WordPress VPS: The Value of Functionality

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A VPS, or virtual private server, provides site owners with more stability and options for customization than shared hosting servers, while still costing less than dedicated servers. A WordPress VPS hosting can help improve site performance and decrease downtime more common for shared servers. For sites that receive moderate-to-high levels of traffic, a VPS may also prove more cost-effective.

Compared to shared hosting servers, virtual private servers feature greater security, stability, and customization. The file systems of each VPS server are independent of one another, so any potential security issue affecting a neighboring site, will not affect other VPS on the server. A VPS also grants site owners with root access in many cases, unlike on shared hosting servers, enabling users to implement their own secure configurations. Each VPS site also receives its own allotted disk space and memory, which remain unaffected by how neighboring sites use their resources; for a Blog VPS, this means more bandwidth may be allocated for uploading and running high-quality images, videos or other media without slowing your site or others. Root access also allows users control over installed software, which facilitates customization. Furthermore, sites with VPS hosting are also scalable; extra resources can be added with no downtime. While dedicated servers offer similar services along with control over the entire server and larger disk space, they also cost substantially more and often lack technical support.

Though first-time users may find a VPS more difficult to manage, they can install a Control Panel, such as cPanel or Plesk Panel, that simplifies the process through the use of a graphical interface. This interface will help users set up MySQL databases necessary for WordPress, in addition to helping them accomplish numerous other tasks. For site owners new to virtual private servers, a control panel allows the inexperienced a means to run their site, while they gain experience. Some Blog VPS include an already-installed control panel as part of their package; others offer them for an additional fee.

A WordPress VPS can run on Windows but functions best on Linux-based operating systems, such as CentOS or Debian. Depending on the number of sites and whether you choose a control panel or not, your minimum system requirements may vary. We recommend starting with a minimum of 0.5 GB of RAM and 5-10 MB of disk space, and upgrade your server specs when necessary. A WordPress VPS also requires PHP version 5.2.4 or greater and MySQL version 5.0 or greater.

For users running multiple WordPress websites, a VPS Hosting solution is a cost-effective middle-ground between cheaper, but less functional or stable, shared hosting sites and more malleable, but more expensive, dedicated servers.