Virtual private / dedicated server is a service within which the customer is given a virtual dedicated server to host the applications he needs.
From the user's point of view, a VPS / VDS is similar to a dedicated physical server: the user gets root rights, access to network settings, performs any actions on files, including in the root directory, installs and configures software. Let's see if VPS and VDS differ from each other, why they are better than shared hosting and who will be useful to.
The emergence of VPS / VDS is closely related to the development of hosting services and the Internet in general. In the beginning, websites were hosted on the on premises servers running in a company office or even at an enthusiast's home. This is what is called physical hosting. Then came virtual (aka shared) hosting, where a single web server hosts many sites that use the resources of one physical machine.
But progress does not stand still, and hosters have offered something new to the owners of websites and applications. So the turn of the virtual dedicated servers came, they are also VPS / VDS. For the user, it is like a real remote dedicated server. Technically - a separate virtual machine, one of many machines in a virtualization environment deployed on the physical servers of the hoster (provider). This solution turned out to be more flexible and predictable in terms of performance than shared hosting, more reliable and easily manageable, but just as convenient as a physical one.
VPS and VDS: what's the difference?
VPS, also known as virtual private server, runs on the servers of the hoster (provider). In a virtualization environment, it has neighbors - the same VPS of other customers. But they all work independently of each other - they are also private. The virtual server gives each customer complete and independent control over the machine's resources, software and settings, independent of the other customers of the provider.
Uh ... well, the same can be said about VDS.
How did it happen that one technology has two different names?
There is always a reason for dispute. Some love iOS, others love Android. Remember the battles between Canon and Nikon supporters!
If about VPS and VDS, then you probably know the most popular version: these are twin technologies with minimal differences for the user. It is believed that the term VPS came from the English-speaking environment, and VDS appeared in Runet after the domestic VDSManager control panel became popular.
An alternative point of view is based on the fact that there are still differences:
VPS is when several virtual machines are running on one computer, but they have shared processor and RAM resources. And in VDS, a share of physical hardware resources is assigned to each virtual machine. This is called hardware virtualization: the user is guaranteed physical resources, which is not available in a VPS. This gives VDS a slight advantage over VPS when high performance is needed.
We don't know who is right.
And it doesn't matter. In fact, providers offer one service in a complex - VPS / VDS. Choose how many and what resources you need to run web services: the number of processors, storage sizes, type of drives, OS and others. And the provider will make sure that you receive them in full. How to organize it technically is his problem, not yours.
How VPS / VDS works
Special programs - hypervisors - helped to switch from shared hosting to virtual hosting. They allow you to create many virtual machines (servers, VPS, VDS) on physical hardware in a shared virtualization environment and make sure that the resources allocated to them are isolated from each other. On each VPS, you can run a separate copy of the OS, install any software with administrator rights, configure it, work with files and applications. There is only one limitation: this is the amount of vCPU, RAM and disks that the hosting allocated to you. With complete isolation, users and their applications do not interfere with each other. A complete feeling is created that they work on different, unrelated physical machines.
VPS or Shared Hosting?
What will make you change shared hosting and switch to VPS? VPS is more expensive - but it cures a lot of headaches. Let's compare.
Performance and reliability
On shared hosting, users get shared access to limited server resources. The provider does not know how many resources each application actually needs, and their amount is not negotiated within the framework of the service. At peak loads, applications slow down, and a failure in one of them causes the neighbors to "fall". In terms of performance, regular hosting suits applications with modest requirements.
By renting a VPS, you get a dedicated pool of resources that other virtual servers do not claim. The provider guarantees the clients the resources of exactly the capacity they have chosen and paid for.
Security
On shared hosting, all clients' applications are located in the same OS and run in a common environment. Their isolation from each other is very conditional.
In VPS, files are protected thanks to the architecture of the hypervisor - it isolates the resources of different users, the resources of each are inaccessible to someone else. You know for sure that no one else will log in from a nearby virtual server and gain access to your processes. The picture is complemented by the ability to install without restrictions on a VPS any specialized software for information protection of your clients' personal data and other confidential information.
Administration
On shared hosting, the provider allows you to manage one or more applications. In VPS, everything is larger - here you administer a full-fledged server. The ability to use individual settings and custom OS configurations maximizes the return on leased resources.
Scalability
It all depends on the average number of visitors. If you have an application with low to medium traffic and you are firmly convinced that it will never grow - well, you should have enough shared hosting.
But if you believe in the growth of your project, it is better to choose a VPS - it is easier and faster to increase resources in it. You can independently change the server performance in a few clicks without thinking about the hardware. In this case, neither the application nor the server itself will have to be stopped, and all changes will take effect in a few seconds. So your web project will not fall after a successful article on Habré, which will bring you a peak of visits.
Saving
When using shared hosting, you pay a fixed amount according to the selected tariff, which does not guarantee fixed capacities.
When renting a VPS, you pay only for the resources that you consume - this model is also called pay-as-you-go. Due to the fact that the resources are easy to scale and the per-second billing is in effect, it is not difficult for you to control the rental costs. With proper planning, at any time you use the server's capabilities to 100%. You no longer have to stock up on power in the event of a peak load.
The main advantages of VPS / VDS
How is the administration organized in VPS / VDS
For most VPS providers, management is organized from a special admin panel or personal account, where you can independently administer the server (forget about calls to account managers). Increase or decrease its power, raise or, conversely, "kill", change the settings of routing, disks, backups. For each such task, clear and convenient tools are provided, and it takes a couple of minutes to make these changes.
You can control the operation of a virtual dedicated server using automation tools. Using the API, you can use any suitable program that automatically performs typical VPS management actions. For example, if the VPS resources are running out, the program gives the command to increase them, and if they are underutilized, on the contrary, to decrease them.
After all of the above, I want to add, and now imagine what kind of security connection you can make if you use a VPN, proxy, virtual machine on your PC, which in turn is also connected to VDS.
Well? Ready to conquer internet safety literacy?
From the user's point of view, a VPS / VDS is similar to a dedicated physical server: the user gets root rights, access to network settings, performs any actions on files, including in the root directory, installs and configures software. Let's see if VPS and VDS differ from each other, why they are better than shared hosting and who will be useful to.
The emergence of VPS / VDS is closely related to the development of hosting services and the Internet in general. In the beginning, websites were hosted on the on premises servers running in a company office or even at an enthusiast's home. This is what is called physical hosting. Then came virtual (aka shared) hosting, where a single web server hosts many sites that use the resources of one physical machine.
But progress does not stand still, and hosters have offered something new to the owners of websites and applications. So the turn of the virtual dedicated servers came, they are also VPS / VDS. For the user, it is like a real remote dedicated server. Technically - a separate virtual machine, one of many machines in a virtualization environment deployed on the physical servers of the hoster (provider). This solution turned out to be more flexible and predictable in terms of performance than shared hosting, more reliable and easily manageable, but just as convenient as a physical one.
VPS and VDS: what's the difference?
VPS, also known as virtual private server, runs on the servers of the hoster (provider). In a virtualization environment, it has neighbors - the same VPS of other customers. But they all work independently of each other - they are also private. The virtual server gives each customer complete and independent control over the machine's resources, software and settings, independent of the other customers of the provider.
Uh ... well, the same can be said about VDS.
How did it happen that one technology has two different names?
There is always a reason for dispute. Some love iOS, others love Android. Remember the battles between Canon and Nikon supporters!
If about VPS and VDS, then you probably know the most popular version: these are twin technologies with minimal differences for the user. It is believed that the term VPS came from the English-speaking environment, and VDS appeared in Runet after the domestic VDSManager control panel became popular.
An alternative point of view is based on the fact that there are still differences:
VPS is when several virtual machines are running on one computer, but they have shared processor and RAM resources. And in VDS, a share of physical hardware resources is assigned to each virtual machine. This is called hardware virtualization: the user is guaranteed physical resources, which is not available in a VPS. This gives VDS a slight advantage over VPS when high performance is needed.
We don't know who is right.
And it doesn't matter. In fact, providers offer one service in a complex - VPS / VDS. Choose how many and what resources you need to run web services: the number of processors, storage sizes, type of drives, OS and others. And the provider will make sure that you receive them in full. How to organize it technically is his problem, not yours.
How VPS / VDS works
Special programs - hypervisors - helped to switch from shared hosting to virtual hosting. They allow you to create many virtual machines (servers, VPS, VDS) on physical hardware in a shared virtualization environment and make sure that the resources allocated to them are isolated from each other. On each VPS, you can run a separate copy of the OS, install any software with administrator rights, configure it, work with files and applications. There is only one limitation: this is the amount of vCPU, RAM and disks that the hosting allocated to you. With complete isolation, users and their applications do not interfere with each other. A complete feeling is created that they work on different, unrelated physical machines.
VPS or Shared Hosting?
What will make you change shared hosting and switch to VPS? VPS is more expensive - but it cures a lot of headaches. Let's compare.
Performance and reliability
On shared hosting, users get shared access to limited server resources. The provider does not know how many resources each application actually needs, and their amount is not negotiated within the framework of the service. At peak loads, applications slow down, and a failure in one of them causes the neighbors to "fall". In terms of performance, regular hosting suits applications with modest requirements.
By renting a VPS, you get a dedicated pool of resources that other virtual servers do not claim. The provider guarantees the clients the resources of exactly the capacity they have chosen and paid for.
Security
On shared hosting, all clients' applications are located in the same OS and run in a common environment. Their isolation from each other is very conditional.
In VPS, files are protected thanks to the architecture of the hypervisor - it isolates the resources of different users, the resources of each are inaccessible to someone else. You know for sure that no one else will log in from a nearby virtual server and gain access to your processes. The picture is complemented by the ability to install without restrictions on a VPS any specialized software for information protection of your clients' personal data and other confidential information.
Administration
On shared hosting, the provider allows you to manage one or more applications. In VPS, everything is larger - here you administer a full-fledged server. The ability to use individual settings and custom OS configurations maximizes the return on leased resources.
Scalability
It all depends on the average number of visitors. If you have an application with low to medium traffic and you are firmly convinced that it will never grow - well, you should have enough shared hosting.
But if you believe in the growth of your project, it is better to choose a VPS - it is easier and faster to increase resources in it. You can independently change the server performance in a few clicks without thinking about the hardware. In this case, neither the application nor the server itself will have to be stopped, and all changes will take effect in a few seconds. So your web project will not fall after a successful article on Habré, which will bring you a peak of visits.
Saving
When using shared hosting, you pay a fixed amount according to the selected tariff, which does not guarantee fixed capacities.
When renting a VPS, you pay only for the resources that you consume - this model is also called pay-as-you-go. Due to the fact that the resources are easy to scale and the per-second billing is in effect, it is not difficult for you to control the rental costs. With proper planning, at any time you use the server's capabilities to 100%. You no longer have to stock up on power in the event of a peak load.
The main advantages of VPS / VDS
- reliability and high availability of data;
- transparent allocation of resources (volumes are fixed by agreement);
- simple scalability without downtime;
- billing with per second billing;
- the ability to combine VPS servers into a virtual private cloud (VPC, Virtual Private Cloud).
How is the administration organized in VPS / VDS
For most VPS providers, management is organized from a special admin panel or personal account, where you can independently administer the server (forget about calls to account managers). Increase or decrease its power, raise or, conversely, "kill", change the settings of routing, disks, backups. For each such task, clear and convenient tools are provided, and it takes a couple of minutes to make these changes.
You can control the operation of a virtual dedicated server using automation tools. Using the API, you can use any suitable program that automatically performs typical VPS management actions. For example, if the VPS resources are running out, the program gives the command to increase them, and if they are underutilized, on the contrary, to decrease them.
After all of the above, I want to add, and now imagine what kind of security connection you can make if you use a VPN, proxy, virtual machine on your PC, which in turn is also connected to VDS.
Well? Ready to conquer internet safety literacy?
