If you have a good understanding of web hosting technologies and operating systems then the move to a virtual private server may not be a problem, however, if you aren’t technical minded or don’t quite understand how they work then it may be more of an issue for you. It’s for this reason that most VPS hosting providers offer the option of a managed or unmanaged VPS service, although a managed solution will have a higher cost attached due to the ongoing need for monitoring and maintenance by the providers technicians.

Managed vs Unmanaged VPS Hosting

When upgrading to a virtual private server you’ll need to make the choice between a managed or unmanaged environment based on your requirements, skills and knowledge. It’s often accepted that the majority of consumers will opt for a managed service, even with the higher cost attached, as it alleviates the need for a strong knowledge of how to manage and maintain a server environment.

By making use of a managed virtual private server you’ll enjoy the benefit of being able to spend more time working on your website rather than worrying about the technology behind it. The following tasks are generally undertaken by the web hosting company as part of a managed VPS service:

• Server provisioning
• Automated backups
• 24/7 monitoring
• cPanel installation
• Software installation
• DNS & MySQL configuration
• Operating system install and rebuilds
• Operating system updated
• Reverse DNS setup
• Network issue troubleshooting
• Common assistance and advice

As displayed by the above list, just about all aspects of the virtual private server is managed by the provider. On the other hand, if you were to sign up for an unmanaged server the only inclusions offered by the provider would include:

• Initial installation of vanilla operating system
• Reverse DNS setup

All other technical tasks such as monitoring, maintenance, software installs and networks issues would be your responsibility.

By looking at the above lists it is evident that a managed service is preferable should you have limited knowledge of a VPS. Although, bear in mind that should you opt for an unmanaged service and face an issue you will, for most providers, have the option of paying an hourly rate for a technician to look into and repair the problem for you.

The Cost Difference

As previously mentioned, the cost for a managed vps service is more costly than an unmanaged service due to the additional and ongoing work required on the providers side. The actual cost, and difference therein, is heavily dependant on the web hosting provider and will be quite different for each one. In many cases, the cost for a managed VPS service is roughly double that of an unmanaged service. So if you were to find an unmanaged vps service priced at $40, you should expect that the managed version of that would likely be around the $70-$80 mark.

But Which One Do I Choose?

The decision is completely up to you, however a range of factors can come into play, most of which have already been mentioned, that may influence your decision. It’s important to weigh up the prices of both services and compare them against your knowledge of the technology in order to work out what option will benefit you in terms of additional work and potential additional costs.

At the end of the day, if you don’t feel comfortable managing a vps on your own then it may be in your best interest to pay the extra cost for a completely managed service and let your hosting provider deal with the heavy lifting.

The three main types of hosting services differ mainly in hard-drive space allocation, available resources and customisation capabilities. Choosing the right service for a particular website takes some planning as well as some understanding about the site’s needs. Of course, security is always a prime concern. Other considerations include the size of the site and the amount of Web traffic expected. Below are basic descriptions and a few pros and cons of the three service types.

Shared Servers: These use a single hard drive to host numerous websites from numerous users. Each site is like a separate folder on the hard drive. Information is separate but not truly isolated. Shared servers are the most common form available.

Pros: Shared servers are the most economical because they share all resources. They are ideal for new users and typically have the easiest setup, sometimes offering templates and point-and-click options. New users will also appreciate having all the server administration handled for them. Shared servers are a good choice for personal blogs and for small websites that aren’t likely to have extensive traffic.

Cons: Bandwidth is shared, so if a few sites pull in significant resources with high traffic, other sites will experience slowdowns or even crashes. Security can be a bit shaky. If one account is hacked, it’s highly possible for others to be breached as well. Scripting errors in one site may also affect others, and all users must use the same firewall settings. There’s no room for individualisation outside of preset options.

Dedicated Servers: At the opposite end of the spectrum are dedicated servers, where one user has exclusive access to a hard drive.

Pros: There are no sharing concerns. All resources available belong to the individual user on a dedicated server. Complete customisation of security and other features is possible. Dedicated servers are ideal for large sites that generate heavy traffic on a regular basis.

Cons: These are the most expensive setups due to the autonomy of the server. Inexperienced users will need administration and possibly setup services. Such services may be combined with server rental, or it’s possible to contract with someone independently. Either way, it can mean higher costs.

Virtual Private Servers (VPS): These are typically a happy medium between the other two server types. VPS offers a dedicated partition on a hard drive. There will be other users on the same server, but the partitions keep them separate.

Pros: VPS offers the control of a dedicated server without the high price. Having an individual partition allows customisation of designs, security protocols, scripts and the like, but sharing the hardware lowers the cost. It’s possible to host multiple domains on VPS; bandwidth and speed are much better than on shared servers; and errors or breaches in other partitions are kept separate. VPS is ideal for medium-level sites with fair-to-heavy Web traffic.

Cons: VPS is a bit more expensive than shared hosting. There is still some chance for slowdowns due to others on the same server although it’s greatly minimised. Some users may still need server administration services.

It’s typical for a website’s needs to change over time. What was once fine on a shared web-hosting service may require additional resources with growth in scope and popularity. Fortunately, there are choices for every need level. Understanding the benefits and capacities of each type of server, the needs of a particular site and its potential for growth will all help in choosing the ideal web host service.