web hosting

Efficient VPS Management with HyperVM

It is often said that a VPS (virtual private server) is the perfect compromise between a shared and dedicated server.  However, what many don’t understand is the technical challenges involved with maintaining a virtualized platform.  While this type of environment isn’t recommended for the rookie webmaster, it can be greatly simplified with the aid of powerful control panel software.  There are many control panels designed to run with a VPS but the one we will discuss in this article is a program known as HyperVM.

What is HyperVM?

HyperVM is a software product that enables the easy provision and management of VPS platforms based on OpenVZ and Xen virtualization technology.  Because the package is tightly integrated with the Kloxo hosting control panel, it essentially gives web hosts the power to deploy a fully functional web hosting system right out of the box.  HyperVM performs with the utmost efficiency in the virtualization environment, allowing VPS end-users to maintain their operations transparently across multiple servers.  The software includes a mechanism that has the ability to manage networking configurations such as gateways and IP addresses independent of the control panel and also offers an IP address pool to support larger scale administration.

Advanced Virtualization Technology

HyperVM is a multi-tiered, multi-server, multi-virtualization program.  Here are additional details on the relevance of each key component.

Multi-Tiered - Multi-tiered describes the application’s ability to run partially on one server while other parts of it run on another or multiple servers.  This technology serves as added protection just in case on of the virtual servers happens to crash.  If something of this nature does occur, HyperVM’s multi-tiered structure ensures that your data can still be accessed from the other available servers.

Multi-Server – By acting as a multi-server platform, HyperVM allows hosting providers to move customer accounts from one server to another.  By doing so, they can prevent overcrowding and better assure that customers enjoy an optimal performance.

Multi-Virtualization – The implementation of multi-virtualization technology enables VPS hosting providers to offer different forms of virtualization technology to their customers all from a single control panel.  HyperVM currently supports OpenVZ and Zen but compatibility with other virtualization platforms are said to be in the works.

HyperVM Control Panel Features

The HyperVM VPS control panel delivers a wealth of features that customers can use to effectively maintain their accounts.  Listed below are just some of the features that have made it one of the premier control panels on the VPS hosting market:

Comprehensive Administrative Tools – HyperV comes included with Kloxo, a website configuration and comprehensive interface that allows you to manage and update your site with ease.  This tool offers many of the same capabilities as control panels like cPanel and Plesk.

Centralized Console – With HyperVM, you can manage all the vital aspects of your hosting account from a single location.

Complete Management Authority – HyperVM defines what a VPS solution is all about, providing you with extreme control from configurations and rebooting to reloading and monitoring.

The HyperVM control panel gets the job done in the virtualized hosting environment.  If you have been considering VPS lately, this is one tool you may want to look out for.

34SP Recognized by Netcraft

Leading web hosting provider 34SP, recently added another notch to its belt by debuting in Netcraft’s Top 50 Most Reliable Hosting Provider’s Network Performance list.  The induction is attributed to the provider’s commitment to ensuring that its customers enjoy the best performance possible.

Netcraft is well known throughout the web hosting industry for measuring and publishing the response times of the top 50 leading hosting company’s servers.  The firm’s measurements are made at 15 minute intervals from individual points around the web while the averages are calculated immediately over the following 24-hour period.  According to the data compiled by Netcraft, 34SP is currently ranked as 25^th amongst the world’s top 50 web hosting providers.

Stuart Melling, 34SP cofounder, stressed the importance of upholding server uptime for their customers in a recent interview.  Melling states that 34SP was founded on the core values of high availability and reliability, qualities that enable every individual, developer and small business owner to get the most out of their hosting solution at a reasonable price.  34SP has been able to thrive in the industry by utilizing the best server hardware and software technologies coupled with an expert support staff that works tirelessly to make the customers happy.   Now recognized on a global scale by Netcraft for its network reliability, it is clear to see that these investments have paid off.

According to a recent statement, 34SP dramatically enhanced the reliability and overall performance of its network and hosting services by investing in an extensive infrastructure upgrade.  This upgrade was powered by the substantial increase in sales for the provider’s hosting solutions, an impressive lineup that features personal hosting, business hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, reseller hosting and add-on products that range from SSL certificates to additional scripting technologies.  34PS has also made significant improvements to its customer service and technical support system.  Investments have been recently made toward hiring additional support staff members, upgrading local office and data center hardware, and expanding the customer support operations within the 34SP global headquarters.

The reasoning behind the additional support investments came as the result of an active client survey 34SP conducted early 2009.  This survey involved a large number of approximately 15,000 34SP hosting clients with personal, business, VPS and dedicated server accounts.  The provider revealed some intriguing statistics from the survey regarding its referral rates.  When presented with the question of whether or not they would recommend 34SP’s hosting services, 98% of the clients involved responded with a definite “Yes”.  The host points to this finding as confirmation of the positive impact its reliability and quality customer support has on referral rates.

About 34SP

Based in Manchester England, 34SP is an award winning web hosting provider that specializes in solutions designed for individuals, web designers, seasoned developers and small to medium sized businesses.  The company puts an emphasis on delivering industry leading reliability, personalized support and world-class service.  34SP compliments these qualities with generous incentives and a money back guarantee to assure customer satisfaction.

VPS Control Panel Options

The control panel has become a common fixture in the web hosting arena.  Not only does this special software allow the end-user to control their account, but it also lets the web hosting administrator control all of the websites on the server.  The number of control panels is increasing rapidly and many are specific to different hosting environments.  This article will go over three control panels that are commonly used in VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting: HSPcomplete, Plesk and cPanel.

HSPcomplete

With HSPcomplete, you can manage your entire VPS hosting account from a single login interface.  The software is based on a template, making it lightweight and incredibly easy to use. Despite the simplicity, it does come integrated with some pretty nice features.  HSPcomplete is very reliable but lacks the functionality required to be successful with reseller accounts.

Plesk

Another template-based control panel, Plesk has won numerous awards for its performance in the shared and VPS hosting environment.  Unlike HSPcomplete, it is also makes a viable option for reseller hosting.  This control panel is fast, feature-rich and reliable, offering benefits to users on the administrator and domain level.  If want to give your customers a powerful control panel, Plesk is the answer.

cPanel/WHM

The award-winning cPanel is the leading control panel software.  Many web hosts and end-users prefer this application because of its straightforward, feature-rich interface.  The GUI is designed in a manner that allows even inexperienced users to thrive with a VPS account.  Because cPanel is primarily based on icons and not templates as the control panels mentioned above, it generally takes up more disk space and resources.

Recommendations

If you are still having a difficult time deciding which control panel to choose for your VPS account, the following details may help.  Both Plesk and HSPcomplete are created by software company Swsoft, the same people who developed Virtuozzo, the virtualization technology installed on most VPS hosting accounts.  These control panels are sure to give you excellent performance as they only leave a small footprint in the Virtuozzo software.  This is because the programs are based on a single template running on the physical node instead on the virtual private server.

The cPanel/WHM (Web Host Manager) package never makes a bad choice for the simple fact that it is so easy to use.  However, the size of the software and design that fits a great number of icons on the interface makes it a bit slower than other control panels.  You can certainly get by with cPanel on a VPS, but you may not get the performance a control panel like Plesk will provide.

Some customers go to a VPS hosting provider having done their research and know what control they want and others have no clue.  Whether its in a virtualized environment or typical hosting arrangement, the right control panel all boils down to personal preference.  If you have no familiarity with control panel software, your best bet would to check out a live demo and try to determine which program you feel comfortable with.

Benefitting From VPS Hosting

Virtual Private Server or VPS, refers to a type of hosting where different customers host their sites a single physical server. They share the same internet connection and even the hardware itself. Sounds pretty much like shared hosting, right? Yes it does, but there are significant differences. A VPS is established by virtualization software which partitions and creates multiple servers within a single server. This process allows you to enjoy benefits similar to that of a dedicated server. For example, you typically get your own operating system, file system and root access to the server. Control is another aspect that is increasingly attracting webmasters to virtualization solutions. VPS allows you to perform administrative tasks such as making configurations to the server, installing software applications and hosting multiple sites without enduring performance issues. You also have the power to actually reboot the server.

Benefits of VPS Hosting

The major benefit of VPS hosting is enhanced performance as well as tighter security at a price significantly cheaper than a dedicated server.

If you plan to move from shared hosting yet can’t afford the high-end price tag of a dedicated server, VPS hosting is the solution you are looking for. Virtualization is becoming more popular, resulting in a price drop on VPS hosting packages. This type of arrangement can serve benefits to a wide range of users. With your platform and operating system isolated from other customers, you will enjoy guaranteed resources in terms of CPU, RAM and disk space.

Who Needs VPS Hosting?

Virtualization is quickly become the preferred option amongst entrepreneurs involved in reseller hosting. VPS provides you with a greater level of control on the services you can offer your customers, resulting in a edge over competitors still utilizing traditional shared servers. The power it provides is well suited for developers looking to a create highly functional blog or demanding social networking site. VPS is also an ideal platform for the webmaster that is already proficient at managing a shared hosting account and wants to upgrade their server administrative skills without fully being exposed to dedicated hosting. All users will have the freedom to install custom applications and change modules on the server. When considering the added privacy, extra layer of security, guaranteed resources and a higher level of performance, it’s no wonder that VPS hosting has become so incredibly popular.

Conclusion

Both shared and dedicated hosting will always serve their purpose but the Virtual Private Server is here to stay. This arrangement makes the perfect solution for anyone who requires more control over their hosting environment yet do not have the resources to invest in an entire server. With VPS, you get a cost not too far removed from shared hosting with a level of control and flexibility similar to a dedicated server, an ideal compromise that allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds.

The Beauty of Cheap Web Hosting

It seems as if everyone is working on a tighter budget these days.  Harsh economics times have not only affected consumers, but also caused several organizations to the rethink the significance of budgeting.  As elementary as it may seem, this presents a tremendous challenge for many professionals.  For most companies, budgeting involves critical aspects such as advertising and promotions, IT resources and general expenses.  Small businesses and large enterprises today both have to factor web hosting fees into the budget as well.

Saving Money on Your Web Presence

Owning an entire web server isn’t practical for every company.  After all, purchasing the hardware is quite expensive and the operation becomes even more costly when considering administrative tasks.  This is where web hosting comes in as it allows you to establish a web presence for a fraction of what it costs to maintain your own internet-based infrastructure.  Web hosting companies give you the power to run your business online while bypassing the cost associated with housing and maintaining a server.  Not only do they provide you with the hardware, but also vital resources such as memory, bandwidth and disk space.  They set you with useful features that allow you to create a dynamic site with relative ease.  You can pay a premium price for such a service or save yourself a bundle by opting for cheap web hosting.

The Evolution of Cheap Hosting

The birth of cheap services can be attributed to the highly competitive market that is the web hosting industry.  Whereas such services were simple and limited in the past, today’s web hosts offer a greater range of options at a price most small businesses can afford.  Although a dedicated server is a totally different environment, cheap web hosting isn’t necessarily limited to a shared server.  For example, you can easily find a VPS (Virtual Private Server) plan at a very reasonable price.  A VPS is the perfect medium in between a shared and dedicated server.  It provides the stability and performance that may be jeopardized by sharing resources with thousands of website owners and a level of flexibility that is similar to dedicated hosting.  Fierce competition in the market has raised the standards of cheap hosting, meaning you shouldn’t have to sacrifice on much of anything.

Cheap Isn’t Always What it Seems

Many people have a misconception of cheap web hosting, believing it requires you to trade features, flexibility and quality of service for an amazingly low price.  This is understandably so, as a number of companies have blemished the market with their shady practices.  Fortunately, there are several outstanding web hosting providers that offer a wide range of features and services to their customers.   Some of the most inexpensive hosting packages will provide you with numerous email accounts, e-commerce tools, security mechanisms and enough server capacity to support the growth of your website.  Can you accomplish more with a high-end web hosting solution?  Probably.  Be that as it may, a cheap alternative can set you up just as well and put you on the path to success.