Dedicated Web Servers vs VPS Web Hosting - Part II
Consider that » a VPS is typically a high-end server. For example, look at the specs of WiredTree's VPS. It comes with dual-Harpetown Xeon processors. Each processors has 4 cores, for a total of 8 cores per server. For this type of Dedicated server, you'd pay ~$274/month.
Note that you could also get a dedicated server that costs only $100/month (single Celeron-based). So all Dedicated servers are NOT created equal. (Not hardly.)
Virtual Private Servers tend to come with the very best high-end components. Let's do the math, and you'll see why Web Hosts can afford to buy the very best high-end servers to host their VPS accounts.
For example, my particular server has 16 gigs of RAM. Let's assume Virtuozzo needs 2 gigs to virtualize and set up the "containers" (probably less). That leaves 14 gigs to allocate to clients.
Let's also assume everybody is like me, and signed up for the plan which comes with 512-MB dedicated memory ($44/month). 14 gigs would equal 28 clients (using the 512-MB plan). 28 x $49 = $1,372/month.
Our web host will obviously have to pay overhead and other expenses (e.g. salaries) out of that revenue, but you can see how $1,400/month for a VPS far exceeds the $274/month they pull in for a similarly configured (high-end) Dedicated server. (And some servers can have up to 32 gigs of memory.)
$1600/month. Makes you wanna go into the VPS-hosting biz, no? Except I could never deal with someone like me, who asks so many questions. =)
On the other hand, you won't find many plans offering prices much less than this, so I'm guessing this is roughly what is costs to run (and support) a fully-loaded VPS.
And your host is likely to put you on a new server (as they did with me), so it's likely to be the fastest thing out there (at the time you sign up).
Years later however, it will begin to show its age. This is why it's best to find a small company that's growing (like WiredTree, who launched in June, 2006). If you go with a big, old company, they may put you on an older server. And I doubt they'll be as motivated to keep your business, as the small, aggressive (hungry) upstart.
Final Thoughts on Dedicated Servers
Before leaving this topic, I have two more pseudo-dedicated options you might find interesting. (I did.) I'll merely provide the linkage and leave you to do your own research (if you're interested).
1. WiredTree's Hybrid Server. This seems to be a VPS with few client-accounts assigned to each physical server (the "hardware node"), each with either 1-GB or 2-GB dedicated memory.
If each server comes with 12-GB RAM, and it takes 2-GB to run Virtuozzo (I'm guessing), that would leave enough memory for somewhere between 5 and 10 clients (depending on the plans selected .. 5X2-GB or 10X1-GB).
Note they also guarantee either 1 or 2 CPU cores per account. With 8 cores per server, that would limit each server to somewhere between 4 and 8 clients (again, depending on the plans selected).
For this service, WiredTree charges ~$100/month for their cheaper plan and ~$207/month for their more expensive plan .. tho I'm sure they'd have no problem giving you a 10% discount if you ask nicely. =)
Note: WiredTree used to call these servers "Hybrid Dedicated," a term I had problems accepting (and told them so). Now they simply call them Managed Hybrid. (A more accurate description, and something I'd definitely enjoy upgrading to.)
2. Mosso - "The Hosting Cloud." This could easily be little more than marketing smoke-n-mirrors, but I really like the idea. If they didn't charge so much ($100/month), I might check them out. Haven't spent much time researching them, but the concept *does* interest me.
Mosso (subsidiary of Rackspace) is able to run both Linux *and* Windows (both *.net & *.php) on the SAME SERVER (for the same web site .. a good trick), using a proprietary technology they call "TrueHybrid Hosting". This tells me they are possesses technological savvy. So I'm inclined to believe their other claims.
The problem with a 30-day trial is that a host can tweak a server to give you great performance for the first 30 days, then slowly throttle you back after you decide to host with them.
Or they can put you on a server with only a few clients, then move you to a fully populated server after you sign up. Call me skeptical, but such trials seem dubious at best (regarding server performance, not features, which you can test).
UPDATE (Dec. '08) - Here's an article from a guy named Jamie (from England) who dumped Mosso and went with WiredTree, for reasons outlined here » Mosso out, Wired Tree in
On the next page, we'll take a closer look at comparisons between the different virtualization softwares available, and their respective strengths & weaknesses .. because the type of virtualization you use is a key decision when selecting a VPS web host.