The different types of virtual private servers available
Perhaps it would be better to start out by explaining the particulars of each type of server before launching into a comparison. Understanding each server’s merits would eventually make the job of choosing the most suitable tool easier and more efficient.
Virtual private server
This is basically an operating system with its own copy where each customer has user access at all times. This makes it easier to install a wider variety of software which is compatible with that particular system. A virtual private server is functionally comparable to a dedicated physical server, therefore making it easier to create and configure. The virtual private server costs comparably less.
Touted to be the most advanced among the virtualization technologies, the user can expect a platform usage that is comparatively similar to dedicated server. A glaring advantage enjoyed is the full isolation tool where allocations of the resources are exclusive, thus keeping outside interference low.
Otherwise also known as Open Virtuozzo, this is an operating system that depends on the Linux kernel. There is a function referred to as the containers where a physical server is allowed to run multiple isolated systems instantaneously. OpenVZ is comparable to FreeBSD jails and also to the Solaris Containers.
Kernel-Based Virtual Machine (KVM) allows users to run multiple Operating Systems at the same time in a single computer. It’s unlike dual boot setup where you won’t have to think selecting Operating System to run. With KVM all Operating systems will be running simultaneously and you will have access to all of them just like they were physically detached computers.
A general comparison
There is really not too much difference, as each platform works with different tools and yet eventually delivers the same results. The speed is really a very negligible point. Between XEN and OpenVZ. XEN has more overhead thus making it slightly slower, but not enough to make any significant impacts. There is a tendency to oversell in OpenVZ in order to capitalize on the unused resources while XEN can’t do this. Game servers need something fast, thus making XEN the better choice for such needs instead of KVM. When it comes to the freedom to install any operating system, OpenVZ would require the host kernel to be compatible with the quest kernel, which would mean that only Linux kernels would be ideal. KVM on the other hand is able to run any operating system within the container no matter the kernel. OpenVZ seems to be comparably cheaper considering its offerings. This is probably because the overhead is less when compared with other virtualization technologies. Overselling is considerable point to consider, especially if speed in important, as this slows down the website. With OpenVZ there is not much opportunity to process the entire allocated memory because of overhead, thus smaller memory VPS platforms would be more compatible with KVM or even XEN.
It’s all about Fast, Secure Servers
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