VPS hosting is an abbreviation for Virtual Private Server hosting. Virtual Private Server hosting plans offer virtual machines to clients. The concept of virtualization is similar to shared hosting where one server computer can have multiple sites running on it. However, virtualization technology allows each account to be treated as its own machine with its own dedicated resources and operating system.
For Example: In a shared hosting environment all clients are sharing the resources of a same computer. Most shared hosting service providers have scripts that limit the resources of each client, so that no one client is using up all the resources. However, clients are not guaranteed the computing resources which may fluctuate from time to time depending on how many clients are using the resources at the same time.
On the other hand, VPS hosting plans can guarantee the resources available to the client by using virtualization technology. This provides the client with a much more stable hosting environment with little to no fluctuation in the resources available. InMotion Hosting, HostGator, and Site5 are our recommended VPS hosting providers. They are fast and reliable.
If you have ever used programs such as Microsoft Virtual PC, VMWare Player, workstation, etc, then you have used the same concept on your computer. Such software allow you to do the same thing on your personal computer by allowing you to “virtually” run another Operating System environment on top of the one that is already installed. People use this technology on personal computers mostly to test/run software and websites in different environment without incurring the cost of buying additional computers.
This post was originally published in the wpbeginner glossary.
