Should you use Cloud or VPS?
Cloud Servers and Virtual Private Servers have many
similarities to each other since both are based on virtualization technologies.
However, we also find relevant differences that can help us better choose the
solution required by each company and IT project. In this article, we clarify
the most important features of Cloud and VPS Servers. Without a doubt, they
will guide us to choose the advanced hosting solution that suits our needs.
What is VPS?
Within the hosting options, VPS is the simplest and most
economical alternative to have a stand-alone server for an IT project, where we
can modify its configuration, as well as install the programs, languages or
libraries required by the hosted applications or projects.
In itself, a VPS exists only within a physical server, which
is divided by virtualization into numerous virtual servers with a given
capacity. Each virtual server can work autonomously, giving each client the
flexibility to choose the software to be installed, from the operating system
to everything else. However, having been installed on a particular computer, it
depends on it and is subject to possible problems arising from a malfunction of
the host system.
What is a Cloud Server?
On the other hand, Cloud Servers also enable projects in an
autonomous environment, where they can configure any small detail about their
operation. They also work through virtualization, although the fundamental
difference is that there is not only a physical server with a capacity
distributed on virtual servers, as in the case of VPS. Instead, the Cloud
Server face computing capacity is provided from a platform where we find
physical servers, storage cabins, connectivity systems, and many other hardware
and software elements. All of them together provide the resources required by
each Cloud Server
How to choose between Cloud and VPS?
As we have mentioned, the biggest difference between one
model and another is fault tolerance of all kinds: Cloud environments are much
more indicated when high availability is required and the demand for resources
can vary, something that happens in many cases. For example, to launch a launch
campaign or with a microsite.
VPS, on the other hand, is a cheaper option that allows
companies and developers to have fully customizable servers, matching their
possibilities to those of a Dedicated Server, but with a tight and predictable
investment. However, we have to be aware that, as in the case of solutions
based on shared hosting, in VPS performance may be affected by other virtual
machines hosted on the same server.
Whenever we can invest a little more money, a Cloud Server
will be able to provide us with more advantages and more complete tools for its
administration, in addition to the aforementioned fault tolerance and its
scalability to specific traffic peaks: its capacity can grow in resources
allocated over time without the need for migration.
In general, a VPS has more than enough performance for most
website projects and some simple business applications. They are also suitable
for mounting development servers, where to run tests, deploy applications in
preproduction or testing, store various data or backups.