Dedicated Virtual Server Hosting Plans
|
|
Dedicated Virtual Server Hosting
Dedicated virtual server hosting is a method of dividing a physical server into several logical hosting servers. Each virtual server can run its own separate operating system (OS) and serve web pages and applications completely independent of other virtual hosts running on the same physical machine that is dedicated virtual server hosting.
Dedicated virtual servers are hosted on a physical host machine that runs what is known as a "virtualization environment". It is this environment that provides all virtual hosts with access to the physical server's resources (memory, disk, network connections, etc.).
Customers of dedicated virtual server hosting are provided with full super-user access to their virtual host, may install any applications they wish, and are free to backup and reboot their host as they wish.
Although dedicated virtual server hosting have no direct access to any physical resources, the virtualization environment fools them into thinking they do. Some common examples of virtualization environments used in dedicated virtual server hosting include Zen, Virtuozzo, Vserver, and OpenVZ.
Dedicated virtual private servers are a hybrid of sorts, sharing traits from both shared web hosting services and dedicated hosting services. They provide freedom from other clients sharing the same hosting service software-wise but at less cost than a physical dedicated server.
With shared web hosting services and dedicated virtual server hosting services, all customers' websites share the same environment. This is risky as software from one customer can potentially bring down the whole machine, thus adversely affecting everyone.
A dedicated physical host, while providing the utmost in security as every customer is allocated their own separate physical machine, is often infeasible and cost-prohibitive. With dedicated virtual server hosting, you get the best of both worlds. Dedicated virtual server hosting provides the security of a dedicated physical host with the cost-effectiveness of shared web hosting.
They are offered in both managed and unmanaged configurations. Managed dedicated virtual private hosting is where the hosting company sets up everything--the virtualization environment, operating system, and applications. A control panel is offered to the customer for basic operations, but all the major functions are maintained and monitored by the hosting company.
With managed dedicated virtual server hosting, most hosting companies provide a wealth of tools, resources, and support. This is especially useful for entry-level customers or customers with limited time.
Unmanaged virtual hosts, however, give the customer complete control of the system and are free to install operating systems and applications as they wish. This choice is preferred for experienced, more technically inclined customers or customers with special requirements that do not fit within the scope of options provided by managed hosting.
Dedicated virtual server hosting has a wide variety of uses other than commonplace web page hosting. Due to their isolated nature, dedicated virtual server hosts may be used as sand boxes for testing new and possibly insecure applications.
They may also be used as honeypots, allowing a server to deliberately run security flawed software without endangering the rest of the virtual servers hosted on the same physical machine. Basically dedicated virtual server hosting may be used practically anywhere one would use a traditional server.
More and more customers are choosing dedicated virtual server hosting due to its flexibility and low cost. With a variety of virtualization methods, hosting options, and support options available, dedicated virtual server hosting is bound to accommodate every server need imaginable.