Web Site Hosting

Virtual Private Server

Virtual Private Server (VPS) also called Virtual Dedicated Server hosting, is a type of web host where a single physical server is divided or partitioned into several virtual disks each acts like a dedicated server. In this VPS web hosting, each virtual server is sold and dedicated to one customer (web site). Although these virtual dedicated servers still share common hardware resources but each virtual server or web site will not affect any other web site residing in the same physical server. This virtualization is implemented using special software. One popular virtualization program is Virtuozzo from SWSoft.

As you may expect, virtual private server hosting is more expensive than a shared hosting but on the other hand, it is more reliable. The number of web sites in a single physical server is much less than in the shared hosting server. Other huge advantages of virtual dedicated server is that you will have the root (the highest structure) access of the server and you can install special applications your web site needs that otherwise impossible to accomplish with shared web hosting, beside having better server stability. Further, on the security aspect, if one web site is getting security attack, if will not likely to affect other websites.

There are two types of virtual dedicated server, i.e. managed VPS where the web host takes care of the server operation and administration, and unmanaged VPS where you can have better control over your server by managing it yourself. The unmanaged VPS will cost cheaper than the managed one but you will have to have knowledge or have a person to administer your server such as installing of web applications, etc.