VPS or Dedicated Server?

There are lots of options on the table these days when it comes to web hosting. I guess when it comes to choosing the right package for you, you need to work out what you actually need from your provider. For example, if you’re looking to host one, relatively small website, you’re not going to need to be paying hundreds of dollars per month for a dedicated server. Likewise, if you’re hosting a website that gets tens of thousands of visitors per day, you’re not going to be able to host it on a $5.99 per year shared hosting account.

Luckily, most web hosting firms these days, from the small bedroom outfits to the large corporations who own their own data centres offer completely scalable packages. Most web hosting firms have the capacity and package options to host the smallest to the largest web properties.

The scalability inevitably comes down to the server specifications and the bandwidth allowance. If you’re going to be running a large website, you’re going to need to find a host with the capacity to provide lots of ram, processing power and bandwidth. You should also consider a dedicated server with a good operating system such as Linux, especially if you’re expecting a lot of traffic.

A good place to start when it comes to sourcing web hosting providers is to look through the various directories out there and check out some web hosting reviews. I just read a fantastic review of Hostmonster which really analysed their service and gave me a great idea on what to expect before I parted with my hard earned dollars.