Cloud Virtual Private Servers (VPS) are offered in various types, and service providers present numerous plans for customers to select from when setting up a server.
When you request a Cloud VPS, you have the ability to choose the operating system, typically either Windows or a Linux distribution, and you can also select a pre-configured auto-deployed application server like WordPress, cPanel, Docker, or NodeJS.
It is crucial to note that you can determine the performance of the Cloud VPS you are establishing, accomplished by selecting a VPS Plan that meets your requirements.
VPS Hosting Models & Plans
A Cloud VPS provides an ideal combination of traditional VPS and dedicated hosting, which has made it a highly sought-after service for hosting companies and service providers. With a Cloud VPS, you not only gain significant cost advantages related to older hosting platforms but also receive assured CPU, disk, and memory resources from a dedicated cloud environment.
This is why an increasing number of organizations are transferring their personal, private, and business workloads to Cloud VPS. Atlantic.Net’s sales and support teams frequently receive inquiries like, “Which plan should I pick? Is all this CPU power necessary? Do I require additional memory (RAM)?” IT Professionals and System administrators can typically address these questions, but not everyone is well-versed in computers. Thus, we have compiled this guide to equip you with the necessary knowledge to make an educated choice about which plan best fits your needs.
What Is a Cloud VPS Plan?
Most service providers offer Cloud VPS under various available plans. These plans generally feature a General Purpose selection of standardized servers intended for multiple functions. Plans are also available for I/O intensive applications; these are Storage Optimized servers that primarily focus on disk performance. Additionally, providers present plans for Memory-Optimized or Compute-Optimized tasks.
Cloud VPS plans enable you to select a server designed to deliver the specified resources outlined above, guaranteed. A VPS functions as a virtual machine hosted on a virtual hypervisor. The technology behind the virtual hypervisor allows the VPS to be set up automatically using pre-defined scripting. The VPS is then created and assigned to a physical host that possesses the resources stipulated in the plan.
The chosen plan will specify the preferred number of vCPUs allocated to the VPS. A single vCPU represents a single core, whereas 8 vCPUs denote 8 cores. The host will allocate CPU resources against the physical host’s CPU sockets, cores, and threads.
The physical hosts will feature substantial allocations of high-speed memory (RAM), which is logically divided among the VPS guests. If you opt for a plan with 4GB of RAM, that 4GB of physical RAM is reserved exclusively for your VPS from the total pool. Your VPS will have dedicated access to that 4GB of allocated memory.
Cloud VPS plans also encompass various disk storage alternatives. These options not only cover the size of storage assigned to the VPS but also the type and speed. Storage allocations may include rapid Solid State Disk (SSD) storage, advanced premium (High I/O) dedicated local SSD storage, or extensive, flexible, and resilient Secure Block Storage (SBS).
The network bandwidth allocated by the cloud provider should be considered when establishing a VPS. Typically, all inbound (ingress) network traffic to a VPS is free, whereas outbound (egress) network traffic incurs charges. Your customers will utilize egress network allocations to access the data on your server, such as when they visit your website. Most VPS plans generally provide a set amount of “free” network bandwidth. This could be minimal or substantial; the ideal choice for you is highly dependent on your anticipated usage.
Plan Flexibility
You can upgrade your Cloud VPS plan whenever you wish. This offers considerable flexibility; as your business expands naturally, your VPS can grow as well. Essentially, you can re-provision the server with increased CPU, disk, memory, and network bandwidth. There are a few “gotchas” associated with this technology; often, the operating system must be re-imaged during an upgrade of your VPS. However, if you have carefully planned your VPS development, you can save your data on an SBS volume, or if you have a backup or snapshot, you can easily transfer the data volume to the new server.
Restoring backups is a much more straightforward method to recover data on a newly reprovisioned server. Just restore your system over your new server from a backup. This method allows you to resume operations in virtually no time. A VPS has the capability to scale up through reprovisioning to a plan with superior performance, but it can also scale out, allowing you to create a cluster of virtual private servers that work together to enhance computational resources.
General Purpose Cloud VPS
General-purpose VPS plans are the most widely utilized and implemented. These VPS types cater to general, routine tasks. The scenarios for using a general-purpose VPS can vary greatly; for instance, you might use this plan to host a website or serve as a workstation.
Just because these servers are categorized as general-purpose doesn’t imply they are sluggish or underperforming. Our SSD-backed servers deliver incredible speed, regardless of how many resources you assign. You can acquire a VPS for as little as $10 monthly, and you may be surprised at how effectively even the smallest plan operates. When using Linux, these servers are sufficiently powerful to run WordPress, cPanel, and basic MySQL applications.
The general-purpose plan offers up to 64GB of RAM, 20 vCPUs, and 650GB of SSD storage. These resources are robust enough for enterprise-grade Docker setups, backup servers, or even substantial SQL database servers.
Storage Optimized VPS
A storage-optimized VPS does precisely what its name implies; you not only get access to dedicated, high-performance SSD hardware, but you can also allocate up to 4TB of SSD storage to your VPS.
For clear reasons, we advise against solely running Windows Server on a 4TB SSD; these storage-optimized servers are suggested for I/O intensive applications, particularly Microsoft SQL Server, and SQL ETL data transformation tasks. The ultra-fast input/output enables the VPS to process large volumes of data swiftly.
Storage Optimized VPS utilize local SSD drives and are excellent for ultra-low latency, mission-critical operations. Most frequently, our clients employ these servers for distributed databases and data analytics.
Memory-Optimized Cloud VPS
Clients requiring servers with a significant amount of volatile memory (RAM) can select the Memory Optimized VPS, offering not only competitive pricing for higher RAM capacities but also considerable uninterrupted memory sizes ranging from 16GB to 128GB.
These servers are intended for applications demanding exceptionally high memory input/output or leveraging applications that reside in memory for enhanced performance. This Cloud VPS type is suitable for database applications and software like Apache Spark.
Each server features SSDs that improve the performance of memory-optimized servers, and the SSDs can be utilized to store data in case of an error.
Compute-Optimized VPS
A Compute-Optimized VPS will furnish your applications with substantial processing power. With this VPS type, you gain access to the optimized Intel CPU hosting platform, enabling users to handle vast quantities of information instantly.
CPU-optimized VPSs are ideal for data analytics, video rendering, gaming servers, and Docker worker nodes. The combination of SSD storage and high-speed memory creates a server package capable of managing the most demanding workloads.
What Next?
The variety of options for a VPS is indeed extensive, and each type has numerous applications. Typically, customers choose plans with basic specifications, knowing they can upgrade if necessary later on.
What does VPS mean?
VPS, which stands for Virtual Private Server, refers to a designated area on a specific server that operates as if it were its own complete server. It has its distinct operating system, resources, applications, and settings while taking advantage of being on a robust server capable of supporting and safeguarding several VPS accounts.
In simple terms, a server is a powerful computer used to store and process the data displayed as your website. For instance, when someone enters the name of your online store into Google or another search engine, this powerful computer “serves” the results to the user, allowing them to engage with your website.
The key distinction of a VPS compared to other server types lies in the “virtual” component of its name. The VPS employs virtualization technology that divides the previously mentioned server into multiple virtual servers. This indicates that while the hardware is a single unit, it functions as if it were several independent servers.
Regarding the security of these servers, the VPS name implies a guarantee of privacy. A VPS is private, meaning you are the sole individual with access to the resources outlined in your server agreement (RAM, CPU, allocated storage) and to the data stored within it.
What other types of hosting are there?
Before outlining the benefits of VPS hosting, it’s essential to discuss two alternative hosting forms that might suit your needs: shared hosting and dedicated hosting.
Shared hosting is budget-friendly, inexpensive, and requires minimal technical expertise since the service provider manages the server maintenance. While this sounds appealing, it does mean sharing resources such as space, memory, and CPU with numerous users. Essentially, you are sharing ALL RESOURCES with various individuals, much like working in a communal office.
Dedicated hosting has its own benefits. You have full access to an entire server, akin to owning a large and beautiful house. However, this ample space comes with significant costs and several responsibilities. Consequently, expenses can escalate quickly, and you are required to manage part of the server operations, which isn’t overly complicated if you possess the necessary knowledge. But, do you have that expertise? Are you familiar with managing possible bugs, high traffic, or security challenges? If the answer is no, then it may be time to reconsider your choice of dedicated hosting.
8 scenarios in which you require VPS hosting
You are concerned about the security of your hosting.
If you prefer to personally manage the security of your website or if you’re overseeing a site where safety is paramount and wish to implement advanced security settings, you require VPS hosting. Additionally, if you wish to closely monitor your site’s activity or require increased space and processing capability, or if your site simply demands it, this type of hosting ensures you have the necessary resources and offers top-tier security configurations.
Your website experiences significant traffic.
If your site is relatively new and the traffic is low, shared hosting may suffice. However, if your site has a large and consistently increasing audience, ensuring optimal performance and preventing any downtime is crucial. If the server is inadequate or overloaded with other users, you are likely to face challenges as your site traffic increases. To avoid these issues from the outset, it is advisable to choose Cloud VPS hosting.
Your website is not operating at full capacity.
What does it mean when a website isn’t functioning at its highest capacity? In simple terms, it signifies that the loading times are excessively long, leading users to lose interest even if they are inclined to visit. VPS hosting allows you to enhance your website without concern over it failing to operate at its optimum capacity.
You operate an online store.
If you run an online store, the situation becomes slightly more complex. An online store demands more resources than a basic blog, for example, as it collects more data and processes payments. Consequently, the required level of security must be robust. You wouldn’t want to jeopardize vital information about your customers and their credit card details, and the only type of shared hosting that can adequately accommodate this is VPS hosting.
You require specific software.
If the system you are using for your website or websites is WordPress or another commonly used site creation and management platform, you may not necessarily need VPS hosting; shared hosting could suffice just as well. Conversely, if you plan to utilize various programs or specific software that requires unique server configurations, transitioning to VPS hosting would be wise. Moreover, if you begin engaging in advanced programming that necessitates greater control over the server, VPS hosting becomes essential. Other programs and systems that may require VPS hosting or even a dedicated server for optimal performance include various applications related to government entities, accounting, etc.
Your website traffic varies.
If you are facing issues like “The server is unavailable,” “The page is unavailable,” or similar messages, it’s highly probable that your customers encounter these issues too. While there may be instances where these problems aren’t critically severe, an online store that attracts significant traffic should not experience such errors, as this can result in a loss of customer trust. Every visitor to your site seeks a positive experience. If you let them down, you risk losing them for good! These unfortunate circumstances can be avoided by opting for VPS hosting.
You have a restricted budget.
Indeed, having a dedicated server resolves most of the issues previously mentioned, but it also comes at a much higher cost. If your goal is to enhance your site’s performance, boost security, and increase RAM, VPS hosting is the most cost-effective solution available.
You design websites for your clients.
If building websites is part of your business, then VPS hosting is essential for you. It allows you to host an unlimited number of domains, providing sufficient RAM to ensure each one operates efficiently.
Categories of VPS hosting.
There are two categories of VPS hosting, based on your technical skills as a user: unmanaged VPS hosting and managed VPS hosting.
In the case of unmanaged VPS hosting, the hosting providers only take care of the operating system installation, while you, the website owner, are responsible for other management tasks such as:
- installing and updating various applications, managing the control panel,
- watching for potential security threats and fixing errors,
- if the hardware fails, you’ll have to handle it yourself, essentially,
- configuring and maintaining the server, which includes updates,
- creating backups.
- As you might have noticed, managing this kind of responsibility requires advanced technical expertise.
If the technical aspects aren’t your strength, you can choose Cloud VPS hosting with external management. In this case, IT professionals oversee the proper functioning of both the physical and virtual servers. Among the services you can receive are:
- initial server setup,
- server and service updates,
- enhanced security features,
- monitoring the server from both hardware and software angles, along with potential virtual threats,
automatic backups. - Naturally, every hosting provider offers customized services, so if you are interested in this type of management, you should reach out to a specialized provider.
Final thoughts.
Now that you’ve absorbed this information, you can no longer consider yourself uninformed about VPS hosting. You are equipped to make a knowledgeable choice about the type of hosting that suits your needs. You have already explored the advantages of Cloud VPS and identified scenarios where it is beneficial. Ultimately, it comes down to the question: is your site experiencing growth, and do you require additional resources? If the answer is YES! then you should not hesitate to switch to VPS hosting promptly!
If you are unfamiliar with the term web hosting, let’s define it in the simplest way: web hosting is the space necessary to make your website operational. It represents your unique corner of the internet, which can take various forms depending on your specific needs. Today, we will delve into Cloud VPS hosting, ideal for those users who require extra personal space.
Cloud VPS
Cloud VPS
