What is VPS ?

[eUKShane]

Virtual Private Servers

Virtual Private Servers are the most advanced step in server virtualization technology. They are used to partition a single physical server into many isolated virtual private servers. Each virtual private server looks and behaves exactly like a real networked server system, complete with its own set of init scripts, users, processes, filesystems, etc. .

The Basics

VPS Hosting behaves exactly like an isolated stand-alone server

* Appears to have its own processes, users, files and provides full root access
* Each has its own IP addresses, port numbers, tables, filtering and routing rules
* Each can have its own configuration files for the system and app software
* Each can have its own versions of system libraries or modify existing ones
* Each can delete, add, modify any file, including files in /root, and install its own application software or custom configure/modify root application software



As you can see from the graphic above each VPS Hosting is isolated from the others, each can have different applications and the root user of each VPS Hosting is in full control, just like a dedicated server.

Our servers have a large amount of resources available, but this would be a waste if an individual VPS Hosting was allowed to use all of them, this would leave the other VPS Hosting's without access to CPU and RAM. Virtuozzo allows us to avoid this by specifying a minimum and maximum level for over 20 critical resources.

This resource management allows us to define a minimum guaranteed level of RAM and CPU for every VPS Hosting. So no matter what another VPS Hosting does your VPS Hosting is always guaranteed to be unaffected and function normally. This also allows us to let you burst to the maximum resource level if it is available, just imagine 6+Ghz of CPU power!

Quality of Service to provide dedicated SLAs for each VPS Hosting

* Standard: Includes CPU, disk space and network guarantees
* Unique: Guarantees on memory - user and kernel, physical and virtual
* Unique: Guarantees on disk I/O and many other critical resources (over 20).

Virtual Private Servers fill the gap between shared hosting and a dedicated server, it's a bit like 'broadband' hosting, all the benefits of a dedicated server without the worry.

VPS Hosting has five main benefits over a dedicated server:

* Cost:
A virtual private server gives you the functionality of a dedicated server at a fraction of the cost.

* Data Integrity:
With a virtual private server you get built in incremental backups on top of a world class RAID 5 array to ensure data integrity.

* Management:
The nature of a virtual private server means we can manage all aspects of software upgrading and patching, no need to worry about updating your packages it is all controlled by us.

* Functionality:
A virtual private server is functionally equal to a dedicated server.

* Resource Efficient:
You get the resources you need when you need them and all resource guarantees are instantly scalable to suit your needs as you grow.

VPS Hosting has four main benefits over shared hosting:

* Control:
A virtual private server gives you root access to the system, this allows you to modify server configuration files, install applications or modify system software, in a shared environment you have to rely on server settings that are 'best fit' for all clients and this may not suit your needs.

* Security:
With a virtual private server your file system is not accessible or viewable by any other VPS Hosting owner, unlike a shared envoronment where anyone with shell access can browse through your files a VPS Hosting ensures full privacy and security.

* Isolation:
In a shared hosting environment you are 'held hostage' to the actions of others, if another shared account runs a script that crashes the server then your website hosting goes down too. With a virtual private server you have complete resource isolation, no matter what another VPS Hosting user does it will not affect your server.

* Performance:
In a shared environment resources goes to the website hosting 'that shouts the loudest' in other words a big website hosting can drain all resources and leave yours performing badly. In a virtual private server environment you are guaranteed a set of resources to ensure your website hosting always performs at full speed, these resource guarantees ensure other virtual private servers have no affect on the performance of your site

All of the above are also valid reasons to move to a dedicated server. However running a dedicated server can be time consuming and technically difficult, it also assumes you need the full power of a dedicated server and this is what makes virtual private servers so good, all the benefits, at a resource level you need and at a fraction of the cost.

Best Regards,
UKShane
http://www.eukhost.com

[paul]

Nice post, VPS Hosting seems good balance between performance, total control (root access privilege) and a tight budget.

[bccruzer]

nice post. good info. it was made to be the balance between hosting and dedicated

[eUK-Scott]

From the point of view of applications and Virtual Private Server users, each VPS Hosting is an independent system. This independency is provided by a virtualization layer in the kernel of the host OS. Note that only a negligible part of the CPU resources is spent on virtualization (around 1-2%). The main features of the virtualization layer implemented in OpenVZ are the following:

* Any VPS Hosting looks and behaves like a regular Linux system. It has standard startup scripts; software from vendors can run inside a VPS Hosting without OpenVZ-specific modifications or adjustment;
* A user can change any configuration file and install additional software;
* Virtual Private Servers are completely isolated from each other (file system, processes, Inter Process Communication (IPC), sysctl variables);
* Processes belonging to a VPS Hosting are scheduled for execution on all available CPUs. Consequently, VPS Hostings are not bound to only one CPU and can use all available CPU power.