The VPS1 system uses the following:

• Updated hardware components
• Fast network connectivity
• Innovative software
• Remote administration
• Security solutions

Essentially two types of shared hosting solutions are available: virtual hosting and VPS1s. Though the terms seem similar, the underlying functionality of the two solutions is very different. Your Internet site is likely an integral part of your business, so understanding the differences between virtual hosting and VPS1s affects your hosting decision (a decision that can be as important as choosing what content you place on your site).

Web hosting solutions consist of two components:

• Hardware (CPU, memory, disk drives, etc.)
• Software (the web, FTP, and POP servers; the e-mail gateway; and any third-party applications such as CGI scripts)

In a virtual hosting environment, the following weaknesses are apparent:

Hardware and software are configured and customized by site administrators (leaving the client with no control over how the Internet services behave).

Each physical server has a single set of shared software applications (leaving the client "sub-letting" software that is controlled and maintained by someone else).

In a VPS1 environment, the following strengths become obvious:

Only the hardware is controlled by site administrators (leaving the software autonomous).

Software is controlled by the client (to enable client control over the core Internet services).

A VPS1 is partitioned from the root of a physical server. This provides additional file security as well as Secure Shell or Telnet capability.

Configuration at the client level empowers the client to use a VPS1 just as he or she would use a dedicated server. The table below compares the capabilities of virtual hosting with the VPS Hosting VPS1 system.

Because a single dedicated server is partitioned into multiple VPS1s, each VPS1 is given the following:

• IP address
• Domain name
• Web server (complete log and configuration files)
• FTP server
• POP server
• SMTP gateway

Not only does a VPS1 have virtual hosting capability, the VPS1 also enables you to create the following:

• Virtual web hosts
• Virtual e-mail
• Virtual FTP logins and anonymous FTP logins
• Quota support

Note: A true VPS1 is not simply a "virtually hosted" (VirtualHost) site on a web server that you do not control. You have "virtual root" access on your VPS1.

When you access your VPS1 via Telnet or Secure Shell, the following directories are displayed just as they would be on a dedicated server:

/dev
/usr
/bin
/etc

Your passwd, aliases, and sendmail.cf files reside in your etc directory. Because you are given access to such files, you have the flexibility to do the following:

• Add multiple POP accounts
• Add e-mail aliases
• Configure e-mail autoresponders
• Block Spam for your e-mail users
• Control who and how other people access your server
• Control private and public FTP access to your server

You can access the entire usr/local/etc/httpd directory structure including the following:

• httpd.conf
• cgi-bin directory

The VPS1 behaves like a dedicated server, giving you complete control of your web, FTP, and e-mail services. The significant differences between a dedicated server and a VPS1 are the disk space and price tag.