Having a popular website is gratifying, but it can also cause difficulties when it outgrows a shared web-hosting service. Life is pretty easy on a shared server because the hosts handle the administrative work and costs are low. However, the limited resources, unpredictable security and lack of customisable features are real drawbacks, and those drawbacks only become more pronounced with website growth. Virtual private servers (VPS) offer the next logical step, and there are some noticeable signs when it’s time for a change.
Speed: A shared server that ties together everyone’s usage can frequently cause slow loading. Sites that offer more than a few static pages or that have increasing traffic levels won’t continue to grow if visitors must continually wait to access content. VPS offers increased CPU and memory resources that boost speed considerably and allow for greater interaction within a website.
Space: An ecommerce business with lots of inventory faces various difficulties on a shared server, and one of them is space. When a database gets too large, especially one that receives lots of activity, it will falter in a shared setting. Expanded, dedicated VPS resources allow such businesses to keep growing.
Security: The communal aspect of shared hosting makes everyone’s site vulnerable to viruses, script errors or denial-of-service attacks when any single account is breached. Growing business sites can’t afford the downtime economically, and they risk alienating regular visitors or turning away new ones with recurring problems. Having a reliable site where visitors feel consistently safe is essential. VPS allows users to configure their own security, and the partitioned nature of the hard-drive shields sites from crossover attacks.
Customisation: Shared servers have to consider the majority of customers by offering preset selections and few real options. Keeping a site interesting to an increasing audience can be difficult when changes and design choices must fit within shared parameters. VPS lets users do as they will in terms of design and setup both logistically and aesthetically.
Control: Using a shared server means accepting the entire package, including operating system, levels of file accessibility, application selection, firewall settings and more. If keeping a site growing within an environment that limits development and site manageability becomes too difficult, it’s time for an upgrade. With VPS, users can choose their operating systems, have root file access, install any software they like and configure it to personal specifications. Managing sites directly via a control panel, without needing a service ticket, and the ability to perform tasks through SSH or remote desktop applications are additional benefits.
Email Freedom: Sites that send significant quantities of email on a regular basis, such as marketing campaigns or newsletters to large numbers of subscribers, can easily outgrow the sending limits imposed by shared servers. Additionally, if a user on a shared server unleashes a spam attack, the lack of a separate, dedicated IP address can be detrimental to another site’s integrity, and the innocent site could be blocked. Businesses with several employees might run into problems with limited POP or IMAP connections as well. VPS offers a dedicated IP address, unlimited email sending, and unlimited POP and IMAP access.
Multiple Domains: Shared networks limit the number of user domains. VPS allows users to host an unlimited number of them. This is vital to anyone overseeing multiple sites for clients, such as webmasters and site designers, or for reseller hosting space for others. VPS lets users continue expanding their client bases, and the level of control it offers for managing the general server environment is also beneficial.
Advanced Features: Limitations of shared servers prevent the addition of advanced site features that draw frequent visitors. For example, with VPS, users can consider adding webcams or streaming live audio and video.
Shared servers are great for start-up businesses and small personal sites, but growth brings the need for change. VPS offers the expanded resources, capabilities and control that allow websites to flourish.
