Migrating from Shared Hosting to VPS

Many customers are interested in upgrading from a shared hosting account to a VPS, but they are often uncertain on how their website will perform in the virtual environment. While we can tell you that a better performance is almost guaranteed, there are also a couple of factors that must be considered to ensure a successful deployment. This article will discuss some key areas you need to take into account before abandoning your existing shared hosting arrangement.
Control Panel Software
The control panel is one of the most important features in any type of hosting solution and VPS is no different. Most shared hosting providers use popular applications like cPanel and Plesk. thus if you want the benefit of a smooth transition, you may want to look for a VPS plan that comes with the same control panel you were using previously. Since you are already familiar with the software, you can get settled in quickly and have little to no trouble managing your account.
Guaranteed RAM
In the shared hosting environment, you don’t have to worry much about RAM. Even though you must share this resource other customers and have it capped at a certain level, most hosting companies tend to provide you with more than enough. This is not the case with VPS hosting because in most instances, you get what you pay for. However, it is critical to make sure you understand the amount of RAM you are allocated as memory is one of the most important factors to consider for a virtual private server. Without enough of it, you will likely notice that many of your services often fail and your entire site runs slow.
Basic Computing and Server Knowledge
Managing a VPS account is notably easier than keeping up a dedicated server. At the same time, it does require a bit of technical knowledge on your part, which could be a challenge depending on your experience. For example, if you choose a plan based on the Linux or Unix platform, it would be wise to learn a few basic commands so that you will be able to perform configurations by yourself. This cannot be stressed enough because most hosting firms will not be willing to help you optimize your VPS whether you are engaged in managed service agreement or not.
Cost of Service
Another factor you must consider before signing up for a VPS hosting account is the overall cost of service. While this type of solution is generally marketed as affordable, you should know that it is often considerably more expensive than your typical shared hosting plan. In fact, a VPS package could end up costing you more than $100 per month depending on the provider. With asking prices like this, you may be inclined to pay a few more dollars for a dedicated server or decide that virtualization is just too costly for your budget.
Conclusion
Upgrading to a VPS is a major move that should not be taken lightly. When considering all the challenges, you might conclude like many others that shared hosting is the easiest and most affordable way to get your site up and running. That is not to take away from the power of VPS because it makes an ideal solution for those who warrant the need and are serious about their web presence.