VPS
Virtual Private Server
A virtualized server running on shared physical hardware via a hypervisor — giving each tenant isolated CPU, RAM, storage, and a full OS with root access. More powerful and flexible than shared hosting, more affordable than dedicated hardware.
A VPS is created by a hypervisor (KVM, Xen, VMware) that partitions a physical server into multiple isolated virtual machines. Each VM gets allocated CPU cores, RAM, and disk — independent of other tenants on the same host. Unlike shared hosting, a VPS runs its own OS kernel (or container), so you can install any software, configure services freely, and are isolated from neighbours' resource usage. VPS instances are billed hourly or monthly, can be snapshotted, resized, and destroyed — making them the workhorse of web hosting, self-hosted applications, VPNs, and development environments.
Hosting types compared
| Type | Isolation | Root access | Resources | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | None (shared OS) | No | Shared, variable | Simple websites, WordPress |
| VPS | VM/container isolation | Yes | Dedicated allocation | Apps, APIs, self-hosted tools |
| Dedicated server | Physical machine | Yes | Full machine | High-traffic, compliance needs |
| Cloud instance | VM on distributed infra | Yes | Scalable on demand | Production workloads, auto-scaling |
| Managed hosting | Varies | No (managed for you) | Varies | Hands-off app hosting |
VPS networking
Each VPS gets one or more public IP addresses and a network interface with a defined bandwidth limit (e.g., 1 Gbps port, 1 TB monthly transfer). Internal networking between VPS instances on the same provider uses a private network — traffic between your app server and database server stays within the data centre at no bandwidth cost. Most providers offer additional features: floating IPs (move an IP between VPS instances for failover), private networks (isolated LAN between your instances), and load balancers. IPv6 is standard on modern providers. Firewall rules are typically configurable both at the cloud provider level (security groups) and within the OS (iptables/nftables).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a VPS and shared hosting?
Shared hosting: many sites share one OS instance — no isolation, no root access, neighbours affect your performance. VPS: isolated VM with dedicated resources and full root access — install any software, full control. VPS costs more but is necessary for custom applications, high-traffic sites, or specific server configurations.
What is the difference between a VPS and a cloud server?
Largely the same technology. Traditional VPS is a VM on a single physical server — host failure means downtime. Cloud servers (AWS EC2, DigitalOcean, Hetzner Cloud) run on distributed infrastructure with live migration, snapshots, and SLA guarantees. "Cloud server" is the modern terminology; "VPS" persists at older providers and for basic low-cost instances.
Does VPS location affect website speed?
Yes. Physical distance adds latency: a Frankfurt VPS adds ~10ms for EU visitors but ~150ms for Australian visitors. Choose the region closest to your primary user base. For global audiences, a CDN distributes static content worldwide regardless of origin location. For dynamic content, origin location still matters.
Related Terms
Server
A VPS is a virtualized server — all the capabilities of a server without dedicated hardware.
CDN
CDNs cache VPS-origin content at edge locations to reduce latency globally.
SSH
VPS instances are administered via SSH — the standard remote access protocol.
Full Glossary
All networking terms defined in plain English.