Hosting is an issue that comes up when you want to buy web space to put your website onto the Internet. You need to buy hosting services, which is a little like renting access to a computer that is always (almost always) online. This allows you to place a website online that anyone can look at (most countries). There is VPS hosting and shared hosting. Here is the difference between the two.
What is VPS and why is it so expensive?
A VPS server is a virtual private server. A sever is like a big computer that is connected to a bunch of other servers. They often all run on one computer system, and when you buy VPS, you are buying access to one of these servers that you can use for yourself. This is not technically true in the sense that you can increase the amount of RAM or disk space you buy, but in theory it is like having your own server. Imagine that you are buying a separate computer, except that the things on it may be made directly accessible via the Internet.
VPS is more personalized as per the needs of the individual customer. It is used via server software and can be configured directly (albeit remotely) by the user, which means that the user is responsible for the security of the server. On the other hand, the server needs to be protected physically by the hosting company. When buying VPS hosting, you are renting the use of a server to yourself that is going to have a lot of RAM, disk space and bandwidth. This means it will be quite expensive.
What is shared hosting all about?
Shared hosting is often referred to as a service you use when you buy disk space on the Internet. What you are actually doing it renting the use of a server in a similar fashion to VPS. There are still a bunch of servers that are linked under one computer system, except that instead of renting a server to yourself, you just rent the use of a bit of it. You rent a bit of disk space, bandwidth, RAM, etc.
This also means that you are no longer responsible for details such as updates and security. Sure, you are responsible for keeping your web space secure, but for the most part, the security and updates should be maintained by your hosting service.
VPS hosting is like a hotel room with a shared bathroom
Imagine the servers are all like hotel rooms. When you buy VPS it is like you are renting a room. You get all the benefits of a room, but it is expensive, and you have to share a bathroom.
Shared hosting is like sharing a room in a hotel
You still get all the benefits of a hotel room, but you do not get as much. You do not get as much fresh air, wardrobe space or space to sleep. You also cannot have as many visitors at one time.
A good selling point for VPS
There are a large number of hosting plans available for VPS. They are based on RAM, disk space and data transfer speeds, as per your requirements. RAM plays tremendous role for the performance of virtual private server. It affects hosting performance. It is a VPS component that has an effect on the cost. However, despite the cost, VPS is the most reliable of web hosting services you can buy--assuming that you are willing to take adequate care of your server.
You also get a very fast working speed when you buy VPS, and if you purchase the admin rights then you can add software to your server and use it as if it were your own personal computer.
A negative fact revolving around shared servers
Share hosting splits the server into sections, and even cuts the host factors into sections, factors such as bandwidth. It gives the illusion that you have access to your own server, when in-fact you only have a little bit of it. There are scores of restrictions on shared hosting accounts that betray the underlying feeling that you have a portion of a server all to yourself. In addition, the presence of number of other shared clients may become an issue; to the point where the server’s performance slows and even the customer/server interface application misbehaves.
The redeeming feature regarding shared hosting
It is a lot cheaper than VPS hosting. You are sharing the maintenance costs between a number of people, and it is possible for the server owner to sell disk space to a lot of people. Most people do not buy any form of permanent shared hosting, so subscriptions expire and the server owner may re-sell the website hosting, etc. Once you purchase your disk space, etc, you are rarely limited to just that amount. You are often allowed to upgrade your subscription so that you may purchase more bandwidth, RAM, disk space, tools, etc. This makes shared hosting the more economical way of scaling up your website or blog.
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