Planet Host - Selective Web Hosting Reviews
What is a VPS (Virtual Private Server) Server?
A VPS server is a Virtual Private Server used for hosting internet applications. Internet applications like as web servers, DNS servers, or email servers can be hosted on a VPS by a hosting firm, relieving the hardware and network management burden for the client.
In a VPS, the server that runs the client's applications is a "virtual" server. This means that the host can support multiple clients using one physical server. Since the host is not recovering the hardware cost for an entire server from one client, the cost for a VPS is usually lower than for a dedicated server.
In a VPS hosting arrangement, the host owns the hardware, power, network, and physical infrastructure, and also supports the server operating system and other essentials. The host usually also installs and maintains the application server (e.g., a web server like Apache), but the client has access to management tools to configure and support the application or web site. VPS hosts also provide services like physical security and ensures software updates are installed.
A VPS is usually the subject of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that specify the uptime, operability, and other performance guarantees the host provides to the client. SLAs usually also specify the protection that the host offers from power interruptions, backbone connection failures, attacks like hacking or denial of service attacks, and other service interruptions. Hosting arrangements also usually include an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) or Terms of Service (ToS) that governs things like the software the client can install, adult and offensive content allowed, and policies on spamming, among other things.
VPS hosts usually also provide a specified bandwidth or available data transfer rate. Bandwidth is an important factor for the Internet applications hosted on a VPS. The amount of bandwidth provided by the host depends on the type of carrier the host can provide for connections to the Internet backbone. The amount of bandwidth delivered is subject to the SLA. There are different ways of measuring the bandwidth delivered against the bandwidth promised. Some measure the 95th percentile of usage, either average usage or peak usage. Some hosts measure the total amount of data leaving and coming to the server. Others set a "top speed" and do not measure data transfer amounts or speeds under that limit.
Performance can be an issue with some VPS arrangements. Because the VPS is actually on a shared server, other server activity can slow the response of the web site or other internet application. Some VPS vendors provide load-balancing or clustering services to avoid this limitation. Other VPS vendors impose data transfer limits to throttle the demand.
The bottom line for dedicated servers is that they can be a viable option for organizations that do not want to fight hackers, provide multiply-redundant power connections and back up data but still want to provide a professional web site experience for their customers. Obviously, letting another company take these administrative burdens comes reduces the flexibility available for configuring an application.