When you're first launching a website or web application, you'll have to decide between shared hosting, virtual private server, and a dedicated server.
If you're just starting out and shopping around for a hosting service,
it may be a scary task. Virtual private servers, or VPS, is a good start
if your website requires a lot of resources.
A VPS has restricted CPU and memory usage. Although it limits you from using too much, it also does the same for your neighbors on the same physical machine. It keeps your neighbors from taking up too much of your resources. Developers tend to choose a VPS as a compromise between dedicated servers and shared services.
With a VPS, you'll get root access to the server. You can install whatever software you want. This is a double edged sword. Remember, you can mess up your production system if you incorrectly install software or fail to patch a security update in time.
What's most important when choosing a VPS service? These are several factors to consider.
Should you go with unmanaged or managed?
Having managed servers means you won't have to apply software patches or security upgrades on your own. Having unmanaged servers means you're expected to manage it on your own.
There are companies that are starting to offer managed virtual private servers. Your hosting company will take care of it for you which means more time spent on your own application. This extra service comes with an extra monthly price.
Is there a community with a wiki, vps forum, or documentation?
Not many customers think about the community surrounding a service, but it should be a factor when selecting a VPS company. Undoubtedly, you'll run into issues while setting up software. That's when support documentation on wikis or forums comes in handy. You'll save a lot of time by reading posts. When someone else has had issues setting software up, they usually document how they solved problems. Check out a service's wikis and forums before making any purchasing decision.
What's the service's reputation for support queries?
Do you require priority support? Would you prefer to trade off a lower monthly cost for less hand holding? Many companies have great reputations for support.
One of the most important factors that comes to mind is the quality of support from your VPS service. What's their average response time to customer email? Do they have a support forum? How about a help desk website? These are questions that you should keep in mind when shopping around for a service.
Do the offer the Linux distribution that you prefer?
Some developers prefer CentOS for its rock solid stability. Other developers prefer Ubuntu for its ease of use. Many like Gentoo for its flexibility and customization. Pick a VPS plan which offers the Linux distribution you prefer.
Some VPS services only offer one type of Linux distribution. If that's the case, make sure that distribution matches your choice.
A trending feature with VPSes is hosted distribution images. For example, if you're using the VPS to run Django applications, your hosting provider might have a pre-built Django stack for you. This is handy and will save you time during the setup phase.
Is it within your budget?
This may be important to some developers depending on their price range. A few VPS services offer budget friendly prices. Others are extremely cheap VPS services which comes with low memory rates or less support. Top tier services, which hand hold the server infrastructure, tend to cost more.
A VPS has restricted CPU and memory usage. Although it limits you from using too much, it also does the same for your neighbors on the same physical machine. It keeps your neighbors from taking up too much of your resources. Developers tend to choose a VPS as a compromise between dedicated servers and shared services.
With a VPS, you'll get root access to the server. You can install whatever software you want. This is a double edged sword. Remember, you can mess up your production system if you incorrectly install software or fail to patch a security update in time.
What's most important when choosing a VPS service? These are several factors to consider.
Should you go with unmanaged or managed?
Having managed servers means you won't have to apply software patches or security upgrades on your own. Having unmanaged servers means you're expected to manage it on your own.
There are companies that are starting to offer managed virtual private servers. Your hosting company will take care of it for you which means more time spent on your own application. This extra service comes with an extra monthly price.
Is there a community with a wiki, vps forum, or documentation?
Not many customers think about the community surrounding a service, but it should be a factor when selecting a VPS company. Undoubtedly, you'll run into issues while setting up software. That's when support documentation on wikis or forums comes in handy. You'll save a lot of time by reading posts. When someone else has had issues setting software up, they usually document how they solved problems. Check out a service's wikis and forums before making any purchasing decision.
What's the service's reputation for support queries?
Do you require priority support? Would you prefer to trade off a lower monthly cost for less hand holding? Many companies have great reputations for support.
One of the most important factors that comes to mind is the quality of support from your VPS service. What's their average response time to customer email? Do they have a support forum? How about a help desk website? These are questions that you should keep in mind when shopping around for a service.
Do the offer the Linux distribution that you prefer?
Some developers prefer CentOS for its rock solid stability. Other developers prefer Ubuntu for its ease of use. Many like Gentoo for its flexibility and customization. Pick a VPS plan which offers the Linux distribution you prefer.
Some VPS services only offer one type of Linux distribution. If that's the case, make sure that distribution matches your choice.
A trending feature with VPSes is hosted distribution images. For example, if you're using the VPS to run Django applications, your hosting provider might have a pre-built Django stack for you. This is handy and will save you time during the setup phase.
Is it within your budget?
This may be important to some developers depending on their price range. A few VPS services offer budget friendly prices. Others are extremely cheap VPS services which comes with low memory rates or less support. Top tier services, which hand hold the server infrastructure, tend to cost more.
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