What are VPS servers: in simple words

VPS (Virtual Private Server) is often described as “something between hosting and a dedicated server”. And this is true, but very simplified. In fact, VPS is a whole class of solutions, and the word "VPS" in the market can hide different technologies, isolation levels, network and disk approaches, and sometimes even different product philosophies.

In layman's terms, a VPS is when you get your own isolated server space with root access, custom settings, packages and services, but the physical hardware is shared between multiple clients. Hence the main advantage: the price is lower than that of dedicated, and the capabilities are almost "like those of an adult server".

Then I will arrange on the shelves:

what technologies are under the VPS hood;
how do "classic" VPS differ from cloud VPS (which is exactly what we have);
which OS should really be chosen for the site/project;
which sites and services are usually run on VPS;
and where VPS is stronger than shared hosting, and where a dedicated server still wins.

VPS "classic" and VPS "cloud": what is the difference

Many people buy VPS and think that it is always the same product. In fact, there is an important division:

1) “One node” (traditional VPS)

This is when your VPS lives on a specific physical server. It can be very fast, but if something happens to the node (hardware, disks, hypervisor update), your VPS will also feel the consequences. Such solutions are usually cheaper to implement for the provider, so sometimes they are cheaper "on the price tag".

2) Cloud VPS (cloud VPS)

This is when a VPS is created and runs in a cluster. "Cloud" doesn't necessarily mean something complex like AWS, but the idea is this: virtual machines are managed by a platform, and resources are distributed across a group of hosts. Practical advantages for the client:

easier to scale resources (CPU/RAM/disk) without "moving";
Easier to take snapshots/backups at the platform level;
it is easier to maintain the infrastructure without long downtimes.

This is why I always advise you to look at cloud VPS if the task is to “build a site and forget about it”, but with the ability to grow quickly.

And yes, if you Google "Buy cheap vps", you will almost always be shown the cheapest options from the first category. They can be norms, but you need to understand that you save not "in the air", but on the architecture and reservation of the platform.

What technologies do VPS work on: the main types of virtualization

This is where the fun begins. There are several "engines" that run VPS. They greatly affect isolation, performance, flexibility, and even what OSes you can install.

Full virtualization (when the VPS is as similar as possible to a separate server)

KVM (QEMU/KVM) is the most popular standard for VPS

KVM is when each virtual machine has its own "virtual computer": its own kernel, its own OS, its own drivers. Pros:

good isolation (neighboring VPS will not “penetrate” your process in a simple way);
you can install almost any Linux OS;
predicted behavior in production.

Such VPS are most often called "fast VPS", if the provider does not save on CPU and disks.

Xen

Once was very popular among hosters. Also full virtualization, but with its own nuances. Today it is less common in the mass segment, but it is still found.

VMware ESXi / Hyper-V

More often in corporate environments. For the client, the difference is usually felt not "in the name", but in the way the provider configured the resources and the disk subsystem.

Container virtualization (when VPS is fast but isolation is different)

OpenVZ / Virtuozzo, LXC/LXD

Here, virtualization takes place at the level of containers: containers have a common host core, but different user-space environments.

Pros:

very light, start quickly;
well suited for typical Linux scenarios;
often cheaper.

Cons (important):

isolation is different, not "like a full virtual machine";
not all core/module specific stuff is available;
sometimes it is easier to “catch” the neighbor effect if the platform is overloaded.

Container VPS can be great, but if maximum predictability is important to you (especially for business-critical sites/payments/high load), I usually prefer KVM class.

Cloud VPS: What Under the Hood Usually Makes Them Convenient

When they say "cloud VPS", most often they mean not one specific hypervisor, but a stack of solutions:

hypervisor (often KVM);
cluster management system (OpenStack/CloudStack/Proxmox cluster or own platform);
network layer (virtual networks, floating IPs, balancing);
disk subsystem (often distributed storage or fast NVMe arrays).

For the client, it is important not to remember the names, but to understand the consequences: the cloud approach gives flexibility in scaling, which makes it a good choice for most web projects.

Which OS to choose for VPS: what is actually put under sites

OS is not just “what you like”. It's about packages, support, the ecosystem, security updates, and even how easy it is to find instructions for common tasks.

The following operating systems are available on our VPS (and this is a good set for any task):

AlmaLinux 10
CentOS Stream 9
Debian 13
Fedora 43
openSUSE 16
Rocky Linux 10
Ubuntu 24.04

Short selection “without philosophy”

If you are putting vps for a site and want fast, predictable and with thousands of guides:

Ubuntu 24.04 is very often the easiest choice for Laravel/Node.js, modern packages, quick start.
Debian 13 — "less noise, more stability", often mistaken for classic web services, proxies, VPNs, backends.

If you are from the “RHEL-like” Linux world and you need an ecosystem for corporate approaches:

AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux are popular replacements for classic CentOS in production.

Fedora/openSUSE is usually for enthusiasts, specific stacks, or when the freshest packages are needed, but for a typical production site I would only put them with an understanding of why.

VPS locations: what they mean and how to choose the right one

For example, our VPS are available in the following locations:

USA (ASH)
USA (HIL)
Germany (FSN)
Germany (NBG)
Finland (HEL)

This is not just a “country on a flag”. It depends on the location:

latency to your audience;
stability of routes;
sometimes — legal and compliance nuances (where exactly the data is stored).

Practical selection rule

Audiences in Ukraine/Europe - more often take Germany (FSN/NBG) or Finland (HEL).
US/Canada audience is more logical USA (ASH/HIL).

If you have an international project, this is often done: the main VPS is in Europe, and for global acceleration, a CDN is connected (or even several VPSs in different locations for geographical diversity).

Which sites and services can be run on VPS

This is where VPS really shines. On shared hosting, you are limited by the rules of the panel and the environment. On a VPS, you manage the stack however you want. Typical scenarios:

1) Regular sites and blogs

WordPress (especially if it is not “one page”, but a real site with plugins and caching)
corporate sites on Laravel/Symfony
static sites (Hugo/Next.js static export) with Nginx as return

2) Online stores

WooCommerce, OpenCart, PrestaShop
Magento — yes, but with an adequate supply of RAM/CPU and normal cache (Redis, OPcache)

3) Projects that need queues/workers/cron

On VPS, you can safely place:

Redis, RabbitMQ
Supervisor/Systemd services
Cron jobs
separate workers for queues (Laravel Horizon, etc.)

4) API, backends, bots

REST/GraphQL API
Telegram bots
microservices
webhooks-hubs

5) Technical tasks not directly related to the site

VPN (WireGuard)
Bastion-host for admin
logging/monitoring (Prometheus/Grafana, Loki)
CI/CD agents

To be as honest as possible: almost any site that has outgrown the "business card" feels more organic on VPS. That is why requests like fast vps most often come from people who have already been burned by the limits of shared hosting (or want a normal environment right away).

VPS vs. shared hosting: when VPS is definitely justified

There are a few signals after which I almost automatically recommend VPS:

You need background work and processes
Queues, workers, cron-scripts, schedulers, headless-browsers - all this is either prohibited on shared or "because of pain".

You want predictable performance
Shared is always a compromise. VPS (especially cloud) gives more control.

Security and access control
On VPS, you decide for yourself:

how to set up a firewall;
what ports are open;
how SSH access is organized;
how to make a backup.

VPS vs Dedicated Server: Comparison

A dedicated server is when the entire physical resource is yours. It is indeed more powerful and predictable in peaks if the project is large. But VPS has its strengths.

Advantages of VPS (especially cloud)

Faster start: set up an instance and you're up and running.
Flexible scaling: need more RAM or CPU — increased rate/resource without migrations (in many scenarios).
Less "iron" headache: you don't think about physical disks, replacements, etc.
The entry price is lower: to get a normal production server for the site, dedicated will often be overkill.

When is it better to immediately look at dedicated

stable high load (high traffic base, heavy calculations);
very “heavy” databases or special requirements for the disk subsystem;
a maximum of "iron" insulation (or specific compliance requirements) is required.

But for most sites, stores and services, VPS is the best balance between price, freedom and power.

How to understand which VPS you need: some guidelines from experience

I don't like to promise magic numbers, because performance depends on code and caching. But there are working rules:

Landing / small site: minimal VPS + Nginx + cache if needed.
WordPress with plugins: it is better to have a reserve of RAM, plus definitely OPcache and some cache (at least page cache).
Laravel/Node with queues: separate worker or at least background resources.
Online Store: RAM and disk matter; database and cache - decide more than "beautiful tariff".

If the goal is to buy vps cheap, the honest advice is this: save money, but not on a critical one. It is better to take a slightly smaller disk, but adequate RAM, or vice versa - depending on your type of project. The most expensive thing in production is not +5€ per month, but a day of downtime or a lost sale.

If you need vps for your site to put WordPress, Laravel, store or API - VPS covers 90% of the problems: gives root access, normal scalability and security control.

If you are looking for fast vps, pay attention not only to "gigahertz", but to the stack: the type of virtualization (preferably full), disks, network and real scaling capabilities.

Summary

VPS today is not a "compromise". For most sites and online projects, this is a normal infrastructure format, which gives freedom to the developer and business stability. And cloud VPS add another important plus: flexibility and manageability when the project grows and there is no time for "server adventures".

What are VPS servers and what technologies do they work on: cloud VPS, OS, locations and real usage scenarios