Virtual Private Server Hosting

For the small business owner, virtual private server hosting offers advantages over shared hosting options while avoiding the higher expense of either co-location or dedicated hosting. This terminology may be unfamiliar to someone who has spent more time smoothing out the bumps in an impressive, well-thought-out business plan than staying on top of the latest advances in computer technologies. But if an online presence is part of the business plan (and in this day and age, it should be), the entrepreneur will need to consider the various hosting options. A cost-effective decision, based on well-considered projections of the amount of traffic the online store's website will generate, needs to be made by the small business owner. The least expensive option will usually involve shared hosting and can be a cost-effective choice for a shoestring budget start-up. Co-location and dedicated hosting will most likely be the most expensive options, but only a website that generates a tremendous amount of daily traffic will need the high speed and robust performance these options provide. For many entrepreneurs and small business owners, all those who are taking the next step up from a shared arrangement, virtual private servers (VPS) offer distinctive advantages at a fair price. Many experts refer to VPS as a hybrid between shared and dedicated servers.

Shared hosting is almost always available through the registrar company that sells the domain name to the entrepreneur. For a small monthly fee, the website is hosted by the registrar company. The registrar may also offer other options, such as web design and e-commerce features. Many small business owners appreciate the convenience of this kind of one-stop shopping. By turning over these functions to the registrar experts, the online store website gets up and running and requires little technical expertise from the entrepreneur -- which is great for someone who is more interested in earning a profit than learning website design. However, some entrepreneurs may need more flexibility because of the program applications that are needed for their business or perhaps because of increased security concerns. A virtual private server hosting contract has many advantages over shared hosting.

A VPS is actually one host server that separates the available RAM, disk space, and processor into smaller allocations, essentially creating virtual private servers that can be offered to several clients with each one paying a monthly fee. Unlike the registrar's shared arrangement, VPS allows the client to have root access instead of simply directory access. This is an important advantage because it allows the client to configure and install a choice of programs rather than being limited to the registrar's shared configurations. However, the VPS will have default configurations available to clients who don't require customized programming. The VPS also allows the client to create multiple websites and unlimited email addresses. The root access advantage can also be a disadvantage because the client is now responsible for the installation and maintenance of her VPS, as well as any updates and the site's security. And yet, this disadvantage is also an advantage. If a criminal hacks into a registrar's shared server, their clients' information may be compromised or stolen. But with virtual private server hosting, an individual client's VPS is completely isolated from the other clients' virtual private servers (even though each one is with the same host). Therefore, a hacker that gets through the security of one client will not be able to access the VPS of the other clients. The entrepreneur will want to carefully consider these advantages and disadvantages in order to make a good decision on what kind of hosting arrangement is the best one for the business.

The Proverbs writer warns that: "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise" (Proverbs 12:15). When selecting any professional firm or vendor for one's business, it's important to research the prospective company's history, reputation, and client retention rate. It would be foolish to make price the only consideration. The small business owner who opts for virtual private server hosting also will want to consider several other factors. The wise entrepreneur may wish to seek recommendations from colleagues and gather pertinent information on the prospective host companies that are being considered. In addition to obtaining such information as the host's underlying OS (operating system), the entrepreneur will want to know such basics as the host server's specifications: the amount of total RAM, disk space, and processing speed.

The entrepreneur also will want to know the number of virtual private servers that share the host's resources. If the small business owner will be running programs that are RAM-intensive, then it is important to be sure that enough RAM will be allocated to her VPS to handle the programs. Another factor is technical support. Obviously, a host that provides technical support twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, will be more attractive to the entrepreneur than one that does not. Additionally, the entrepreneur should ask about the host company's backup procedures and the statistics regarding the host server's downtime.

Co-location is usually more expensive than virtual private server hosting. With co-location, a webmaster provides the server and pays a fee to a data center. The data center links the service to the internet. This is sometimes referred to as renting rack space. A large company that receives a lot of daily web traffic may need the speed and performance that co-location can provide. Until companies achieve the level of traffic where co-location is a cost-effective hosting option, virtual private servers can be an attractive alternative to a registrar company's shared hosting arrangement.

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