VPS Uses: 6 Things You Can Do With a VPS – TechEngage
When companies or individuals don’t have their servers, the best solution is to use someone else’s. To that end, many choices can be used to cover the need for a server.
These include dedicated hosting, shared hosting, and virtual private server or VPS hosting. Below, we will talk about what a VPS (not to be confused with a virtual private network or VPN) is and highlight six VPS uses.
What is VPS?
Before we get into what a VPS is used for, we need to know what it is. A VPS is a virtual machine that a hosting company rents out to its customers. The hosting company has created several virtual machines on their servers, and when you buy one of them, it becomes a VPS.
Think of all the pictures you’ve seen of large data centers with plenty of servers all lined up in a hallway. Your VPS resides in an environment like that.
So what is a virtual machine? A virtual machine is a program that simulates an actual computer. It uses the physical resources, such as RAM, CPU, and disk space, to create a simulated environment where you can do anything they would on an actual computer. This includes running computer applications and even hosting websites.
What is a VPS used for?
Now that we have briefly talked about what a VPS is, we can now talk about using a VPS. While we will only discuss six VPS uses, you can probably find more. The critical thing to remember here is that it is just the same as any other computer, except that it is accessed remotely.
1. Web Hosting
Perhaps one of the most common VPS use is web hosting. While most people use shared hosting, some companies find that they have outgrown the limitations of this hosting model. They need more resources, but not to the point of needing their very own dedicated server. The middle ground between shared hosting and dedicated hosting is a VPS.
Since a VPS offers more resources, you will find that they are ideal for hosting high-traffic websites. These days, many people, especially mobile users, need a page that loads in three seconds or less. In fact, according to Google, 53% of people browsing on mobile devices will abandon a website if it takes more than three seconds to load.
2. Backing Up Data
If you have a lot of data that needs to be backed up, then buying a VPS would be overkill. It is much cheaper to use cloud services if all you want to do is backup data.
But if you are using a VPS for other things and happen to have some extra space left over, there is no reason why you can’t use it to back up your data.
3. Game Server
Multiplayer gaming has been on the rise over the past few decades. Many people love to come home after a long day at work and unwind by playing online games with friends. According to Statista, 22% of PC gamers spend 61-81% of their time playing online games. And a VPS is one of the best ways to host a private server for such gaming sessions.
Since hosting a game is not a resource-intensive thing to do (despite what others would have you believe), a VPS is a great option. Popular games hosted on private servers include the likes of Minecraft, Runescape, and World of Warcraft. Plus, you can have multiple simultaneous users without experiencing issues when you use a VPS.
4. Hosting a VPN
Hosting a virtual private network (VPN) is also what a VPS is used for. It is easy to confuse the two terms since they sound similar, but a VPN is used to create a secure connection on a public network. And there are many reasons why you would want to facilitate a VPN on your VPS besides the secure connection
For example, many people use VPNs to access online content that has been blocked in their region. If you want to access a website that is only available to people in the United Kingdom, a VPN can help you bypass any regional locking issues.
There are many commercial VPNs that you can use, and they work great for everyday users. However, if you have the technical skills (or the funds to hire someone who does), a VPS environment is suitable for your private VPN.
5. Hosting a Server
Among the commonest VPS uses is hosting a server. Anything that can be done on a server can be done on a VPS. On top of using it as your private server for gaming, you can also host things like media files, documents, and web applications.
Some people even use a VPS as their VoIP server to make quick calls without investing in costly infrastructure.
6. Developing and Testing Code
Suppose your business develops applications, whether, on desktop, web, or mobile platforms, a VPS can be a remarkable virtual working space. You can easily install all the tools you need, such as IDEs and development libraries, allowing all team members to access them from a central location. This can make the remote development of such applications much easier and faster.
Moreover, before launching an application, it needs to be tested in a live setting. That way, you and your team can identify bugs and get rid of them while preparing to go live. Rather than having to invest large sums of money setting up your very own server for testing, you can use a VPS.
Countless Uses for a Great Price
As you can see, there a quite many VPS uses. Although it can be intimidating to give it a shot when you first hear about it, you stand to benefit a lot when you use one.
All you have to do is get through the learning curve, which is not that steep. Once you have it up and running, you can use it for any of the reasons mentioned above and more.
This post was orginally published on: October 11, 2019 and was updated on: January 5, 2021.
5 Steps to Get Your New Virtual Private Server (VPS) Ready to Use
Oct 11, 2021
Will M.
8min Read
Making the jump from shared hosting to a Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a relatively easy move. However, learning how to set up a VPS can be a bit trickier, especially if you’ve never used the command line before.
In this article, we’re going to walk you through how to set up a VPS in five steps:
Learning how to log into your VPS via Secure Shell (SSH) access.
Updating your server.
Creating a new user and modifying its privileges.
Enabling public key authentication.
Setting up a firewall for your VPS.
Before we get into the technical details, though, we’re going to explain why you’ll need to configure your new virtual server. Let’s talk about how to set up a VPS!
Why You Should Configure Your New VPS
Usually, when you sign up for a basic hosting plan, your provider will set up all the software you’ll need to use it. With shared hosting, for example, you’ll probably get access to a control panel for your account right away:
These hosting control panels provide you with all the options you need to configure your account. However, in most cases, you won’t get the chance to tweak your server’s actual settings, because other people are also using the same machine.
With a VPS, on the other hand, you get a server environment all to yourself. In most cases, your host will only go so far as to set up basic server software – such as Apache or Nginx – and the rest is up to you. That means you’ll probably need to go through a few extra steps to get your server ‘ready’, such as:
Deciding when should you start using VPS.
Learning how to connect to it and issue commands.
Figuring out how to install new software and perform updates.
Configuring new user accounts (if needed).
Setting up a firewall.
When we talk about issuing commands to your server, we’re referring to something like this:
Usually, you’ll interact with your VPS using the command line instead of a Graphical User Interface (GUI). That can be intimidating at first, but you’ll quickly get used to it if you don’t mind Googling around for the right commands and following some simple tutorials.
You can also set up hosting control panels that will enable you to interact with your server using a GUI. However, we’re not going to cover that in this article, since using the command line is often the more efficient route. Plus, learning how to use simple commands will teach you a lot about server management, which will almost certainly come in handy as your site grows.
5 Steps to Configure Your New VPS and Get It Ready to Use
As you may know, the vast majority of web servers run on Unix-based systems. That means you’ll need to use commands tailored to that type of Operating System (OS), which are not the same as those you’d use on a Windows machine. If you want to learn more about Windows server management, check out this guide for more details.
With that out of the way, let’s talk about how to set up a VPS!
Step 1: Learn How to Log into Your VPS via Secure Shell (SSH) Access
There are several ways you can connect to a website, beyond using a browser. For example, you can use File Transfer Protocol (FTP), which enables you to upload, download, and edit files on your server:
While FTP can be very useful, the protocol doesn’t enable you to issue commands to your server. For that, you’ll need to use Secure Shell (SSH) access, which is a different type of protocol that provides you with access to remote servers.
Once you connect to a server via SSH, you’ll be able to issue commands to it. SSH is also renown for its strong encryption and authentication protocols, which make it highly secure. By learning how to use SSH, you’ll be taking your first steps into server management.
Once you sign up for a VPS plan, your web host should provide you with a set of credentials, including:
Your server’s IP address
A username (usually root)
A password for your root account
In case you’re not familiar with the term, a root (or superuser) account is a user with full privileges and access on a specific system. You can think of it as the equivalent of an administrator, but with even more power.
When you set up a VPS, you’ll start off with a single root account, which is the one you’ll use to make the initial connection. If you’re using a Unix-based OS on your end, you can connect to your server directly from the command line.
However, if you’re using Windows, you’ll first need to install an SSH client. We’re partial to two clients in particular, the first of which is called Bitvise:
If you’re looking for a simple interface that resembles the classic Windows style, you can’t go wrong with Bitvise. However, you’ll be doing most of your work within the command line, so the style doesn’t matter much.
We’re also big fans of PuTTY, which features a far more minimal interface. However, it offers a lot of additional configuration options, making it preferable if you really want to dip your toes into server management.
For the rest of this tutorial, we’re going to be using PuTTY in our examples. With that in mind, go ahead and install the program, and then execute it. You’ll see a window like this one:
At this stage, you need to enter your server’s IP address into the Host Name (or IP address) field, and leave the Port setting to the default value of 22:
Aside from SSH connections, port 22 is also used for secure logins and Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP).
You may notice that there’s an option to select which connection type you want to use below the IP field. Choose SSH, and then you can go ahead and hit the Open button.
A command line window will open now, and you’ll see a prompt to enter your login information. In this case, that will be root and its corresponding password:
If the data entered is correct, you’ll see a brief summary of your server’s details, and a prompt to enter more commands:
That’s it for the first step of how to set up a VPS. Don’t close the command line window yet, however, since we still have work to do.
Step 2: Update Your Server
Once you log into your VPS, you’ll see a message that tells you if there are any ‘packages’ or security updates available:
Packages are essentially software in Unix-speak. When it comes to any system, it’s always important to keep its components up to date, and servers are no exception.
If you’re using outdated software, you open up your server (and website) to security vulnerabilities. Plus, you might be missing out on new features or improved performance. That’s why the first thing you’ll want to do is update your server’s packages, and download any pending security patches.
To get started, type in the apt update command and hit Enter. Now, your server will double-check what packages need upgrading. Once it’s done, enter apt upgrade, which will update your server’s packages:
This process might take a while, depending on how many updates your server needs to install. So sit back, grab some coffee, and wait for it to be done.
Once all your packages are up to date, you should go ahead and restart your server using the reboot command. Then, close the command line window. Wait a minute or two, and log back in using PuTTY (or your client of choice).
If everything went according to plan, there shouldn’t be any more available updates listed. That means we can move on to the next step of learning how to set up a VPS.
Step 3: Create a New User and Modify Its Privileges
When you set up a VPS, you start off with a root user, which is the account you’ve been using so far. However, it’s usually a good idea to set up another user account with superuser privileges.
The reason for this is that the root account can cause some severe damage if you’re not sure what you’re doing. A root account has full access to all of your system’s settings, so one wrong command can create serious problems.
A regular user account with superuser privileges, on the other hand, needs to add the sudo prefix to any command it wishes to run using administrative privileges. This may seem like a small change, but it makes a huge difference. With this approach, you’ll need to think twice before running any command using the sudo prefix, which can help you avoid mishaps.
Go ahead and set up that new user now by entering the following command. You’ll want to replace the second part with whatever username you’d like to use:
adduser yournewusername
Then, type in this line to add that user to the sudo group, which will give it superuser privileges (again, replacing the placeholder with your new username):
# usermod -aG sudo yournewusername
Now, all that’s left is to set up a password for this account. However, there’s a method that’s far more secure than using a normal password, which is what we’ll look at next.
Step 4: Enable Public Key Authentication
Public key authentication is a technique that’s arguably more secure than regular passwords. With this approach, you generate a set of both ‘public’ and ‘private’ keys.
Your server will store your public key and use it to authenticate the private one, which only you will have access to as a file on your computer. Once you set up public key authentication, you’ll need both the private key and a passphrase to log in, which increases security significantly.
To generate SSH keys in Windows, you can use the PuTTYgen app, which will have been installed when you set up the client earlier (for details about how to do this on Linux/Unix systems, check out this guide). Look among your programs for it and run the PuTTYgen app now, which should look like this:
It’s fine to use the default settings for your key pair, so go ahead and click on the Generate button now. To make your key more unique, the program will ask you to move your mouse around to randomize it, which is pretty cool:
Next, the program will show you the public key it generated for you. Before you do anything else, go ahead and set up an accompanying passphrase for it, which will act as a password alongside the key:
Now, go ahead and hit the Save private key button, and save the resulting file to your computer. You’ll also need to copy your public key in a moment, so don’t close this window just yet.
Then, log back into your server using the original root user, and move to your new account’s home directory using # su – yournewusername. The command line will now reflect your new user:
After that, you’ll need to run a series of commands in order, which will create a new folder for your public key, restrict that folder’s permissions, and save your key:
mkdir ~/
chmod 700 ~/
nano ~/
That last command will open up the Nano editor, enabling you to modify the new authorized_keys file on your server. Go ahead and copy your public key now from the PuTTYgen window, and paste it in here.
Once the key is ready, hit CTRL + X to close the editor, and enter Y when it asks you to confirm the changes to the file. Then, type in the following two commands:
chmod 600 ~/
exit
Those will change the permissions for the file you just edited, and then return you to the root user.
Next, you’ll need to configure PuTTY to use your private key when you connect to your server so that it can recognize you. To do this, return to the app’s main screen and go to the Connection › SSH › Auth section. Inside, you’ll find a field called Private key file for authentication:
Click on the Browse button, and then locate the private key file you stored on your computer. Select it, and you’re good to go.
Finally, you need to tell your server to disable the default password-only authentication method for the new user you just set up. To do that, log into your server as the new user via SSH, and run this command:
sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
This will open the sshd_config file using the Nano editor. Look for the line that reads PasswordAuthentication inside that file, and delete the # sign before it. Then change its value from Yes to No, so it reads like this:
PasswordAuthentication no
Save the changes to the file, and reboot your server. The next time you attempt to log in, you’ll only be able to do so using your private key and passphrase.
Step 5: Set Up a Firewall for Your VPS
We’ve covered a lot of ground so far about how to set up a VPS. However, there’s still one final step to perform if you want to keep your server secure. That is to enable a firewall for it.
You can do this using the iptables program, which enables you to set up rules that restrict traffic to and from your server. This process is a bit involved, though, so we recommend that you check out our full guide on how to set up iptables and configure the program properly.
This step may seem like overkill at first. With Iptables, however, you’ll be able to restrict which ports enable traffic to access your server. This will stop a lot of attacks in their tracks. Plus, it’s a one-time setup process, so it pays to do it right away.
Conclusion
Learning how to set up a VPS after upgrading from shared hosting is like leaving the kiddie pool to dive into an Olympic-sized one. You have a lot more room and features to play with, but you’ll need to find your footing before you can start having fun. Now that you know how to configure your VPS, you’ve become acquainted with the command line, which will make it a lot easier to set everything up to your liking.
Do you have any questions about how to set up a VPS? Let’s talk about them in the comments section below!
Will Morris is a staff writer at WordCandy. When he’s not writing about WordPress, he likes to gig his stand-up comedy routine on the local circuit.
What Is A VPS? A Beginner’s Guide to VPS Hosting – Liquid Web
Virtual Private Server (VPS) is hosting that virtually mimics dedicated server environments within a shared server. VPS hosting has become a popular choice because it is generally lower in cost than dedicated hosting but provides better reliability, security, and performance than shared hosting. Moreover, users get root access to the server, giving them the freedom to install applications and make environment changes without having to go through the hosting provider, as they would with shared is often a great option for SaaS providers, game makers, programmers, companies that have outgrown their shared hosting, and any company who needs a secure and affordable backup environment. But knowing what VPS is by definition and whether it’s right for you are two different matters. In this guide, we’ll give you the information you need to make the VPS hosting decision an easy VPS Hosting by Definition in This GuideA VPS, or virtual private server, is a virtual operating system that resides within a parent server and uses virtualization technology to provide dedicated (private) resources to other virtual servers. The emulated, dedicated VPS hosting environment is created on a host (a computer or other device connected to other computers or devices via a network), server (called the “parent server”), or cluster of duplicates many of the properties of a physical server, with similar processes and functionality. Although it acts like a physical server, in reality it’s a piece of software that’s emulating dedicated Is VPS Hosting? VPS by definition is a type of hosting where multiple companies use isolated instances on the same host or parent server. This most common type of VPS hosting allows you to:Access your VPS environments from allocated bandwidth and storage for each instance so your performance is not affected by other companies on the server like it might be with shared more bandwidth and storage than a hosting company that’s limited on the number of instances they can create on each parent Is Private VPS Parent Hosting? Private VPS Parent hosting is a type of hosting that gives you the benefits of virtualization without sharing a parent server with other companies. This robust, flexible, and isolated virtual solution allows you to:Have sole control over a built-to-order parent server and its resources. That means you can add as many VPS environments as the server allows and control them all as you see be charged for the individual environments but rather for the parent server as a whole. You can add parent servers if your needs shuffle your instances around between private VPS parent servers or to one of our public cloud VPS parent Does VPS Hosting Work? VPS hosting uses a parent server to host multiple virtual servers that are separated from each other. Using a software called a hypervisor, the hosting company implements a virtual layer on top of the operating system (OS) to segment the virtual servers. The separation between virtual walls allows each user to install their own OS and software, creating a server that’s truly private, separated from others on the OS more about Managed VPS Hosting and Private VPS Is a VPS Used For? A VPS is typically used for smaller workloads that need consistent performance. Businesses may use a VPS for:Hosting 1-10 websitesStoring company and customer files in a way that’s accessible anywhere in the worldHosting web serversHosting emailDatabasescPanel or Plesk hostingBuilding and delivering cloud-based services for customersDelivering virtual workstations to remote employeesAnd many other thingsFor the most part, you can use VPS for anything you’d use a dedicated server for; however, keep in mind you will get less overall storage and bandwidth. If you don’t need an entire dedicated server, VPS is a more affordable choice because you’ll only pay for what you Are Benefits of VPS Hosting? VPS hosting delivers several important benefits that combine the best features of shared and dedicated hosting. Your favorite VPS features will vary based on how your company uses it. But, in general, there are a few key benefits to VPS hosting:You have your own allocated bandwidth and storage and don’t have to share with other aling is fast and hosting isn’t as cheap as shared hosting, but it’s less expensive than dedicated because you only pay for what you need. VPS delivers plenty of value for the hosting makes it easy to perform server backups. With Liquid Web, daily backups are standard for our VPS get SSH and root access to your environment, affording you more environments are isolated from each other, making them more secure than shared hosting hosting is highly customizable so you get only the features you want which even includes the operating system (OS) of your Are Benefits of Private VPS Parent Hosting? Deploy both Linux & Windows VPS instances on the same cloud server. You can do this with VPS as well; however, keep in mind that you will pay for each spin up and resell VPS instances or use them to host individual client of these benefits mean you’re better poised to meet your business goals. Here’s what one Liquid Web customer had to say:“After having shared hosting plans with other providers for many years, I switched all of my sites to Liquid Web a few months ago for my first VPS experience. It’s been smooth, fast, and easy to use. At one point I suddenly ran out of disk space, and within minutes I was able to use their system to upgrade my plan and move my site to a larger partition. ” – David hosting can help you deliver a reliable experience for customers; right size your hosting so you can spend your budget appropriately; and keep your data secure to avoid breaches and VPS Hosting Safe and Secure? Yes, VPS hosting is secure. VPS security comes from each instance’s isolation from the other environments on the server. Contrast that with shared hosting, where environments are sharing the same resources and can be affected by each other’s vulnerabilities. A denial of service attack on a website in a shared environment can bring down other companies’ data and websites hosted on that server, where each VPS environment is isolated and VPS Hosting Fast & Reliable? Yes, VPS hosting is fast and reliable — that’s a big reason companies prefer it to shared hosting. Since you’re allocated your own bandwidth, you get reliable performance more similar to a dedicated Web’s VPS hosting, in particular, is known for delivering the fastest Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (LAMP) stack performance. Third-party performance analyst firm Cloud Spectator found that our VPS speed is faster than Rackspace, DigitalOcean, and that you understand VPS by definition and the differences between VPS and Private VPS Parent hosting, ask yourself these questions to help you determine if VPS hosting is right for you:Are you just getting started with VPS? What is your team’s technical skill level? Do you want to have root access to your server in order to add applications, make server changes, etc.? What is your biggest priority: budget (shared), peak performance and security (dedicated), instant scalability (cloud), or a balance of everything (VPS)? Do you need to create multiple isolated environments on the same server? Are you currently on a shared server? Does your website currently experience performance issues? Have you experienced denial of service or other security issues caused by another company on the server? What would be the cost to your business if an issue did arise, and is it worth the risk? Do you need more storage? Do you have basic technical skills and want root access to your server? Do you have a bit more budget to devote to hosting in exchange for solving these problems? Are you working on a dedicated server? Do you want to save a little money while maintaining basic security and reliability? Do you need an entire dedicated server, or could you get by with fewer resources? Who VPS Is NOT For? When is VPS hosting NOT the right choice? There are a few situations where you may want to look into other options other than VPS hosting:New companies on a shoestring budget. If you’re primarily choosing hosting based on budget and don’t fall under regulations like PCI, shared hosting will be a cheaper option. However, there are security and performance tradeoffs to choosing the cheapest option, as discussed throughout this es with zero technical skills who don’t want to use managed hosting. Because VPS provides root access to the server, it’s typically used by companies who have at least a basic degree of IT administration and troubleshooting skills. Of course, if you do have a skill gap, you can choose to use a managed hosting provider for VPS to handle virtually anything for which you’d need root access. You will still need the ability to use cPanel and Plesk for basic who need the power or resources of an entire dedicated server. If you need an entire server, and you don’t need it split up into isolated VMs, dedicated servers will most likely be a better choice for you. For example, streaming, database-driven, and other bandwidth-intensive sites typically require a dedicated server vs. Should I Use VPS Hosting? There are a few common needs that drive companies to use VPS hosting:Scaling up beyond sharedScaling down from dedicatedAchieving reliable performanceImproving security over sharedInstalling custom softwareIsolating multiple digital service offeringsCreating isolated development environmentsWhen Should I Upgrade My VPS Hosting? If you’re already on VPS hosting but your website isn’t performing as quickly as you’d like, it may be time to upgrade. Websites can be unreliable for a variety of factors, but if your current VPS is delivering errors, there are a few steps to determine whether an upgrade is needed. Do this first:Optimize your existing VPS. Sometimes individual applications need changes to their default settings to run more efficiently. Other times, it’s a matter of optimizing your content or using a content delivery network (CDN). Whatever the case, it’s worth attempting (or working with your hosting company to attempt) to optimize your existing VPS before deciding to what’s weighing your site down and slim it up. It might be an excess of plugins, heavy images, or a multitude of HTTP requests. Analyze your resource use. If your server is performing as it should across load average, memory, and disk usage, you may need to consider ’ve covered the basics of VPS hosting, the meaning, how it works, and who might want to use it, let’s look at how VPS hosting compares to shared, dedicated and cloud hosting options:What Is VPS vs. Shared Hosting? Shared hosting means you share a server and resources with other sites whereas VPS hosting creates a virtual environment that simulates a private server with all resources to yourself (within the shared hosting environment). Here is how VPS and shared hosting compare:VPS environments run faster and perform more reliably than shared environments for the simple reason that they operate on individually allocated bandwidth. With shared servers, if another customer is a “resource hog, ” it can negatively affect the performance of other environments on the VPS, you get SSH and root access to your server, where on shared hosting, all server changes must be made by the hosting is considered more secure than shared hosting because, once again, each environment is isolated and won’t be affected by security issues in other hosting is a good idea if you’re on a shoestring budget or you’re only hosting one simple website with minimum security or compliance both Linux & Windows VPS instances on the same cloud server. You can do this with VPS as well; however, keep in mind that you will pay for each Is VPS vs. Dedicated Hosting? With VPS, all clients on the server appear as if they were on a separate dedicated machine but share resources split between hosting accounts. With dedicated hosting, you’ll get full access to all resources on the physical server, including network access, memory, hard drive storage capacity, and processing power. The difference comes down to how resources are allocated and who has control over them. Here’s how the two compare:Dedicated environments are second-to-none when it comes to performance. However, VPS can still deliver plenty of speed for the average company. It’s worth talking to your hosting company about how you plan to use the environment to get their advice on which option will work a dedicated server, you can install any operating system. VPS offers a limited selection (at Liquid Web, it’s CentOS 6, CentOS 7, Ubuntu 14. 04 LTS, Ubuntu 16. 04 LTS, Debian 8, Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard, and Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition. ) Otherwise, both options give you full root access with control over the OS and all the software in the dicated and VPS environments are both completely isolated and therefore secure, as long as you are using a reputable company can benefit from dedicated hosting if you have hundreds of employees needing VPN access, host massive databases that need quick access by numerous people at once, or host hundreds of websites or bandwidth-intensive sites (e. g., streaming) has a big edge over dedicated hosting when it comes to cost, as you have more flexibility in the amount of resources you use and pay for. It’s typically less than half the cost of a dedicated server with scalable pricing based on your business Is VPS vs. Cloud Hosting? Differences between VPS hosting and cloud hosting is that cloud hosting shares a physical server whereas VPS is a segment on a single physical server. VPS and cloud hosting differ in these ways:The cloud generally delivers high-availability and high performance based on the ability to expand CPU power and memory capacity on demand. VPS hosting delivers a fixed level of performance, so as long as you do not require extra resources, it will meet your ongoing hosting delivers the ability to choose between Linux and Windows OS and tweak network architecture, firewalls, load balancing, and IP addresses. However, the complexity of a cloud environment means it requires more technical expertise to configure than security is virtually the same (no pun intended) as dedicated hosting, which is to say it’s the least vulnerable to outside attacks. Cloud hosting is generally also secure, however its physically distributed nature makes it a bit more vulnerable to attacks, and generally public cloud hosting does not meet compliance primary goal is real-time scalability; You do not have compliance needs; You are not concerned with having a predictable monthly VPS, you pay for what you use in the sense that you select a certain amount of bandwidth and storage to be allocated in advance. Scaling involves resizing your resources. But with cloud hosting, you pay for what you use in that your resource levels are not pre-determined, which means unpredictable pricing that tends to be more costly than VPS due to the overhead and complexity Does VPS Compare to Other Hosting Types? What Is Managed vs. Unmanaged VPS Hosting? Once you’ve decided that VPS hosting is right for you, the next choice you’ll face is whether to use managed or unmanaged VPS. The basic question comes down to how much control you want (and are comfortable having) Is Managed VPS? Fully Managed VPS by definition is a virtual private server that lets you take a hands-off approach. Your hosting company will handle the technical side to ensure the VPS provides the functionality and virus and spam protection you need without any work on your part. They’ll also handle maintenance, troubleshooting, and software installs, saving you time and making sure the job is done with you timeRequires no IT expertise on your partEnsures OS updates are completed, keeping you secure and currentEnsures changes are made correctlyCosts more than unmanagedGives more control to an outside party (it’s important to use a reputable hosting provider)What Is Unmanaged VPS? An unmanaged VPS is a self-managed VPS, meaning it’s a virtual private server that a company manages for itself. The hosting company is responsible for providing the VPS, maintaining the hardware, and performing system-level health checks, but the VPS customer performs the rest of the maintenance, monitoring, and savings over managed VPSMore control, less trust requiredTakes time away from core business functionsRequires 24/7/365 IT expert on the clockDifficult to keep up with OS updates and patchesPotentially reduces overall security and reliability if in-house team is slow to perform updatesWhat Is Semi-Managed VPS Hosting? A middle-ground option between fully managed VPS hosting and unmanaged is core VPS managed, meaning the hosting company provides the same basics as unmanaged hosting but adds on core software installation and support. Features include OS updates and patches, security enhancements, full web server support, and pro-active response and restoration of monitoring managed hosting differs from fully managed hosting in that core doesn’t include virus and spam protection, external migrations, full control panel support, or control panel upgrades and Should I Choose Managed VPS? Fully managed VPS makes the lives of you and your staff considerably easier, but that’s not the only reason it’s the best option. Consider the difference in the skill levels and efficiencies of a person who is focused full-time on managing hosting versus someone who is doing it as a small part of their larger job:Managed hosting allows company team members stay up to date on best practices and new technologies. They also quickly gain on-the-job experience working with a variety of environments and troubleshooting common issues. That means they know how to optimize your environment for performance and security, and they know how to quickly resolve common issues. Unmanaged hosting requires that you ask your IT team members to do the work of a skilled, full-time hosting team while also performing their other duties. And, unless you want to open up the risk of downtime, they’ll have to perform those duties 24/7/365. As you can imagine, the results are typically not as good and companies often end up paying more in the long run due to security breaches and downtime when they choose to go with unmanaged Do I Choose a VPS Hosting Provider? Once you’re all in on VPS hosting, you’ll want to choose your hosting provider. The company you choose will play a big role in the performance and reliability of your VPS, so it’s important to do your Is the Best VPS Hosting Service? The best VPS hosting service is the one that you feel most confident and comfortable with. For you, that could mean the provider with the best reviews or the one who offers the best price or the best technical specs. Ideally, you’ll choose a provider who offers a balance of all of Web has worked hard to build a competitive VPS offering, and as mentioned in this guide, third-party testing has found our VPS hosting outperforms Rackspace, DigitalOcean, and Amazon’s. Moreover, our customer reviews will bear out that our customer service and support teams, the Most Helpful Humans in Hosting®, deliver responsive support, pro-active service, and immense value to the businesses we work Should I Look for in a VPS Hosting Provider? Don’t just ask the hosting provider about their uptime guarantees, check their third-party customer reviews to see whether their hosting is reliable and how quickly and effectively the provider responds in the event that downtime does search third-party vCPU performance tests to get a sense of each hosting provider’s benchmarks. Obviously, the better the performance, the faster your VPS-hosted website or applications will run, improving sales and productivity. Cloud Spectator has tested some of the leading VPS services and released their findings in this ’t just research by visiting hosting providers’ websites. Reach out to see which companies are the easiest to speak with, who responds most quickly and thoroughly, and who takes the most pro-active approach to working with each provider what the process is for scaling VPS hosting on their servers. Can you self-serve, and if not, what is the turnaround time for making changes? How does the pricing change as you scale? Weigh not only the monthly cost but total cost of ownership. If you’re considering unmanaged VPS hosting, that means taking into account your own staff’s management time and the cost of potential downtime or cyber for details on the servers each hosting provider uses for VPS. Providers who use more up-to-date hardware with current-generation processors will be more reliable long-term partners than those who don’ what operating systems the hosting providers support on VPS, and decide whether those will work for your needs or ckups are an important feature of VPS hosting, so ask how often each provider performs backups. Opt for a company that does nightly backups if possible, to ensure you’re always just a step away from full recovery should something happen to your the hosting provider automatically include basic server DDoS protection? And what options do they have for upgraded protection in the event of larger attacks? If you’re using VPS to host a public-facing website, find out whether the VPS package comes with a CDN, either as an included feature or an optional add-on. If the provider offers managed CloudFlare, for example, that sweetens the deal, as it can mean a faster and more secure you’re already hosting elsewhere, it’s important to understand each prospective hosting provider’s approach to VPS migration. Will they manage the migration, and if so, what is the cost and approximate timeline? How Much Does VPS Hosting Cost? VPS hosting pricing depends on a number of factors like the provider’s level of service and support, performance, bandwidth, and the features included with the hosting package. Overall, you can expect to pay more than you would for shared hosting but less than you would for VPS Worth the Cost? Yes. VPS is a powerful and versatile type of hosting that many companies will find meets their needs. If you’re already hosting in a different type of environment, you may be wondering whether it’s worthwhile to migrate to VPS. This is an important discussion to have with each prospective hosting provider in order to understand how they handle migrations, what would be required from you, how long it might take, and any costs Costs of the Wrong Hosting ProviderSometimes fledgling companies pick their VPS hosting provider based solely on price. This is not a good strategy for a few reasons:Cheap VPS hosting usually comes with tradeoffs that increase the overall cost. For example, cheap hosting providers typically don’t deliver the best performance, leading to slower-loading websites. This alone can have a huge impact on sales, considering one in four people will abandon a website if a page takes longer than four seconds to hosting may not deliver round-the-clock support from a knowledgeable staff. That can mean that, if and when downtime happens, it’s difficult to get answers much less issue resolution. You may also find that cheaper providers use less reputable security software and protocol or don’t provide security at companies only make the “cheap host” mistake once. When it comes to your company’s health and security, compromising on your hosting provider doesn’t end up saving you money in the long Do I Get Started with VPS Hosting? Not quite sure where to start? Chat with us now to speak with a Managed VPS Advisor. Once you’re set up, there are a few things you can do to optimize your nfigure your Apache settingsApache can be a big resource hog on VPS if it’s not configured correctly. See our Apache optimization KB article for more you’re on an updated MySQL versionCache your content to RAMThere are many factors that can affect the load time of your content. Using a free tool like Google PageSpeed can help you identify issues that may be bogging you More About VPS Hosting from a Helpful HumanWhether you’re ready to choose a VPS provider or still trying to pick the right hosting option for your company, we’re here to guide you down the right path.
Frequently Asked Questions about what to do with a vps
What do people use a VPS for?
Among the commonest VPS uses is hosting a server. Anything that can be done on a server can be done on a VPS. On top of using it as your private server for gaming, you can also host things like media files, documents, and web applications.Oct 11, 2019
What do I do with a new VPS?
5 Steps to Configure Your New VPS and Get It Ready to UseStep 1: Learn How to Log into Your VPS via Secure Shell (SSH) Access. … Step 2: Update Your Server. … Step 3: Create a New User and Modify Its Privileges. … Step 4: Enable Public Key Authentication. … Step 5: Set Up a Firewall for Your VPS.Oct 11, 2021
What is VPS and how do you use it?
VPS hosting uses a parent server to host multiple virtual servers that are separated from each other. Using a software called a hypervisor, the hosting company implements a virtual layer on top of the operating system (OS) to segment the virtual servers.