Types of Virtual Private Servers

 If you are looking for a hosting solution where you can avail dedicated server resources without having to opt for an exorbitantly priced dedicated server, then Virtual Private Severs (VPS) make that possible. In this blog, information shall be provided on Virtual Private Servers and their types, as well as on how these deliver dedicated server resources to the hosted sites.

VPS – Servers That Are Virtual and Private

A Virtual Private Server is a type of a web server on which the files of websites hosted with web hosting companies are stored and processed. This web server is provided by web hosting service providers, such as HTS Hosting, which is globally popular as the best web hosting company. Server space on a VPS can be availed through various plans offered by web hosting companies, in the form of VPS Hosting packages.

Once a VPS Hosting plan has been availed by a website owner, his website’s files get stored on a particular VPS provided by his service provider. These files are processed and delivered over the Internet to the browsers of those site visitors that initiate communication with the Virtual Private Server, requesting for the hosted site’s webpages.Upon the retrieval of the stored and processed web pages from the web server by the web browsers, the hosted site becomes accessible to the site visitors using those browsers. Every web server, including a Virtual Private Server, serves the same function, which is to make websites accessible online by providing a platform for the files of websites to be stored on and be retrieved from. Then, how does a VPS differ from the other types of web servers? Let us elaborate on it, by casting light upon the three main types of web servers. These are shared servers, dedicated servers and Virtual Private Servers (VPS).

A shared server is a type of a web server wherein a single physical server stores and processes the files of multiple websites on the same server. Due to this, none of the hosted sites gets to utilize dedicated server resources and every site has to function on shared sever resources, as well as exists in shared server space. This limited server resource availability, due to the sharing of server resources among multiple sites, adversely impacts the speed and performance of the hosted sites. The shared server space does not bode well with regard to the security of the hosted sites on the same web server.

A dedicated web server stores and processes the files of a single website on a single web server. This enables it to offer dedicated server resources to the hosted site, for not only boosting its speed as well as its performance but also for elevating its security. A dedicated server scores over a shared server by being able to provide the entire resources of the web server for the full utilization by the hosted site and by offering the flexibility to customize the web server. Moreover, dedicated IP addresses are provided, when dedicated servers are availed.

A Virtual Private Server can be described as a mix of both, a shared server and a dedicated server. That is because in a Virtual Private Server, multiple sites coexist on the same server, similar to the hosting scenario present in a shared server, but at the same time each of the hosted sites gets dedicated server resources, which happens with dedicated servers. How is this made possible? That is being explained next.

A Virtual Private Server is a web server that is not only able to store and process the files of multiple websites on a single physical web server but also provides dedicated server resources to each of the hosted sites for boosting the performance, speed and security of the hosted websites. This is made possible through Virtualization Technology, which virtually segments a physical server into multiple, isolated, private servers. Each of these several servers that has been created virtually, is configured to host a website and function independently as a truly private web serverthat can install its own operating system and software. In this manner, Virtualization Technology aids in creating several, isolated, independent, virtual, private, servers within a web server for providing the environment of a dedicated web server in a shared server environment. This enables the users of Virtual Private Servers to reap the benefits of using dedicated server resources, without having to opt for the comparatively more expensively priced plans of dedicated servers.

Next, we shall describe in detail the two different types of Virtual Private Servers.

The Different Types of Virtual Private Servers

All Virtual Private Servers serve the same function but differ in the way in which these are managed and are classified accordingly. Broadly speaking, there are two specific types of Virtual Private Servers. One of the types of VPS is that of Managed Virtual Private Servers, while the other is Self-managed Virtual Private Servers. Self-managed Virtual Private Servers are also referred to as Unmanaged Virtual Private Servers. Both these types of Virtual Private Servers are made available by various service providers for Linux and Windows.

A Managed Virtual Private Server is a Virtual Private Server that is provided by the service provider, as well as is managed and maintained by the service provider. It is kept fully-secure at all times and is updated by the service provider. All the tasks related to the effective management and maintenance of a Virtual Private Server are the responsibility of the service provider, from whom the Managed VPS has been availed. Availing a Managed VPS ensures that the user’s Virtual Private Server is always proficiently managed by the expert and thoroughly professional team of his service provider and the user doesn’t have to worry about its security and/or its proper maintenance.

An Unmanaged Virtual Private Server or a Self-managed Virtual Private Server, as the name itself suggests, isn’t managed by the service provider. Rather it is managed, maintained and kept secure by the user himself, without any assistance from the service provider in this regard. The service provider of a Self-managed Virtual Private Server provides the server to the user through a VPS Hosting plan. Post that, it becomes the sole responsibility of the user of the Self-managed Virtual Private Server to update,manage and maintain his VPS effectively and ensure its security. This type of Virtual Private Server is recommended for those that either have the required technical know-how for managing a VPS or have an in-house team to take care of the matters pertaining to the proper management and maintenance of a Virtual Private Server.

Conclusion:

Virtual Private Servers, be it Managed Virtual Private Servers or Self-managed Virtual Private Servers, offer an excellent web hosting solution, wherein dedicated server resources can be availed and utilized for gaining enhanced speed, performance and security of the hosted sites, at prices that are much lower than that for availing space on dedicated servers. This is the reason for the ever-increasing popularity of Virtual Private Servers, among the seekers of web hosting services, for effectively meeting the web hosting requirements of a wide range of websites.

HTS Hosting, a well-recognised brand in the arena of providing web hosting services, provides a wide range of affordably-priced and feature-rich VPS Hosting plans for availing Linux Managed Virtual Private Servers, Windows Managed Virtual Private Servers, Linux Self-managed Virtual Private Servers and Windows Self-managed Virtual Private Servers.

All the Virtual Private Servers offered by HTS Hosting deliver efficient service from the fully-equipped, state-of-the-art data centre of HTS (HTS Data Centre) and excel at providing seamless site availability, top-tier performance, high uptime, fast page loads and the highest standard of secure hosting service at budget-friendly prices.

Source: https://www.htshosting.org/knowledge-base/vps/364/types-of-virtual-private-servers