VDS (Virtual Dedicated Server) or VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a hosting service where the user is provided with a virtual server with maximum privileges. VDS or VPS emulates the work of a real physical server – there is root access, it is possible to install your own operating systems and software. One physical server usually runs several independent virtual servers.
What is the difference between VDS and VPS
There is an opinion that the terms denote virtual servers with different types of virtualization: VPS stands for virtualization at the operating system level, VDS stands for hardware virtualization. In fact, both terms appeared and developed in parallel, and mean the same thing: a virtual dedicated server running on the basis of a physical one.
We use the term VDS (Virtual Dedicated Server, virtual dedicated server), because we believe that it more clearly reflects the essence of the service provided.
The principle and features of the virtual dedicated server
According to the principle of operation and features of functioning, a virtual dedicated server is not much different from a physical server. It has no restrictions on the number of hosted sites, databases, domain zones, ssh-ftp-email users, and its owner-administrator has the right to work with files, install applications and perform other operations, as on a real full-fledged server. Each virtual server on our hosting has its own IP address, which is not shared with anyone else. Additional IP addresses can be ordered if necessary.
A virtual server operates independently of others located on the same host machine. This means that the failure of one server does not affect the functioning of the “neighbors”.
Unlike conventional shared hosting, DDoS protection technologies are available on a virtual server, and data safety is guaranteed by the possibility of creating a backup copy.
Comparison of VDS/VPS with shared hosting
Advantages of using VDS/VPS compared to shared hosting:
Full control: the owner of a virtual private server receives root access (for Unix) or Administrator (for Windows), and can fine-tune the server for the needs of a particular project, up to installing the necessary software and changing the operating system.
Minimum restrictions: the number of created sites, databases, domain zones, ssh-ftp-email-users is limited only by server resources.
Independence: virtual servers – “neighbors” on the host machine work in isolation and do not “pull” resources from each other, and also use separate IP addresses, while on a regular virtual hosting several sites often use one IP address.
Cons of using VDS/VPS compared to shared hosting:
Price: The cost of renting a virtual dedicated server is usually significantly higher than the cost of shared hosting. But we offer comparable rates.
The need for administration: a virtual server needs to be administered like a physical one, so the user needs certain knowledge and skills in this area. The presence of a control panel makes it easier to perform typical tasks: for our customers, we offer the ISPmanager panel.
Comparison of VDS/VPS with a physical dedicated server
Advantages of using VDS/VPS compared to a dedicated server:
Low cost: renting a virtual dedicated server costs the user much cheaper than renting a physical server of comparable capacity. At the same time, the performance of VDS / VPS may even be higher.
Easy scalability: it is very easy for a virtual server to add capacity in the form of additional RAM, processor cores or hard disk space.
Cons of using a VDS/VPS server versus a dedicated server:
Shared disk system and communication channel: all virtual servers running on the same host machine, provided that the main resources are shared, use one disk system and a common high-speed communication channel for all. This means that some users may misuse resources and interfere with other clients.
We use an automatic system that finds such users. Violators are subject to measures from a warning to turning off the VDS.
Features of virtualization technologies OpenVZ and KVM
The OpenVZ technology is based on the Linux kernel and allows you to create and run isolated copies of the operating system on one physical server – the so-called “virtual private servers” (Virtual Private Servers, VPS) or “virtual environments” (Virtual Environments, VE). This technology is characterized by high performance, ease of use and ease of server management.
The user can also increase the capacity of such a virtual server at any time. At the same time, the choice of the operating system is possible only from a number of proposed ones (Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu), since the virtual servers of a specific host machine use a common Linux kernel.
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a hardware virtualization technology that allows you to create a complete virtual analogue of a real physical server on a host machine. Each such server is allocated its own area in RAM and hard disk space, its own network card, which increases the overall reliability of such a server.
In fact, KVM technology allows you to create a virtual server completely isolated from the “neighbors” with its own OS kernel, which the user can configure and modify for their own needs with virtually no restrictions. You can install any operating system: Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, and even your own image.
At the same time, changing server resources is impossible – if your project “grows” from the originally selected tariff, you will need to order a more productive virtual server for it at the appropriate tariff and transfer all data to it (as is the case with a real dedicated server). The exception is the VDS-Forsage and VDS-Atlant tariffs, where the user has the ability to change the number of available processor cores and RAM (hard drive – upon request to the support service).
Given the features and benefits that KVM virtualization provides, its tariffs are somewhat more expensive than similar tariffs with OpenVZ virtualization.