What are advantages and disadvantages in using VPS hosting vs standard Web hosting services?

Question

I saw many companies offer Virtual Private Server hosting beside their Web Hosting packages.

I was wondering what are the differences, pros and contros.

Thanks

Answer 1

Great question,:

VPS ADVANTAGES:

since you are more in control with the server, it's a virtual, but still you can manage it as a full server. You have full root access, full control and therefore you can do almost whatever you want installing anything you like, even stuff that is not provided the web hosting plans of the same provider, you could remove the control panel and install another one (i.e. removing cPanel and install webmin or remove totally a control panel and manage the server by yourself changing manually the configuration). You could repolace the webmail interface with another one (i.e. remove Squirrelmail, and install something else). You can change root Apache config .https.conf and root php.ini config.

VPS DISADVANTAGES:

you MUST KNOW how to manage a server, getting such know how it's very time consuming, you need to learn and study carefully. You screw up something on a VPS and you risk to see it DOWN, or even worst, up and running but with dozens of SECURITY HOLES. It's usually more expensive than a web hosting plan, but not always more expensive than a web hosting reseller plan.

WEBHOSTING/RESELLER ADVANTAGES:

you are in control only of what is already installed on the plan by the provider (i.e. cPanel for managing, Squirrelmail as a web mail), even if you can still install your scripts and many third parties stuff. It's much easier to manage, and more difficult to be completely screwed up. If server is down or there are security holes it's not your fault you simply open a ticket and complain to the webhoster, he will have to take care about it. You can rewrite also Apache config for spcific folder using the .htaccess file. Also php.ini config can be rewritten on a directories basis cause most web hoster install suPHP that let you rewrite php.ini config using a php.ini file in the directory you want it to be modified. It's definietly cheaper.

WEBHOSTING/RESELLER DISADVANTAGES:

if you want to change something at an higher level (like changing the contorl panel) you can't. You can NOT change root Apache config .https.conf and root php.ini config.

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Anyway there is still something missing here, and I'm missing it too. Many hoster are now selling FULLY MANAGED VPS, according to their policies these type of plans have teh advantages of WEBHOSTING/RESELER because if you screw up something they lokk up at it and they also prepare the server for you, so iot seems you don't require so much know how, but simply to be careful not to put your hands where you shouldn't.

Actually I tried to ask a similar question on serverfault you can find there also links to other similar questions that might help you too.

IMHO i don't understand what's the catch for some hosters to push the VPS against the WEBHOSTING RESELLER plans. Some hosters are even selling FULLY MANAGED VPS at CHEAPER prices than RESELLER plans. It seems bizarre because if I buy a VPS I'm probably going to open many more tickets to ask this&that and to ask them to fix/change something for me compared the the amount of tickets I could open with WEBHOSTING RESELLER plan.