VPS(Virtual private Server) hosting is perhaps one of the most popular types of hosting available, aside from shared hosting. Most webmasters start out with a shared hosting plan, only to progress to a VPS hosting plan, and finally (if they’re successful enough) they may opt for a dedicated hosting plan. VPS hosting is capable of being just as powerful as dedicated hosting, however the cloud hosting environment would be needed for this.
Cloud VPS Hosting vs Conventional VPS Hosting
Cloud VPS hosting is more advanced than conventional VPS hosting and many dedicated hosting plans, primarily because the cloud hosting structure allows for a completely custom billing system that only charges the customer for the resources they use, yet provides access to seemingly limitless. Indeed, cloud VPS hosting is perhaps the best on the market right now, however many people are getting cloud hosting confused with standard VPS hosting. A conventional VPS hosting plan still has some significant restrictions that are seldom mentioned. It is important to note that the following limitations are only associated with conventional VPS hosting plans and do not apply to cloud VPS hosting.
IP Addresses and Software Configuration
Dedicated hosting plans tend to come with more IP addresses, which may be a factor for some webmasters that need access to several IP addresses for their sites. Although it is possible to purchase additional IP addresses for a VPS hosting plan in some cases, dedicated hosting provides a better value when it comes to an all-inclusive package that includes IP addresses. However, VPS hosting does carry an advantage over shared hosting in this area because shared hosting requires you to share an IP address with other webmasters, whereas VPS hosting gives you at least one IP address. Unfortunately, some VPS hosting providers will not let you install new software on the server partition, or modify software that is currently installed. It is important to inquire about your capabilities as a webmaster before deciding on any VPS hosting plan.
Upgrades and Cost
The cost of a VPS hosting plan can vary from under $20 to more than $200, depending on the type and the hosting provider, Each hosting provider can offer up to 7 or more VPS plans, all of which vary greatly in their capabilities and the amount of allocated server resources provided. Unfortunately, this large selection only serves to confuse many novice webmasters that are uncertain of their sites’ needs. Most of the time the webmaster pays too much and does not use enough of the plan to warrant an upgrade, or pays too little and has to upgrade again in the near future. Cloud hosting gets rid of this problem by providing instant expandability that is billed on a per usage basis. Although it is easy to upgrade to a new VPS hosting plan, you’ll have to do so when your next hosting bill arrives in some cases, which can be a problem for site owners that are experiencing a constant rise in web traffic.
