VPS OR DEDICATED SERVERS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Byjames brown

A Virtual Private Server ( VPS ) or vServer is a powerful virtual server for your projects requiring high technical requirements and flexibility.

Are you a developer looking for the ideal environment for your deployments? Do you have an online shop and want a server with the maximum performance? Are you looking for a gaming server while playing Minecraft or Call Of Duty?

This article will explore how a virtual server differs from a dedicated server.

Choosing the right hosting product looks pretty complex to many users. The terms vServer and dedicated server play a significant role here. Both products have their advantages and disadvantages, so you have to think carefully about which requirements exist that need to be implemented. Above all, the user should also think about the long-term use of the product.

Both hosting models are ways to host your projects on the Internet. Nevertheless, there are some fundamental differences, which we compare below.

What do you generally need a server for?

A server can be used in various applications:

  • hosting a website
  • Management of computers and users
  • Sharing files or email inboxes
  • Provision of downloads
  • Sharing databases or programs
  • Many more options

A vServer or a dedicated server can be suitable for all cases. We explain the differences below:

The vServer: own instance – shared host system

The term vServer is short for “virtual server.” A vServer is a virtual system provided on a dedicated host server. The vServer is also called a VPS.

There are several virtual servers on the host server that share the performance of the host system. The vServer is not shared with other customers – only the host server is separated. Each vServer has fixed resources set by the hoster and are only available to the individual user. The provider of the host system has various options for virtualization. A virtual server is not just about providing storage space; it is a standalone instance with guaranteed computing power. This includes the storage space, main memory, and processor performance. You can usually choose between Linux and Windows as the operating system.

The VPS has its IPv4 address and can be used like a “real” server. This offers the user many options. The virtual server can be configured and managed as you wish. A restart or shutdown is also possible at any time. You can change your install the required software on it.

With vServers, technical understanding and sound knowledge of server administration are essential. Because: The Cheap VPS Australia is recommended for more complex and demanding applications than web hosting. It is possible to carry out individual system settings that are not set by the hoster. These rights are referred to as root rights, and the server is referred to as the root server.

You can also rent a virtual server as a managed server. In this case, you usually do not have root rights. However, you do not have to worry about individual system settings. Your hoster will do that for you. Nevertheless, you can run your web project on your server.

With your vServer, websites can be hosted and much more.

What can you do with vServers?

A vServer can be used for different applications and offers many possibilities to implement different projects:

  • Web-Server
  • data server
  • E-Mail-Server
  • Server for an online shop
  • Game-Server
  • Private cloud storage
  • test system
  • Server for calendar and tasks
  • Communication server (VoIP telephony or chat)

The advantages of vServers:

  • Operation of any server applications
  • You can easily install your server application. The hoster does not restrict the user. This is one of the main reasons many users opt for their vServer.
  • Individual configuration options
  • However, a vServer can be configured individually to offer optimal performance and set individually.
  • Significantly cheaper than dedicated servers
  • A vServer is significantly cheaper than a dedicated server in terms of costs.
  • Own IP address
  • A separate IP address can be used.

 

What is the difference between VPS and dedicated servers? 

You are faced with deciding whether you want to get a VPS (Virtual Private Server) or a dedicated server? Unfortunately, there is no general answer as to what is more suitable for you. Whether VPS or dedicated server, having your server means you have to have the appropriate know-how and continuously invest in work. 

Essential for both VPS Server Australia and dedicated servers: You should have technical understanding and sound knowledge of server administration. 

What do you generally need a server for? 

  • hosting a website
  • Management of computers and users
  • Sharing files or email inboxes
  • Provision of downloads
  • Sharing databases or programs
  • Many more options

To clarify the difference between VPS and dedicated servers, we will first clarify what a VPS is and then what distinguishes a dedicated server to conclude you finally.

VPS: Own instance – shared host system

A VPS is a virtual server deployed on a dedicated host system. The physical server is divided into several virtual servers that are separate. Other terms for this are also: vServer or cloud server. 

VPS is software that sits on top of a hardware component – the central server. Several VPS are installed on the central server depending on the computing power, which shares its performance. However, every VPS user has a specific part of the hardware resources – the hoster sets this in the virtualization environment. The VPS has its IP address and can be configured like a “real” server.

Like classic web hosting, you share the host system with other customers with a VPS. A VPS is not just storage space but an independent entity with guaranteed computing power depending on the tariff booked. 

Benefits of a VPS: 

  • VPS is cheap and fast.
  • You are the boss of this system and have complete control: you can configure, manage, restart or switch it off yourself.
  • In addition, a VPS solution is flexible because you can use many different options.
  • You share the physical server with significantly fewer people than shared hosting, guaranteeing higher security and better performance.

However, this also means that the user bears a particular responsibility for the security and maintenance of the Windows VPS Australia. In addition to server administration knowledge, sound Windows or Linux knowledge is also required. Above all, the issue of security should be considered, and the creation of backups. 

The most common use of a VPS is to host a website when web hosting doesn’t offer enough flexibility.

A VPS is best suited for:

  • To create your website
  • As a data server
  • As an Email Server
  • Als Game-Server
  • As private cloud storage
  • As a test system
  • As a server for calendar and tasks
  • As a communication server (VoIP telephony or chat)

Ultimately it comes down to what you want to install on your VPS. Standard web hosting is usually sufficient for a simple website; for more particular requirements, a VPS is advisable, as it will reach its limits with web hosting. For example, it could be that the number of databases is no longer sufficient for web hosting, or the server is not configured for the relevant application. 

With a VPS, you are less dependent on the host than with pure web hosting since you can install the PHP version yourself with your VPS, for example. 

Now we come to the dedicated servers and what distinguishes them:

Dedicated Server: Independent server for you

In contrast to a VPS, a dedicated server is a “real, full-fledged” server that is not shared with other customers. The total computing power (memory and power connection) is available alone. You can use the entire performance for your project.

The performance values such as computing power or storage space are also entirely different for dedicated servers than for a Australian VPS Hosting. Since the hardware is exclusively available to you, this, of course, also impacts the costs. Therefore, a dedicated server only makes sense if you need the performance – for example, for an online shop, complex websites with a lot of traffic, high data volume, or large-scale database stocks. 

Administration knowledge is also necessary for a dedicated server to be able to take care of updates, for example.  

Dedicated Server

The term Dedicated Server describes a server that is available with its entire performance exclusively to a single customer or website operator or a specific task or service.

In contrast to the virtual server, the dedicated server or dedicated host is a physical computer with a fixed IP address that can concentrate its full computing power, main memory, and the line connection on just one customer or one task. The user’s operating system is installed directly on such dedicated servers, also known as bare-metal servers, which means that any virtualization layers are no longer necessary.

 

 

contents

  • 1 Dedicated to a customer
  • 2 Dedicated to a service
  • 1 Infrastructure Dedicated Server
  • 3 advantages of dedicated servers
  • 4 examples for the use of dedicated servers
  • 5 Dedicated Server in Online Marketing
  • 6 individual proofs
  • 7 Weblinks

Dedicated to a customer

Anyone who rents a dedicated server does not share the server hard drive with others, so their user rights are not restricted. He pays more for this than for comparable offers with “shared hosting,” where the customer’s server hardware is not exclusively available.

Complex websites with a lot of traffic, high data volumes, or extensive database stocks, such as popular web communities or eCommerce sites, require a lot of hard disk space, powerful processor performance, and large RAM – often more than standard webspace packages with a limited capacity offer. Your operators, therefore, choose a dedicated server as an alternative. Companies that do not want sensitive company data stored on the same server as others often prefer dedicated hosting.

 

Dedicated to a service

If the dedicated server is not used by a customer but by a service, then this is the second variant of the dedicated server. It performs specific tasks such as providing printing and email services or administrative tasks within a network. Genuine database servers, game servers, or VPN services are also possible. In this sense, a dedicated server is a host only meant for a specific task.

Server operating systems that are not compatible with other systems and services are also hosted on such servers. The same applies to certain services that use a single host as a resource. Here the boundaries between dedicated to the customer and dedicated to service are blurred. Because strictly speaking, a server that hosts a single web project is also a dedicated server. If a customer now manages this, it is dedicated twice – for the customer and the web service. Navicosoft is providing Cheap Australian VPS.

Examples of using dedicated servers

The following scenarios are predestined for the use of a dedicated server:

  • Online shops with an extensive product inventory and a lot of traffic: In principle, it is advisable to ensure the most excellent possible performance and security in e-commerce. Anyone running an online shop should therefore use a dedicated server. In addition to greater security and performance, this server is also expandable and can be adapted to increasing needs. The availability of the server also plays a role here.
  • Websites with a high volume of data: If you offer many files for download on your website, you should also use the dedicated server since the server performance can be adapted to the data volume. The risk of server failures during download peaks is minimized.
  • Community websites: Due to the performance, large forums or other websites with a community character should also be operated on dedicated servers. If, for example, there are enormous streams of visitors (high traffic) due to a current topic, the dedicated server is better able to balance them out.

Dedicated Server in Online Marketing

When selling web hosting offers, the term “dedicated server” is often used to certify the exclusivity of a more expensive offer. In contrast, virtual or “shared servers” are intended to denote lower quality and thus justify a cheaper tariff. However, whether the performance is better still depends on the quality standard of the provider.

However, providers often also offer a more extensive service of software support and hardware support together with dedicated servers. The next step is referred to as a managed server – where the provider also takes on tasks such as updates or monitoring the services. When choosing such managed server hosting, interested parties should note that the management can include different service offerings:

  • Complete server management such as monitoring, software, and operating system updates. Any reboots and security patches are often included in the scope of bare-metal server providers
  • partial server management includes more minor services on the part of the hoster in administration, monitoring, and updates, as well as support so that the customer has to take on some of the tasks himself;
  • Own server management means that the hoster only checks and maintains the functionality of the server at irregular intervals, which of course, gives the server user more freedom but also more administrative work;

Unmanaged servers, mostly purely virtual ones, essentially rule out intervention by the service provider. The customer must take on all the administration, maintenance, security, and possible upgrades.

Which server solution is suitable for a customer depends on many different points. In individual cases, the customer should obtain detailed information and consider the various aspects. Because these can be relevant for online marketing and search engine optimization. This includes IP clusters and IP subnets, high accessibility, appropriate server utilization, and performance criteria such as computing power, storage capacity, and a high data rate for high traffic volumes. Under certain circumstances, so-called CDN solutions are also helpful.

Infrastructure Dedicated Server

So-called infrastructure dedicated servers have been available to companies and institutions since 2019, which can be understood as a category dedicated to service servers. Infrastructure dedicated servers should initially be reserved for particularly complex and computing-power-intensive application areas. This includes the processing and storing of media, especially in the 2D and 3D areas. Dedicated servers of this type are designed for the enormous workloads associated with virtualization, cloud computing, and containerization.

These are the advantages of dedicated servers: 

  • You are highly flexible and free to set up the server.
  • Plenty of hard disk space, strong processor performance, and large main memory.
  • As with a VPS, you also have your IP address with a dedicated server.
  • A dedicated server also offers you a high level of security and data protection.
  • Due to the total capacity available, such as storage space or connection, you can usually look forward to significantly shorter loading times.

What is a dedicated server suitable for? 

A dedicated server is always recommended when you permanently need significant resources for an application or a task. Companies like to use dedicated servers if they do not want to store sensitive data on a “shared” server. 

Examples of Dedicated Server usage include: 

  • as a web server for complex websites with a lot of traffic
  • as a database server
  • also a VPN-Server

VPS or Dedicated Server?

A VPS is an optimal choice if web hosting does not provide you with enough performance, but a dedicated server would be oversized. 

With a VPS in Australia, you enjoy a high degree of flexibility compared to hardware servers since the entire server runs on a virtual machine. This means that the image of the entire system can be created and transferred when moving. So you are much more flexible than with a dedicated server.

Dedicated servers are much more expensive than VPS. And with a VPS, you can do almost everything possible with a full-fledged server. 

Ultimately, VPS is the bargains among the servers compared to the dedicated servers and thus a perfect entry into the server world. If you don’t want to take care of backups or snapshots yourself with your VPS, you can book useful addons with us that take care of precisely that. 

You can find more information about our VPS here:  https://www.navicosoft.com.au/vps-hosting

If you have any questions about our VPS, we are always at your disposal.   

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