How To Get a VPS: Your Ultimate Guide to Virtual Private Servers

Learn exactly How To Get a VPS with our comprehensive, step-by-step guide. From choosing a provider to setting up and managing your Virtual Private Server, we cover everything you need to know for a seamless VPS experience.

Updated: 26 Apr, 23 by Susith Nonis 8 Min

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While shared hosting worked during the launch of your website, there comes a day when you will have to think about getting an upgrade to a better server (a VPS). As your business and website traffic grow, you need a scalable solution to accommodate the emerging needs.  

Failure to change your hosting will lead to many performance issues, such as slow data transfer, downtime, server errors, and security issues. These could negatively affect your website ranking due to an increase in your bounce rate. 

But how to get a VPS? Virtual Private Server hosting (What is VPS) can significantly enhance your website's performance, increase security, and allow you to integrate other software.  

Whether you have just launched your website or eCommerce store, or your website has been running, and you are looking for a hosting upgrade, VPS is a reliable solution you can trust for the growth of your business. VPS solutions come with tons of benefits ranging from enhanced security, speed, control, and flexibility to scalability. 

They are, however, not created the same; not all solutions will cater to your needs. Technical knowledge of the features of VPS solutions will go a long way in helping you make the right choice. Here are some factors to consider when purchasing a VPS solution. 

1.   The Resources Your Project Needs 

You need to make sure the VPS has enough resources for your project. Remember that your website will utilize resources on the server, which is why you are paying for the VPS. When you buy a VPS, be sure to check the VPS server price and the resources that come with it. To get value for your money, cross-check to confirm that the resources are enough.  

For instance, you will need RAM to run your media projects simultaneously. For a Windows VPS solution, it is generally recommended to have a minimum of 4GB of RAM to ensure optimal performance. However, if you're considering a Linux VPS server, the amount of RAM required may vary depending on the specific distribution and usage requirements. In general, most Linux VPS providers recommend a minimum of 1GB RAM for basic usage, while more resource-intensive applications may require anywhere from 2GB to 8GB or more. Note that this amount may vary depending on the intensity of the projects and activities you run on your website. 

The type and amount of storage also matter. A solid-state drive (SSD) storage is more ideal for VPS hosting than the traditional hard disk. You will enjoy better performance due to the high data transfer speed witnessed with SSDs. 

The resources provided by the VPS solution should also be scalable and capable of growing with your business. As you buy VPS based on its number of resources, consider the future. 

2.   Bandwidth 

The bandwidth allowance is a critical factor when choosing a VPS solution. Before committing to purchase it, alongside other questions, ask yourself how much data will be transferred when there are one or multiple users on your website.  

As aforementioned, VPS solutions are not created the same, and they have different bandwidth policies. Some offer limited bandwidth, while other providers have unlimited bandwidth. This may attract different price tags, but you have to choose one that will work for your website. 

People are advised against going for providers that have a cap on the bandwidth as the solution would not be scalable. The benefit of unlimited bandwidth is it can accommodate your growing business needs and website traffic.

3.   Connection Speed 

Speed can affect your website's ranking. Most visitors exit a web page if it takes more than three seconds to load. Slow loading speeds increase the bounce rate, which affects the performance of your website on the search engine results pages.  

Multiple hosting providers provide VPS free trials. You can check one for yourself and see how the connection speeds work for your specific site. 

Choose a VPS solution that offers fast speed to support optimal website performance. The providers should have expansive data centres close to your target audience and high-tech equipment. To check the speed of your website, you can follow the link mentioned here. 

You should weigh your options and requirements before you settle for a VPS solution.  

Switching from a shared hosting service to VPS should not worry you, nor should it interfere with your operations. While the move is pretty easy, setting up your VPS may be challenging if you have no prior experience with the task. 

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to migrate your website from shared hosting to a VPS

It is also important to note that the setup process may also vary slightly with different VPS solutions. Here are the general steps for setting up a VPS system.  

1.   Log Into Your VPS 

Use secure shell (SSH) access to connect to your server. Once you get the access, you will be able to issue commands through SSH.  

Once you select your VPS plan, the provider will give you login credentials such as a username, password, and IP address.  

2.   Update Your Server 

When you log in to your VPS solution, you can get notifications on available security updates. Install updates on your server and security patches to ensure you access all the valuable features and improve performance if they are available. This will also eliminate any existing security concerns before you start the setup. 

Depending on the number of updates, the process could take some time. Once the updates are ready, complete the process by restarting the VPS. From here, you should be ready to set up.  

3.   Create A User 

All along, you have been operating with the server's root user, and you, therefore, need to create a new user and set up a new password. Modify the new user's privileges so that you are able to execute some commands and actions. 

4.   Learn How To Manage Your VPS 

While you can pick a managed VPS plan, most users prefer the self-managed options due to the cost relief. Now that you have your VPS explore how to administer it through the control panel. Test the management options for your email, files, website, data, statistics, and other elements.  

5.   Set Up A Firewall 

To keep your VPS secure, set up a firewall. You can use software to set up a firewall and develop rules that govern the traffic to and from the VPS.  

Setting up a VPS will not initially be a smooth process, and you need a general outline that will enlighten you on the next steps to take. It is critical to understand the setup process, especially if you choose a self-managed plan. We hope that this blog post helped you in figuring out the process of how to get VPS and how to get started. 

Once your VPS is up and running, you will immediately start enjoying the solution's benefits, such as enhanced website performance and fast data transfer speed.  

In the end, if Looking for a reliable VPS provider that offers both Windows and Linux VPS solutions with flexible pricing plans and top-notch performance? Look no further than MonoVM. With powerful hardware, 24/7 customer support, and easy-to-use control panels, our VPS servers are the perfect choice for businesses and individuals who demand the best. Contact us today to learn more and get started with your own MonoVM VPS server!

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Susith Nonis

Susith Nonis

I'm fascinated by the IT world and how the 1's and 0's work. While I venture into the world of Technology, I try to share what I know in the simplest way with you. Not a fan of coffee, a travel addict, and a self-accredited 'master chef'.