The service of web hosting is indispensable to online website accessibility. Web hosting is an essential service without which no website can be accessed online. In web hosting, server space is provided for storing the files of websites, and these files are subsequently delivered to the Internet connected devices of users for rendering websites accessible. The services and technologies needed for this purpose and for keeping sites up and running seamlessly are also made available through web hosting by web hosting companies. The web servers offered by web hosting companies accept and fulfill client (browser or mobile applications) requests for website content (images, HTML pages, videos etc.). These requests are sent and received in the form of Hypertext Transfer Protocol messages (HTTP). In this way, web hosting makes it possible for Internet users to access websites over the Internet.
Web hosting service can be of many types, such as shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, reseller hosting, cloud hosting, WordPress hosting etc. The focus of this blog is to provide information about the differences between shared hosting and VPS hosting. Prior to that, let us briefly touch upon the various types of web hosting options. In shared hosting, multiple websites are hosted on one server, whereas in dedicated hosting a single website exists on a single server. VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting successfully delivers dedicated server environments within a shared server. Multiple servers are utilized in cloud hosting for attaining maximum uptime and for load balancing purpose. In reseller hosting, a specific portion of a user’s disk space and bandwidth is rented to each of the end users. Last but not least, WordPress hosting is a type of hosting service that has been optimized to ensure enhanced performance and security of WordPress sites. In the context of web hosting service, the most competent web hosting services are referred to as the “Best Windows Hosting”, the “Best Cloud Hosting”, the “Best Website Hosting” etc., depending on the type of hosting.
Let us now discuss in detail shared hosting and VPS hosting to understand the difference between these two types of web hosting services.
What is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is one of the types of web hosting services, wherein multiple websites are hosted on a single web server, which is connected to the Internet. In it, the server, along with the resources of the server, get shared among the sites that exist on the same server. In this way, multiple websites are able to utilize a single shared server. Each user of shared hosting has a limit on the amount of server resources that he/she can use at any given time, based on his/her individual hosting plan.
Shared hosting is one of the most economical options for availing web hosting and it is also very easy to set up. Owing to it being the most cost-efficient web hosting solution, shared hosting is ideal for bloggers and for those that have low budget for hosting purpose. It is also a very viable hosting option for simple websites and for those websites that receive less traffic as well as for small and mid-size businesses.
Shared hosting might be the most economical hosting option, which requires the least technical expertise and is beginner-friendly but it lacks the speed, security and the performance that are ensured by a Virtual Private Server (VPS) through VPS hosting at a slightly higher price.
What is VPS Hosting?
VPS hosting is a type of web hosting solution that uses VPS (Virtual Private Server) for the purpose of web hosting. A VPS utilizes virtualization technology to provide dedicated (private) resources to its users on a shared server, which hosts multiple clients. In VPS hosting, the isolated instances on the same parent server are utilized by multiple clients.
A VPS emulates a dedicated hardware by ensuring the virtual creation and availability of a dedicated server environment within a shared server (host/ parent server). This helps it to ensure functionality which is similar to that provided by a physical server. Since a Virtual Private Server is software-defined; it can be created and configured very quickly and easily. Moreover, a VPS runs its own copy of OS (Operating System).
Virtualization technology that is used in a VPS ensures that dedicated resources are always available to the virtual severs present within the parent server/host. These multiple virtual servers exist within the same parent server but remain separated from each other. Hypervisor is the software, which is used to implement a virtual layer atop the operating system in order to segment the virtual servers. Due to this segregation, each VPS is able to have its own operating system and software. A VPS ensures the creation of isolated development environments and enables the installation of custom software. It also helps to isolate multiple digital service offerings.
VPS hosting provides both, a managed and an unmanaged version, of Virtual Private Servers. In a Managed VPS, the user’s Virtual Private Server is managed by the technically competent IT team of the service provider. It saves the user’s time, effort and resources that need to be invested in the maintenance and management of his/her VPS. In an Unmanaged VPS, which is also known as a Self-managed VPS, the user is responsible for managing his/her VPS, and needs to handle on his/her own the troubleshooting processes as well as the relevant updates. In it, the service provider provides the Virtual Private Server but is not responsible for its management or maintenance. A user can opt for either of these options, depending on his/her technical expertise, budget and need for control over server management.
VPS hosting ensures better performance, security, speed and stability than shared hosting and proves to be one of the best hosting solutions for those whose requirements are not being efficiently catered to by shared hosting and who are looking for a less expensive option than dedicated hosting.
Conclusion
Both, shared hosting and virtual hosting, use a shared server but this is where the similarity ends. These two vary significantly in terms of security, speed and performance, where virtual hosting scores over shared hosting. Virtualization technology that is used by a VPS in virtual hosting enables it to deliver enhanced speed, performance and a secure virtual server environment.
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