If you can choose the right VPS services, you can get almost all benefits of dedicated hosting at a fraction of the costs. In VPS hosting, an entire server is divided to produce many virtual servers. These servers can run independent of one another; users have root access and they can configure the server according to their needs. VPS hosting services are therefore well suited for both small and medium businesses which do not have the expertise and money to afford dedicated servers. When your site starts to grow and the resources from shared hosting plans are not enough to help you cope with the increase in traffic to your site, you must upgrade to VPS hosting plans. VPS hosting services seem to be the perfect middle path between dedicated hosting and shared hosting.
How can you get the best VPS hosting services?
1. One of the first decisions you will need to take is whether to opt for Linux VPS hosting or Windows VPS hosting plans. When you choose Linux VPS, you can save money as Linux is an open-source system and there will be no licensing fees. However, if you run applications like .NET technologies, you will have to choose Windows servers because these run in a Windows-only setting.
2. Unmanaged VPS hosting plans are cost-effective because you will be responsible for managing the servers entirely. This is a good option when you own a capable and experience IT team to assist you. However, in the absence of a qualified workforce, it is better to opt for managed VPS plans. When you choose managed VPS hosting services, the responsibilities of securing and monitoring servers rest with the host. The degree to which you can get managed services will again depend on the provider you have chosen.
3. As far as prices are concerned, VPS hosting services should be chosen only after comparing the rates offered by multiple web hosts. The prices are also likely to vary depending on the type of operating system you use and the kind of hosting environment you need. You must also find out about installation charges, licensing charges and costs for additional hardware or bandwidth besides hosting fees. It is important to know in advance about data transfer limits, if any, and the cost of extra bandwidth in case you need it later. You should also inquire whether the host can give you support for Linux and Windows servers. The host must also carry out regular OS updates and have effective backup measures to ensure that critical data is well protected.
4. Before signing up for VPS hosting services, it is also imperative to find out about the kind of processing power you will be allotted. You should even inquire about the number of IP addresses you will be given and chares for extra IP addresses.
5. Your hosting provider should have a competent customer support team that is able to offer technical assistance round the clock through live chats, phone calls FAQ pages and emails.
6. Finally, your VPS web hosting provider should have proper backup resources at their data center. This is to ensure that power supplies continue uninterrupted even when there is a major power failure that has caused servers to crash. Likewise, if a single server is overloaded, the host must provide standby servers to take over the load. The host should therefore be well-equipped to handle large volumes of web traffic through usage of its redundant resources.