What does VDS stand for?
VDS stands for virtual dedicated server.
What is a virtual dedicated server?
VDS is a virtualized IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) virtualized computing environment made to mimic a stand-alone dedicated server. A VDS obtains its resources from either a large, single dedicated server, a pool of dedicated servers, or from a large cloud hosting infrastructure.
A virtual dedicated server offers almost every aspect that a dedicated server offers with less cost attached to it. Hardware, such as RAM or NICs, can be added or removed, and a VDS does not share resources among a group of other virtual dedicated servers like a virtual private server (VPS) does. The biggest feather in the VDS cap/hat is data and server access security. Even the data center techs that surround a VDS cannot gain access to a locked-down virtual dedicated server.
What is the downsides to a VDS versus a VPS?
The downsides to a VDS versus a VPS include:
Price
- Traditionally, a virtual dedicated server will cost roughly 40%-50% more monthly than a virtual private server, but the trade-off is a VDS costs about 40%-50% less per month than an equivalent dedicated server.
Support
- Generally, much the same as a dedicated server, the entity which owns and controls a virtual dedicated server will own and provide the software (typically Windows Server operating system, but Linux works just as great on a VDS) and other software licenses used on a VDS, all the way down to its virtual bare metal. With a VPS, the data center or hosting provider tends to supply the operating system and other software licenses, thus come with it a general level of support the data center is obligated to provide.
Ability to Self Heal
- For the most part, a VPS has a self-healing aspect to it when it comes to the power supply, CPU, networking, along with other computing aspects. With a virtual dedicated server, the owner is on their own to an extent. If there is a networking fallout, the subsystem is not going to catch this and correct it. A very minor drawback, but certainly one nonetheless.I am new to hosting and website, which should I invest in? A VDS or VPS?
For those just starting, Rackwoo highly recommends to start with our managed SSD hosting services first, then move to a VPS server once knowledge has been gained and time has passed.
Once a webmaster gains a year or so of good knowledge, and their website starts to see sizable traffic, along with gathering valuable client and web-related data, then a webmaster should look into owning a VPS to test the water for the transition in the future to owning a full dedicated server one day.
