients. As far as web-hosting is concerned, the “clone” of the main operating system is responsible for resource allocation to the individual “instance”; the instanced virtual machine is capable of then using those resources to run server software (such as Apache (primarily Linux VPS Servers) or IIS (Mainly: Windows VPS Servers).

This concept allows a VPS environment to efficiently run what appears to be many separate servers, but is, in fact, just a single physical machine with highly specialized software, which allows the multiple instances to exist. The users of the Virtualized environment are never actually aware they are in an instance, and for the most part it appears to them that they are on their own server. Depending on the configuration, the individual user might interface with the VPS as if they were sitting in front of the physical machine itself.

In the web hosting world, a VPS serves as a low-cost intermediary between very inexpensive shared web hosting (approximately $5-$15 per month on average) and a true, dedicated server (which can very often run $200-$500 per month, depending on the provider, the machine, and any add-ons). The virtual private server offers a fairly decent cost advantage over a true dedicated server, and very often will out-perform the less expensive shared hosting. For this reason, many websites will naturally end up transitioning to a virtual private server as they become more successful and traffic begins to increase. Eventually, as traffic increases, the website owner might realize a need to migrate to a true dedicated server. It is not very common for an average website to actually require a true dedicated server; it is far more likely if the website outgrows regular website hosting that a VPS will be more than sufficient for many years to come.

Virtual Private Server web hosting is a great way to have consistently fast performance for websites that are no longer served by a less expensive shared web hosting environment. Typically, if the website hosted on the VPS is getting enough traffic to warrant the need for a VPS in the first place, then the website is (hopefully) making enough money to pay for the Virtual Private Server that it is hosted on.