A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is quite a popular option when hosting a website or application. on-line. After all, unlike shared hosting, VPS is going to offer us more control and a much more detailed customization, factors that make it an attractive alternative if what we are looking for is flexibility or scalability.
However, there are several aspects that we should take into account. For example, we need to know the difference between a Managed VPS and one that is not administered, or what advantages the modality we have chosen will offer us. And, of course, we have to know to which critical points pay attention when managing our server.
Types of VPS servers that exist
Before getting into the matter, we must clarify that, as a general rule, we are going to find two different types of VPS servers. These are the following:
- Administered: This is the perfect option for those who don’t want to worry about overly technical issues or who don’t have the experience to manage a server on their own. When a server with these characteristics is contracted, the company itself is in charge of its management and performs all the updates of software
- Not Managed: Although it is usually a somewhat cheaper option, the unmanaged VPS server will require a little more work on our part. That means that we will have administrator privileges, but also that we will have to take care of managing the server on our own. If we have experience, or have very specific needs, this type of server will be the most appropriate.
How to configure our VPS
If we have opted for an unmanaged VPS server, we are going to need to configure it, for which we may need to use the appropriate tools. To do this, we will find a series of software specifically for this class of tasks.
In this sense, cPanel works as control panel to manage servers. On the other hand, we can use other programs, such as Putty or Filezilla, to make SSH connections or to manage our files. Everything will depend on the specific need.
In addition, we should take into account the fact that the customer you can choose the operating system of each VPS. Of course, there will be steps that will be different if we choose Linux or Windows.
Scalability, a point to take into account
When managing a VPS server, scalability will be a crucial aspect. After all, we may need more resources as our site grows. Fortunately, many providers offer options to increase these resources.
In addition, we should frequently monitor our VPS to ensure that it works without incident. We will find different tools dedicated to this objective that will allow us to check the use of resources such as CPU or RAMbut that will also serve to detect other problems.
We must not neglect safety
Carrying out continuous maintenance will be a necessity if we are going to manage our own VPS. So, it is important that let’s make backup copies on a regular basis and that we make sure everything is up to date.
Finally, we must not neglect safety. Most providers will offer measurements in this regard, but it never hurts to add some extra layer of protectionsuch as strong passwords or a duly updated antivirus.
