Renting a VPS – getting started

By renting a VPS, you can take complete control over a server. This article will discuss the benefits of renting a VPS, how you can get started quickly, and what choices you need to make.

Why should you rent a VPS?

There are many reasons to choose a VPS, Virtual Private Server, over other hosting options. Fundamentally, the most significant advantage of a VPS is that it gives you complete control over how you manage your server and what you install on it.

Here are the main reasons to rent a VPS:

• Your current hosting provider has technical limitations that a VPS would solve.
• You want to install software that your provider does not support.
• You want to process data that requires specific data protection.
• Your development process requires you to have root access to your server.
• You need to be able to restart your server without affecting other users.

A common thread among these is that a VPS gives you control. When you choose to rent a VPS, you don’t need to consider other users, avoid a host of technical limitations, and get rid of permission-related issues.

How to rent a VPS

A VPS is often simple to start but can be challenging to manage. If you have basic knowledge, it can be easy to create a VPS that suits your skills and needs today and have the option of making it more technically complex in the future. Here’s how to get started!

Find a VPS provider

To get started, you need to find a good VPS provider. Compare VPS solutions and consider what you value in your provider. This could be:

• Price
• Hardware
• Connectivity
• Server management platform
• Available operating systems
• Support
• Uptime
• Features, such as backup

With a VPS from one.com, you get access to the latest hardware, multiple operating systems, automatic security updates, and much more.

Choose a performance tier

Once you’ve chosen a VPS provider, you need to decide on the specifications and services you want access to. You can choose packages that include specifications for, among others:

• Number of vCPUs
• Amount of RAM
• Amount of local storage
• Internet bandwidth

You can often change your package and get access to better or worse hardware if your needs change. Before choosing a package, it still might be good to assess the load your VPS will have and what specifications it needs. If your needs vary, it might be worth finding solutions such as a CDN to make the load evener and avoid paying for a VPS with unnecessary resources.

Windows or Linux?

There are two main types of operating systems for a VPS: Windows and Linux. Linux, in turn, comes in several different variants. We offer Ubuntu, Debian, Alma Linux, and CentOS. There are many reasons to choose one operating system over the other.

Here are some pros and cons of Windows.

Advantages of Windows:

• Windows desktop popularity can make it easier for many
• Microsoft offers good technical support
• Built-in remote desktop

Disadvantages of Windows:

• Often significantly more expensive than Linux.
• It can be more resource-intensive than Linux.

Similarly, we can mention some pros and cons of Linux.

Advantanges of Linux:

• Often completely free
• Large active community that can help you
• Resource-efficient

Disadvantages of Linux:

• Some commercial software is developed for Windows
• It can be more difficult for beginners

Even though there are good reasons to choose both Windows and Linux, Linux is the most popular choice on the web. According to W3Techs, about 85 per cent of all websites are powered by Unix-like operating systems, such as Linux, while Windows accounts for about 15 per cent as of 2024.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Linux is the obvious choice for you. Consider what applications you need on your server, what features you need, and which operating system would be best for you.

What you need to know to rent a VPS

Before you decide to rent a VPS, it’s essential to be aware that running a VPS can be difficult. You need extensive technical knowledge about how to configure and manage a server. You are responsible for ensuring that any software you install is secure, that updates are made continuously, and that all user accounts are safe and have the correct permissions.

Start renting a VPS

If you think a VPS would suit you and your company well, get started today! Get your VPS running and choose a domain name to make your website or web service public.

When your VPS is up and running, the possibilities are endless. Here are some ideas for things you can do with your VPS. Feel free to click the links in the list to learn more about a topic you’re interested in.

• Start a complex WordPress website
• Open a webshop with WooCommerce
• Run a proxy server
• Start a VPN server
• Create a Minecraft server

We hope this article has helped you understand how to rent a VPS, what choices you need to make, and what you can do with your VPS. Good luck!