Nov 03, 2022
Leonardus N
7min Read
# How to Host a Website on VPS and When You Should Consider Doing So
Every website needs web hosting to store its files and make them accessible to the public. There are many different types of web hosting available, with shared and Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting services among the most popular
Thus, it can be tricky to decide which is the best option for your site. In this article, we will discuss when you should consider buying from a virtual server host. We will also talk about the three essential steps to host a website on VPS:
- Pick the right VPS hosting plan
- Learn how to connect to your VPS using Secure Shell (SSH)
- Use the command line to manage your VPS
## The Differences Between Shared and VPS Hosting
Shared and VPS hosting have one fundamental similarity âÃÂàthey both use one physical server to host multiple websites. This is the most cost-effective approach, resulting in prices lower than a dedicated hosting or cloud hosting service. However, the similarities end there
A web server has limited system resources available, such as RAM, CPU power, and disk space. In the shared hosting environment, multiple clients use the resources of a single physical server, which can create bottlenecks and slow down your site in these two situations:
- When the hosting provider sets up too many websites on the same server space
- When a website on the server is getting too much traffic and taking up more resources
The first situation shouldnâÃÂÃÂt be an issue if you choose a reputable web hosting provider. As for the second, you cannot really avoid it, especially if it happens to another site
This is where VPS hosting may help. Unlike shared hosting, the web host compartmentalizes the server resources for each VPS hosting client. In other words, these compartments act like individual servers
Another key difference between shared and VPS hosting lies in the level of control
In a shared hosting environment, the web host configures the server for its clients. Thus, users donâÃÂÃÂt have access to the web server settings. Instead, they get a user-friendly control panel that provides features like the WordPress auto-installer, a file manager, and backups
While these features are helpful for beginners or website owners who donâÃÂÃÂt want to deal with server maintenance, they fall short compared to the level of control VPS hosting provides
VPS comes with server root access, so itâÃÂÃÂs possible to install custom web applications and a preferred operating system, such as Ubuntu or CentOS. Additionally, you might want to consider a VPS manager like Cyberpanel to help with management of your server
Shared hosting is slightly cheaper than VPS hosting and more user-friendly as the host configures the servers. However, it offers more limited resources and may compromise the siteâÃÂÃÂs performance
Thus, this type of web hosting is more suitable for static or small sites that use content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and Joomla
On the other hand, VPS hosting requires more technical experience as most of the options are self-managed. That said, VPS hosting is the best solution for web applications that require more permissions or a custom server configuration
## When You Should Move From Shared Hosting to VPS
Shared web hosting may become less suitable as the site grows and gets more traffic or requires better security measures, as all of these need more server resources
However, how soon itâÃÂÃÂll need VPS hosting depends on how the website performs and your current shared hosting plan. For example, if you use our
**Business Shared** **Hosting
Single
ÃÂã1.49/mo
Business
ÃÂã3.99/mo
Since no two providers offer the same experience, it can be hard to know when to upgrade to VPS hosting. Here are some indications you need to consider moving to VPS:
- The site receives at least 100-200 visits per day
- ThereâÃÂÃÂs a sustained increase in the siteâÃÂÃÂs bounce rate
- The website speed is getting slower, or it is starting to experience downtime
ItâÃÂÃÂs also worth noting that there are many other factors that can impact your siteâÃÂÃÂs performance in addition to the type of hosting plan youâÃÂÃÂre using
ThatâÃÂÃÂs why we recommend proactively optimizing your site speed. However, if the website starts getting more traffic and still feels sluggish after youâÃÂÃÂve tried different methods to optimize it, it might be time to upgrade to VPS hosting
Another factor to consider when deciding to move to VPS hosting is your budget. Fortunately, itâÃÂÃÂs easy enough to find reasonably priced VPS hosting plans
For example, HostingerâÃÂÃÂs shared hosting plans start at
1.49/month while VPS hosting plans start at 3.49/month**
Ultimately, itâÃÂÃÂs necessary to consider your websiteâÃÂÃÂs needs. Security and complete control over the server are the main benefits of VPS hosting, but those might not be the main priorities, depending on the type of website you run
However, if you operate an eCommerce site that processes transactions and customer data, the greater security of VPS hosting is essential. Even if you collect this information for email marketing purposes, VPS hosting will help keep the visitorsâÃÂàdata safe
In addition to that, determine if you will benefit from complete control over the server. Generally, installing custom web applications or configuring server software requires root access
Without it, youâÃÂÃÂll need permission and help from your web hosting provider to complete the installation. Not only will it take more time, but the host might not always support or allow such changes
Pro Tip
Check out our guide on how to buy a domain name if you need one for your website
## How to Get Started With VPS (In Just 3 Steps)
If you have decided to move to VPS hosting, the first step is to select the right VPS hosting plan. Since the process of starting a website using VPS hosting is different from doing this on shared hosting, weâÃÂÃÂll guide you through each step
1. Choose the Right Type of VPS
When you start looking into VPS hosting, youâÃÂÃÂll notice that each host offers different options. HereâÃÂÃÂs a quick comparison of four of the VPS plans we have at Hostinger:
VPS 1
ÃÂã3.49/mo
VPS 2
ÃÂã4.99/mo
VPS 3
ÃÂã7.99/mo
VPS 4
ÃÂã15.95/mo
VPS 5
ÃÂã23.95/mo
VPS 6
ÃÂã29.99/mo
VPS 7
ÃÂã42.99/mo
VPS 8
ÃÂã57.99/mo
To give you an idea of what difference 1 GB of RAM and twice the CPU power can make, here is an overview of the capabilities of HostingerâÃÂÃÂs
**VPS 1** and **VPS 2** plans: VPS 1âÃÂàwith 1 GB of RAM, you can run a simple WordPress or similar CMS site with moderate traffic and excellent performance. However, this amount of RAM wonâÃÂÃÂt be enough to set up multiple applications or a control panel. VPS 2âÃÂÃÂ
As a rule of thumb, we recommend a VPS plan with at least 2 GB of RAM and a two-core CPU, especially if youâÃÂÃÂre running a website with a lot of traffic, such as an eCommerce shop
A more basic VPS plan is usually a good option if you host a simple WordPress site with medium traffic but want to handle server management yourself
2. Learn How to Connect to VPS Using SSH
Managing a VPS is completely different than using shared hosting. Configuring the latter involves using a control panel, such as HostingerâÃÂÃÂs hPanel
On the other hand, VPS hosting usually doesnâÃÂÃÂt come with control panels, so users get to interact with the server directly. To do that, you need to use the command line, which weâÃÂÃÂll go over in a moment
First, connect to your server using a Secure Shell (SSH) client
An SSH client is an application that enables you to connect directly to the server. If your computer runs on a Unix-based operating system, you can do this right from the command line without needing a dedicated client. If this is the case, you can skip to the next step
However, for those using Windows, software such as PuTTY will be necessary. ItâÃÂÃÂs free and easy to download and install on your computer. Once PuTTY is installed, run the client and youâÃÂÃÂll see a window like this:
To connect PuTTY to the server, youâÃÂÃÂll need to know its IP address, SSH port, SSH username, and SSH password
All this information should be available on the web hosting control panel. If youâÃÂÃÂre using our VPS hosting service, access the server by logging in to your Hostinger account. Find your VPS hosting account and click
**Manage**
The SSH details will be available on the server management panel
If you donâÃÂÃÂt know the password for the SSH access, scroll down to the
**Root password **section to create a new one
Enter the details into the PuTTY Configuration and hit the
**Open **button to establish a connection. If the address is correct, a command line window will pop up asking for your login information:
With a new server, use the
**root **user account and password located within your web hosting VPS panel. Once you successfully log into the server, start running commands to manage it
3. Use the Command Line to Manage Your VPS
Some people may not like the command line because it doesnâÃÂÃÂt provide a graphical interface. Every server management task uses text commands, so at the very least youâÃÂÃÂll need to learn some of the basic ones
There are plenty of resources and lists of essential commands to get you through basic server management tasks. Here are some examples:
âÃÂàthis command shows all the files and folders within the directory youâÃÂÃÂre viewing. ls âÃÂàwith this command, move files from one folder to another. mv âÃÂàuse this command to navigate between directories. cd âÃÂàthis command comes in handy when you need to create a new folder. mkdir âÃÂàmodify files with the Nano editor without leaving the command line. nano
At this point, youâÃÂÃÂre ready to start managing the web server. Keep in mind that the account has full privileges and access, which means you may accidentally change things that shouldnâÃÂÃÂt be altered
## Conclusion
VPS hosting is the perfect option if you want complete control over the server at a price lower than dedicated hosting. It lets you configure the server settings and install your preferred operating system and web applications
With dedicated server resources, your websiteâÃÂÃÂs performance wonâÃÂÃÂt be compromised because of other sites on the same machine
However, hosting a website on VPS requires more technical expertise compared to shared hosting. YouâÃÂÃÂll need an SSH client such as PuTTY or the command line to manage the server. We hope this article helps you decide whether you should use VPS hosting. If you have more questions about hosting a website on VPS, feel free to leave a comment below or contact our support team
Learn More About Different Types of Hosting
What Is Cloud Hosting?
WordPress Hosting vs Web Hosting: WhatâÃÂÃÂs the Difference?
How Much Does Website Hosting Cost?
How to Choose Web Hosting Plan