The Core Differences Between Cloud Solutions and Virtual Private Servers

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A lot of people think that there really aren’t a lot of differences between cloud solutions and private servers, when in fact there is a ton. If you are currently looking for the very best server option to match your needs, you will definitely want to take the time to look into both of these before making up your mind. The more time and effort you put into researching cloud solutions and virtual private servers, the better of a decision you will be able to make.

Server Setup

A virtual private server is a single physical server that is split up between a limited number of users. It is a similar to shared hosting in the way it is set up, in the sense that many user accounts are held on the same server. The primary difference between these two setups is that VPS accounts have fewer users per box, and the users typically have more control over their section of the server. Virtualization software keeps users separate, but you are not entirely isolated from being affected by others on the server.

A private cloud uses distributed resources across numerous physical servers. The redundancy enables seamless transition to other servers in a network in the event of a hardware failure or other issue. This is very similar to a RAID 5 hard drive setup. The resources appear as one server, but in actuality there are multiple servers behind it.

Location

Another one of the big differences between a VPS and private cloud is the location of the actual hardware. A virtual private server is usually hosted at an off-site, third-party web hosting provider. A private cloud on the other hand is located on-site or at a data center you own. There are some exceptions to this rule though, as some cloud providers offer hosted private clouds for their users. You will find that these clouds use hardware that is designated solely for the use of that particular cloud and is not shared with any other users.

Scalability

Cloud control panels are built for quick provisioning as well as deployment, which is one of the reasons that they are such a popular overall option. The entire process to get a whole new virtual server, database or other resource up and running usually takes only a few clicks through the administrative panel. A VPS demands that you upgrade your service manually, send in a support ticket to be the provider or call to get tech support to provide you with the resource required, making a private cloud solution superior in terms of sheer convenience.

Cost

There is no question that a private cloud is quite expensive in terms of the hardware, as you will have to take care of the cost of hardware, installation, setup and maintenance. You don’t have to pay quite so much if you decide to go with a hosted private cloud, but you also won’t have the same level of control on a hosted cloud as you will with your own on-site solution. A virtual private server is far less expensive and even cheaper than dedicated server hosting, so you will need to keep that in mind. It is important that you do not simply go for the cheapest option to save money though. While it’s always tempting to select the hosting solution that will save you money, it is not necessarily the best option.

Cloud servers – Pros and Cons

There are quite a few different benefits associated with cloud servers, and it is important that you know what they are.

Some of these advantages include:

  • Scalability: You will be able to add more server power in a moment’s notice, which is something that you cannot do with a VPN.
  • Custom infrastructure: Clients are able to include custom network architecture, firewalls, load balancing and IP deployment.
  • High availability: If a physical server fails, cloud servers are migrated to another physical server without an outage occurring.

Cons:

  • One of the main downsides to cloud servers is that they tend to be a bit more expensive than virtual private servers.

Virtual Private Servers – Pros and Cons

Some of the main advantages of virtual private servers include:

  • Less expensive than cloud servers, so you get to save a significant amount of money.
  • No fill or data access occurs between VPS clients on the shared server because they are kept separate.
  • If needed, one VPS can be rebooted without affecting other VPSs on the shared server.

Cons:

  • They do not offer high-availability. If a physical server happens to fail, all of the VPSs on that server will fail.
  • There are numerous potential security concerns. If a customer on your shared server does not take security seriously and gets hacked or receives a virus, your VPS could be negatively affected.
  • Only one operating system can be utilized by each physical server.
  • They are not scalable. Storage is entirely based on physical server limitations. Once you have met your maximum VPS capacity, you will need to either purchase more space or start looking into other options. This could result in quite a bit of downtime, so you will need to remember that as well.

Which should you choose?

When it comes to deciding between a virtual private server or cloud solutions, it is essential that you take the time to look into the different benefits and drawbacks of each one. The more time you spend doing this research, the closer you will get to making a good final decision that will satisfy all of your needs. If you happen to be on a tight budget, a virtual private server might be the better choice. Overall, cloud hosting has more to offer though. The type of hosting solution that you decide on should be based on your specific needs so that you can get all of your requirements met without any problems or complications.