| In order to appreciate the beauty of Virtual | | | | The main advantage of a VDS is that each |
| Dedicated Hosting, it helps to understand the | | | | administrator maintains control at the root directory |
| alternatives - "shared" web hosting and "real" | | | | level of his or her own virtual server. Access at this |
| dedicated hosting. | | | | level permits the web site owners to do a lot of |
| Shared Hosting - Cheap But Potentially Unreliable | | | | neat things: |
| Shared web hosting makes it possible for hundreds | | | | - Administer their own file directories |
| or even thousands of users to host their sites very | | | | - Assign domain names that resolve to a primary |
| cost-effectively. However, there are a few | | | | domain |
| drawbacks. | | | | - without having to go through the web host |
| Because many web sites are hosted on the same | | | | - Create and add e-mail accounts |
| physical server each site must share that server's | | | | - Assign email addresses |
| resources. These resources include bandwidth, disk | | | | - Manage their own log files |
| space, memory, and CPU usage to name a few. The | | | | - Maintain passwords |
| need to share resources is rarely a problem for small | | | | - Set permissions |
| and medium size web sites. | | | | - Delete and install software |
| The biggest limitation with shared hosting, therefore, | | | | - VDS administrators effectively have the ability to |
| is that you cannot control any of the system-level | | | | do whatever an administrator can do on a real, |
| software such as mail servers, http servers, etc. You | | | | physical server. |
| also are not able to choose your own operating | | | | Security |
| system, compile programs, or perform other | | | | Besides providing significantly greater control over the |
| administrative activities such as installing firewalls and | | | | web hosting environment, the virtual dedicated |
| spam filters. | | | | server hosting is inherently more secure than any |
| Real Dedicated Hosting | | | | shared hosting server can be. Because web sites |
| Real dedicated web hosting, on the other hand, | | | | hosted on a shared server have to use the same |
| solves all the problems with shared web hosting, but | | | | operating system, a hacker who gets access to the |
| at a significant cost. With real dedicated hosting you | | | | server's root directory could damage all the websites |
| have exclusive use of an entire server: all the | | | | residing on that server. |
| memory, all the disk space, all the CPU horsepower. | | | | On the other hand, a VDS is compartmentalized such |
| Therefore, no other web sites' problems, glitches, or | | | | that a hacker gaining entry via one account could in |
| whatever, will have any effect on your web site. | | | | no way access any of the others. Each VDS is totally |
| You have total control over the server, its resources, | | | | invisible to each other and it's impossible to transfer |
| and its administrative functions. | | | | root-level access capability from one account to |
| This is the ideal web hosting solution but it isn't cheap. | | | | another. |
| You have to pay for an entire server with no one | | | | Virtual Dedicated Servers can be configured by the |
| else to share common expenses. So, typically, a "real" | | | | hosting company in a variety of ways so it's |
| dedicated hosting plan will cost a minimum of $100 | | | | important that you understand how your web host |
| per month and goes up from there. And, unless you | | | | has allocated the server's resources. |
| opt for managed hosting which is even more | | | | Typically the host would distribute the physical server |
| expensive, you have to do all the technical server | | | | resources evenly based on how many accounts and |
| administration yourself. | | | | or web sites are being hosted. Thus, with ten virtual |
| You run your business. I'll run mine. | | | | servers on one physical server, each would be |
| The fact is that most web site owners don't need | | | | allocated ten percent of the storage, bandwidth, |
| total control of their servers as they simply want to | | | | memory, and CPU time. |
| run their businesses. They have neither the interest | | | | Virtual Dedicated Hosting - Disadvantages |
| nor the ability to perform all the technical tasks | | | | Interestingly, the disadvantages of hosting on a VDS |
| associated with a fully dedicated server and are more | | | | are pretty much the same as what the advantages |
| than happy to let their shared web hosting provider | | | | are. If you're not sure what you are doing, having |
| handle them. | | | | the full control that virtual dedicated hosting allows |
| However, when an online business begins to ramp up | | | | can be very risky. |
| its transaction volumes, expand its product line to a | | | | For example, you can accidentally delete files, or set |
| large number of online offerings, or simply needs | | | | permissions inappropriately, or allow viruses and other |
| more control over its environment, there is a very | | | | malware to enter the system and, overall, just make |
| cost effective alternative to a fully dedicated server. | | | | a real mess of things. So if you lack the technical skills |
| Virtual dedicated hosting, also known as virtual | | | | to administer a web server, and are unable or |
| dedicated server, or VDS, hosting, is the term for a | | | | unwilling to learn them, virtual dedicated hosting may |
| physical server which, by means of software, has | | | | not be a good choice for you. |
| been partitioned into a number of virtual machines | | | | However, if your site has reached a size where |
| operating independently of each other as if they | | | | shared web hosting no longer accommodate the |
| were standalone dedicated servers. | | | | demands of your business, virtual dedicated hosting |
| Virtual Dedicated Hosting - Advantages | | | | can provide a highly cost-effective alternative to |
| The big advantage of VDS over a fully dedicated | | | | "real" dedicated server hosting. |
| server is cost. Typically priced at less than one fourth | | | | The Bottom Line |
| the cost of full dedicated hosting, VDS hosting | | | | When selecting a virtual dedicated hosting plan, make |
| provides nearly all the same advantages. And | | | | it your business to understand how all the server |
| compared to a shared web hosting plan, VDS is only | | | | resources are allocated, what the available options |
| slightly more expensive providing an excellent balance | | | | are for operating systems, how many VDS accounts |
| of economy and control. | | | | will reside on each server, as well as the terms and |
| With a VDS all physical resources such as memory, | | | | conditions for upgrading and downgrading to a |
| disk space, and the CPU continue to be shared, but | | | | different plan. |
| each virtual server operates in a fully independent | | | | Virtual dedicated hosting is the real deal when you |
| manner. For example, each VDS can run its own | | | | need a robust yet economical home for your web |
| unique operating system and can be set up in any | | | | site. |
| configuration imaginable. | | | | |