How Does a Dedicated Server Differ from a VPS

1. Are you confused between opting for a dedicated server and a VPS? Then you are at the right place as the purpose of the information being provide here is to guide you in this regard. Once you are aware of what a dedicated server as well as a VPS are and how these two differ from each other, it would become easy for you to choose between these options. Let’s begin! What Are Web Servers? Since Dedicated servers and VPS (Virtual Private Servers) are both web servers, it is essential to first understand what a web server is. Every web server primarily performs the following functions – •It hosts website/websites by storing its/their files. •The stored files are processed on the web server. •It receives the incoming requests of web browsers of site visitors for the stored files. •It responds to the incoming requests by either enabling retrieval of the stored files or by providing an appropriate response if the files cannot be located on the server. When the files are retrieved by the web browsers from the server, then the website becomes accessible to them. As is evident, a web server, whether it is a dedicated server or a Virtual Private Server, is used for hosting the files of a single website or multiple websites, based on the type of web hosting service that has been purchased.

2. It is through the service of web hosting, wherein different web hosting solutions are made available, that server space on a web server can be availed. Web hosting is the service that is availed by website owners of every type of website to render their sites publicly accessible to site visitors over an active Internet connection. This service is provided by service providers that are known as web hosting companies or simply as web hosts. You should always opt for a reputed, professional and reliable web hosting company, in order to experience the best web hostingservice. In this regard, HTS Hosting is considered as the Top Website Hosting Company andit offers a range of efficient and affordable web hosting services that are renowned for effectively meeting the web hosting requirements of different types of websites. A web server is an essential component of web hosting. That is because it is on these web servers that the files of the websites that have purchased the service of web hosting, get stored. It is on a web server that these files are stored as well as processed and are subsequently retrieved from, by different web browsers. In this way, a web server plays one of the most crucial roles in making websites accessible online. Here, it needs to be mentioned that a web hosting plan, which you avail from a web hosting company, not only provides you web server space to host your website’s files but also offers a set of web hosting features. Some of these features play an important role in the quality of hosting service that you experience. For example, high uptime, fast page loads, secure service, user-friendly control panel, 24*7 technical support, etc. Hence, always opt for a web hosting plan that includes these features as well as avail the service of website hosting from a reputed web hosting company that has substantial experience in this field and has an ever-growing client base, such as HTS Hosting. The type of web server (shared server, dedicated server, VPS) on which your website’s files will be stored and processed, will depend entirely on the type of web hosting plan that you have purchased from your service provider. Always consider your web hosting requirements, your budget and the reputability of your service provider before availing any web hosting service. Next, we shall cast light on two specific types of web servers, dedicated servers and Virtual Private Servers. Dedicated Servers As the term itself suggests, a ‘dedicated server’ offers its server resources dedicatedly to a single site which is hosted on it. Such a server is able to exclusively offer all its resources and the entire server space to a single website because it hosts a single site on each server. By hosting one website per web server, a dedicated server ensures that the hosted website gets dedicated server space, dedicated server resources, a dedicated IP address and at the same time has the flexibility to customize the web server.

3. There are many benefits of hosting a website on a dedicated server, owing to the dedicated server resources along with the dedicated server space that such a web server is able to offer to the hosted website. The site hosted on a dedicated web server experiences enhanced site speed, augmented security and peak site performance. A dedicated server is usually opted for, by websites that are either resource-intensive or require dedicated server resources for their effective functioning and/or have strict requirements for outstanding speed, unrivalled security and peak site performance. Since a dedicated server’s entire resources are available for full utilization by the hosted site, it can easily offer excellent speed, security and performance. With all these benefits to offer and due to the fact that a dedicated web server is limited to hosting a single website per server, the price for the plans for availing dedicated servers is usually higher than the price for availing server space on any other type of web server. What if we tell you that there is a less expensive but equally effective alternative to a dedicated server? Next, let us provide you information on this option, a Virtual Private Server. Virtual Private Servers A VPS (Virtual Private Server) offers the same features that a dedicated server does and at a much less price, as it hosts multiple websites on a single server, unlike a dedicated server that hosts a single site per server. When you host your website on a Virtual Private Server, the hosted site receives the same benefits that a site hosted on a dedicated server does, which are as follows – •Dedicated server resources •Dedicated server space •Dedicated IP address •Server customization (installation of software and OS) •Enhanced site speed •Increased site security •Remarkable site performance A VPS is able to offer all the aforementioned benefits and at a cheaper price than a dedicated server. Hence, if you are looking for an excellent value for money hosting solution, wherein your hosted site gets the same advantages that a dedicated server offers, then you should opt for a VPS. How can a VPS offer the same features that a dedicated server does (dedicated server resources, dedicated IP address, dedicated server space, server customization) when it is essentially a shared server that hosts multiple websites on a single web server? Let us explain that in brief.

4. A Virtual Private Server replicates the environment of a dedicated server in a shared server space where several websites are hosted on a single physical web server. It is able to offer dedicated server resources, a dedicated IP address, dedicated server space and the flexibility to customize the web server to each of the hosted websites despite these being hosted essentially on a shared server. It is through Virtualization Technology that a VPS is able to function as an independent, private, isolated, virtually-created server for each of the hosted websites. Those that opt for a VPS have the same hosting requirements as those that require dedicated servers but these people are looking for a less expensive option, which a VPS is able to provide perfectly. Moreover, a VPS can be availed as either a Managed VPS or as a Self-managed VPS, depending on the extent of convenience that a user is seeking with regard to server management and the level of expertise that the user has in server management. A Managed VPS is managed and kept updated and secure by the service provider, whereas the user of the VPS is responsible for server management and its security when it comes to a Self-managed VPS. The Differences Now that you know what a VPS is and what a dedicated server is, you are already aware of the differences between these two types of web servers that are used for hosting websites which have availed the service of web hosting. Here, let us summarize the main differences between a VPS and a dedicated server. •A VPS uses Virtualization Technology to virtually create many independent, isolated, private servers, each of which can function as an independent server and host a website as well as install its own software and OS. This is not the case with a dedicated server. •A VPS hosts multiple sites on a single physical web server that has been virtually- segmented into several virtual and private servers. A dedicated server hosts a single website on a single web server. •A Virtual Private Server offers dedicated server resources, dedicated IP addresses, dedicated server space and the flexibility to customize the server to each of the multiple websites that are hosted on it. A dedicated server offers these benefits to a single site that is hosted on it. •A VPS can be availed as a Managed VPS or as a Self-managed VPS. A dedicated server doesn’t offer such options. •Dedicated servers are almost always more expensively priced than Virtual Private Servers which offer the best alternative to dedicated servers.

5. Conclusion: Now that you know how a dedicated server differs from a VPS, as well as you have an all- encompassing knowledge about both these types of web servers, it will become easier for you to decide which one to opt for. If you need any further assistance in this regard, you can contact the experts at HTS Hosting and you will receive expert assistance for availing the best hosting plan, based on your requirements and budget. HTS Hosting offers the most powerfully configured web servers, including dedicated servers and VPS, that are available at discounted prices and are fully secure as well as are unrivalled in terms of speed and performance. Source:https://www.htshosting.org/knowledge-base/server/394/how-does-a-dedicated- server-differ-from-a-vps