Windows Server VPS hosting plans bring the power of virtual environments to companies and organizations. In the past, web hosting services generally offered either low-cost shared hosting or expensive dedicated hosting. Virtual Private Servers fill a need in the middle of these two market segments. Business owners and IT managers needed more power, space and flexibility than shared hosting provided, but shied away from the steep investment of a dedicated server. Windows VPS is a good solution for companies whose data systems are heavily Windows based. Firms using ASP, .NET or Microsoft SQL Server database may prefer to run on Windows operating systems. Windows Server 2003 and 2008 are the most common operating systems for Windows VPS installations.
There are multiple benefits to moving to a Windows Server VPS solution. Businesses used to a shared host will see a definite increase in speed. This is because there are fewer servers on the same node. In a shared environment there may be hundreds of busy sites crowded together. Another benefit is the complete access to the server. Maintenance is simplified. Software can be downloaded from repositories, backups scheduled, and security issues handled quickly and easily. At the same time, the VPS host will help perform operating system updates, assist in IP assignments where needed, and provide guidance on upgrades. Managed support provides a safety net of trained staff overseeing the important maintenance of the server while allowing the customer free reign on their own VPS.
Linux is a popular open-source operating system that has garnered a large share over the years. Windows will serve you better if your staff is already used to Windows systems. Different Windows development programs, Interdev, and Frontpage will only work effectively on Windows systems. Some experts believe Linux is less secure than Windows. Windows is considered more user-friendly than Linux. Although Microsoft recommends that Windows Servers be run with as minimal GUI as possible, several third-party packages are available. Linux users do not have to pay Microsoft license fees. However, some Linux distributions such as Canonical, Novell and Red Hat are commercial and charge a fee.
Find out what levels of service they offer. Some providers offer both fully managed and semi-managed VPS. Fully managed VPS lets you manage your own server but provides support staff in case of a problem. Ask if there are any current price promotions. Find out the physical locations of the servers. What is their redundancy plan? Is burst RAM included in the RAM configuration? If you cannot determine what size VPS you need, ask the vendor. They have the experience to recommend the correct disk space and RAM needed. It will help them if you can provide any logs or usage statistics from your current site. Above all, make sure you feel comfortable with their commitment to customer service.