Virtual Private Server
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Virtual Private Server (VPS)
A Virtual Private Server (VPS), also referred to as a virtual dedicated server (VDS), is a virtual machine provided as a service by hosting providers, such as Pulsed Media. VPS hosting allows users to enjoy many of the benefits of a dedicated server—full root access, customizability, and isolation—while maintaining the affordability and efficiency of shared infrastructure.
Pulsed Media VPS plans are powered by cutting-edge technologies like KVM, Proxmox, and LXC, delivering high-performance, fully isolated environments for your applications and services. Whether you're hosting a website, running a game server, or building out a development stack, our VPS offerings strike the perfect balance between power and cost.
History of Virtual Private Servers
The roots of virtualization date back to the 1960s, when IBM pioneered techniques to partition mainframes into separate environments, allowing multiple users to access computing resources simultaneously. This foundational concept evolved into modern server virtualization.
By the early 2000s, as demand for web hosting surged, virtualization technology matured to a point where individual users could run isolated server environments on shared physical hardware. This gave rise to VPS hosting, which rapidly became a mainstay in the hosting industry.
Virtualization Technology
VPS hosting relies on two major types of Virtualization:
- Hardware-level virtualization (full virtualization): Each VPS runs its own OS and kernel, abstracted from the host hardware via a Hypervisor. This method offers maximum flexibility and isolation.
- Operating system-level virtualization (containers): Multiple VPS-like containers share the host's kernel but remain isolated. This approach offers improved efficiency, with minimal overhead.
At Pulsed Media, we use both approaches depending on your use case. Our premium plans utilize KVM (hardware virtualization) for maximum compatibility and control. Our lightweight options leverage LXC containers for unmatched efficiency.
Modern Implementations
KVM
Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) is an open-source hypervisor built into the Linux kernel. KVM allows for the creation of fully isolated virtual machines, each capable of running its own operating system.
Pros:
- Near-native performance using hardware acceleration (Intel VT-x, AMD-V).
- Full OS-level isolation and compatibility.
- Integrated security via Linux kernel features.
Cons:
- Requires more resources than containerized solutions.
- Complex to configure without a control panel.
At Pulsed Media, KVM powers our high-performance VPS offerings, enabling customers to run virtually any OS, including Windows and custom Linux kernels.
QEMU
QEMU is a generic and open-source machine emulator and virtualizer. Paired with KVM, it enables efficient full virtualization, allowing users to emulate various hardware architectures.
Pros:
- Supports multiple processor architectures.
- Works with or without hardware acceleration.
Cons:
- Slight overhead compared to containerized or native environments.
- Complex command-line interface.
Proxmox VE
Proxmox Virtual Environment is a complete open-source server management platform. It supports both KVM and LXC and offers a powerful web interface.
Pros:
- Unified management of VMs and containers.
- Built-in backup, clustering, and firewall features.
Cons:
- Some learning curve for beginners.
- Requires Linux proficiency for advanced features.
Pulsed Media utilizes Proxmox extensively for virtualization management. It allows us to maximize uptime, flexibility, and operational efficiency.
Docker
Docker enables containerization of applications, bundling software and its dependencies into a single portable unit.
Pros:
- Minimal resource usage.
- High portability across platforms.
Cons:
- Not ideal for full OS-level workloads.
- Shared kernel may raise security concerns.
Docker containers run efficiently within our VPS plans, giving you a perfect foundation for microservices and development environments.
LXC
Linux Containers (LXC) offer OS-level virtualization for running multiple isolated Linux systems on a single host.
Pros:
- Lightweight and resource-efficient.
- Fast startup and shutdown.
Cons:
- Only Linux guests supported.
- Shared kernel reduces isolation compared to VMs.
LXC is used in Pulsed Media’s resource-efficient VPS options, ideal for lightweight, high-density deployments.
LXD
LXD is an advanced system container manager built on top of LXC. It offers a VM-like experience with all the efficiency of containers.
Pros:
- Enhanced user experience.
- Strong scalability and security features.
Cons:
- Linux-only support.
- More complex networking configurations.
LXD allows our infrastructure to scale massively without sacrificing performance or security.
OpenVZ
OpenVZ is an OS-level virtualization platform for running multiple isolated Linux containers.
Pros:
- Minimal overhead.
- Fast deployment and reboot times.
Cons:
- Limited to Linux.
- All containers share the same kernel.
Though Pulsed Media no longer relies heavily on OpenVZ, it was once a key technology in offering affordable VPS services.
Emerging Trends
Container orchestration
Technologies like Kubernetes and Nomad automate the deployment and scaling of containerized applications. These platforms distribute workloads across clusters of VPS instances or bare metal.
At Pulsed Media, you can deploy Kubernetes on your VPS for maximum automation and scalability.
Serverless computing
Serverless computing platforms like AWS Lambda or OpenFaaS allow you to run code without managing servers. Under the hood, these often use containers or micro-VMs like Firecracker.
Lightweight Hypervisors
Firecracker and Kata Containers provide high-security, low-overhead virtualization. These are used in serverless and edge computing scenarios.
Edge Virtualization
Deploying compute resources near end users (at the "edge") is becoming common for latency-sensitive applications. Pulsed Media’s globally distributed infrastructure enables such deployments through efficient VPS provisioning.
