VPS Hosting | Windows VPS Hosting | Semi Dedicated Servers

VPSs are great for anyone who creates; tests and deploys Internet applications, for individuals or businesses who’ve outgrown shared hosting solutions, or for anyone who simply needs a server connected to the Internet “right-now”.

That brings us to the vital issue of choosing a VPS hosting company.
The first step would be to know the hardware details like the RAM, CPU and Network throughput of the host server.
The second step would be to know how resource contention is handled. In simple terms, ask your host to spell out in no uncertain terms what steps would the company take if all the other VPSs on the host server are running CPU/RAM-intensive processes? Would you be provided a dedicated minimum amount of RAM/CPU/Network usage? If so, how much it would be.
The third step would be to become aware of the virtualization technology adopted by the host. What is the underlying OS? Is it Linux, FreeBSD, or, Windows? If it is Linux, what distros are offered? Are they using User Mode Linux, QEMU, or XEN? Why did they choose that specific technology?
The last step, but perhaps the most important one, would be to enquire how hardware upgrades are handled. Suppose you start out with a basic plan that offers 64MB dedicated RAM and 2GB disk space. Six months from now, you realize you need more RAM and more disk space. What are the additional costs and what is the procedure for allocating the additional resources?
Then there are certain questions you must always ask when you are choosing a web host of any sort.

* What kind of support is offered (phone, email, IM, IRC - 24/7)?
* How long has the company been in business?
* What is the company’s client retention rate?
* How much downtime have they experienced in the last 12/24 months? The claims must be backed up authentic documentation.
* What backup/redundancy measures do they have in place?

However, don’t forget to apply the sure shot formula before you sign on the dotted line. Ask your friends, neighbors and those with whom you interact regularly about their web hosts and the services they offer. Oftentimes this makes your search shorter and choice easier.
The prices range from as low as $20 a month to more than $125 per month. But be careful, price is not always an indication of more features or better service.
If you’re still wondering whether a VPS hosting plan is right for you, it may be worth starting at the lower end (potentially a 64MB RAM with 2GB disk space VPS). You can always expand from there – just be sure to choose a hosting company that can accommodate the expansion you have in mind.

Tags: hosting, Linux VPS Hosting, virtual private server, virtuozzo. plesk

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 at 10:42 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.