VPS: More than Shared, Cheaper than Dedicated!
Virtual private servers (VPS) are an interesting middle-ground for those who need a little more than a shared hosting plan but don't want to pay the cost or need the power of a dedicated server. It is a virtual machine which operates on the same hardware as other virtual machines, yet it acts as an independent server would act. They were often used in mainframe systems to allow multiple users to harness the power at the same time, and they are experiencing an uptake in popularity as VPS technology advances.
How Does VPS Works?
The way a virtual private server works is this: a single server has multiple hard drives or partitions of a drive which are set aside for a user. Limits may be placed on the amount of processing power per user to eliminate the shared hosting problem of lag caused by the other users. A major advantage to the VPS is that each user can have an operating system that is independent of the other users, and the user can reboot their partition without harming the other users.
A virtual private server has many of the same options that a dedicated server would have including managed and unmanaged hosting plans, control panels, and tech support for upgrades and assistance. They are often used to help with the stability of a system by running a live, working version of a program or website while a secondary copy of the code is being worked on in a partition. That allows the developer to keep a website up until the secondary code has been improved and stabilized for release without endangering the primary. They are also used as honey pots to distract hackers from secure data by storing incorrect data on a VPS with intentionally lax security.
For a mid-sized business or simply for a developer who needs multiple operating systems to test on, the VPS is a cost-effective solution.
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