What is VPS

Virtual Private Servers are the most advanced step in server virtualization technology. They are used to partition a single physical server into many isolated virtual private servers. Each virtual private server looks and behaves exactly like a real networked server system, complete with its own set of init scripts, users, processes, filesystems, etc. .

  The Basics

VPS behaves exactly like an isolated stand-alone server

* Appears to have its own processes, users, files and provides full root access * Each has its own IP addresses, port numbers, tables, filtering and routing rules * Each can have its own configuration files for the system and app software * Each can have its own versions of system libraries or modify existing ones * Each can delete, add, modify any file, including files in /root, and install its own application software or custom configure/modify root application software

As you can see from the graphic above each VPS is isolated from the others, each can have different applications and the root user of each VPS is in full control, just like a dedicated server.

Our servers have a large amount of resources available, but this would be a waste if an individual VPS was allowed to use all of them, this would leave the other VPS's without access to CPU and RAM. Virtuozzo allows us to avoid this by specifying a minimum and maximum level for over 20 critical resources.
 
This resource management allows us to define a minimum guaranteed level of RAM and CPU for every VPS. So no matter what another VPS does your VPS is always guaranteed to be unaffected and function normally. This also allows us to let you burst to the maximum resource level if it is available, just imagine 6+Ghz of CPU power!
 
Quality of Service to provide dedicated SLAs for each VPS

• Standard: Includes CPU, disk space and network guarantees
• Unique: Guarantees on memory - user and kernel, physical and virtual
• Unique: Guarantees on disk I/O and many other critical resources (over 20).

Virtual Private Servers fill the gap between shared hosting and a dedicated server, it's a bit like 'broadband' hosting, all the benefits of a dedicated server without the worry.

VPS has five main benefits over a dedicated server:

• Cost:
  A virtual private server gives you the functionality of a dedicated server at a fraction of the cost.
      
• Data Integrity:
  With a virtual private server you get built in incremental backups on top of a world class RAID 5 array to ensure data integrity.
   
• Management:
  The nature of a virtual private server means we can manage all aspects of software upgrading and patching, no need to worry about updating your packages it is all controlled by us.
   
• Functionality:
  A virtual private server is functionally equal to a dedicated server.
     
• Resource Efficient:
  You get the resources you need when you need them and all resource guarantees are instantly scalable to suit your needs as you grow.

VPS has four main benefits over shared hosting:

• Control:
  A virtual private server gives you root access to the system, this allows you to modify server configuration files, install applications or modify system software, in a shared environment you have to rely on server settings that are 'best fit' for all clients and this may not suit your needs.
      
• Security:
  With a virtual private server your file system is not accessible or viewable by any other VPS owner, unlike a shared envoronment where anyone with shell access can browse through your files a VPS ensures full privacy and security.
   
• Isolation:
  In a shared hosting environment you are 'held hostage' to the actions of others, if another shared account runs a script that crashes the server then your site goes down too. With a virtual private server you have complete resource isolation, no matter what another VPS user does it will not affect your server.
   
• Performance:
  In a shared environment resources goes to the site 'that shouts the loudest' in other words a big site can drain all resources and leave yours performing badly. In a virtual private server environment you are guaranteed a set of resources to ensure your site always performs at full speed, these resource guarantees ensure other virtual private servers have no affect on the performance of your site

All of the above are also valid reasons to move to a dedicated server. However running a dedicated server can be time consuming and technically difficult, it also assumes you need the full power of a dedicated server and this is what makes virtual private servers so good, all the benefits, at a resource level you need and at a fraction of the cost