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What is the difference between cloud hosting and VPS hosting?

The term cloud hosting or computing can be defined in several ways. To respond to this question and contrast the two services, I’ll define cloud hosting as a utility where a cloud service vendor provides a virtual machine instance that does not have fixed computing attributes. While there may be a minimum or maximum size configuration for the server, the virtual machine computing configuration can grow or shrink dynamically dependent on the resources requested by the application. The billing method for the resources is based on usage over a period of time for the CPU, RAM, HD, and Network.

VPS or managed virtual servers are delivered as a traditional managed server although running as a virtual server, typically in a multi-tenant environment. The customer will order the server with fixed attributes and alter those attributes manually, when necessary. Vendors will typically price this service as individual components associated with the machine or as a service bundle and the resources are guaranteed to be available.

Both services have a place dependent on need, environment, application and supporting IT team.

The environment of a VPS is exactly same as the Cloud. A Cloud server can be called as a VPS server but a VPS is not a cloud server.


Below are some key differences between a cloud hosting & a VPS or VDS hosting.

1. Infra

In a VPS hosting, one dedicated server (suppose a dedicated server with 64 GB RAM and resources) is partitioned into multiple servers. All these partitions are virtualized further and each of them work as a dedicated server, hence called Virtual dedicated server or VDS or VPS.

But in a Cloud hosting, we rent a small portion of a Big network of machines connected together. (Talking about public cloud) A giant setup of machines that offer resources are connected together and then they are further rented to clients.  You can always scale up your resources as per your requirements and it will be done in a few minutes of clicks.

2. Availability

In a VPS server, if a machine or part of the machine fails, your VPS will go down causing downtime till the problem is fixed but in case of Cloud server, In case of any failure, the system is re-routed to another available physical resource causing minimum downtime.

3. Payment Model

In a Cloud, things are pretty fast. Every server slot is available and is always ready to be served in seconds. But in a VPS, it takes time to virtualized a dedicated server and then allot VPS slices to the client. That is the reason Cloud uses optimum resources as anyone can occupy any slice by making its payment. But in a VPS, you are not sure when all slots will be sold. Your resources might not be utilized well if you are hosting only one client on a parent server.

4. Resource distribution

In a Cloud environment, you are totally separated from others. You will be getting dedicated resources of what you have been told. But In a VPS, you get a virtual environment with portioned disk space & certain bandwidth, however the CPU & the memory of the parent machine is equally distributed among all VPS slices. VPS companies offer you a minimum allocation of resources that is guaranteed 24/

For example, just because a VPS package claims to offer 1 GHz of CPU performance and 512 MB of memory, does not necessarily mean that either the memory or CPU allocation is not split into multiple slices.

Also, In a cloud, a client is completely isolated from the files of other client, it is more secure than VPS hosting.

5. Choice of Operating system

Depending upon the virtualization method used, A VPS can offer you only one operating System. But in a cloud, you get the freedom to choose any operating system you want. You can install or replace any operating system from a range of OS available.

Cloud Hosting vs VPS Hosting

The following tabular comparison between Cloud hosting and VPS hosting will present a more clear picture of these two hosting models

Which is better?

There are multiple parameters to consider while chosing the best. If you are chosing a Private Cloud then VPS will be cheaper for you. But in this case, you will get limited features of VPS and security risk as private cloud is way more secure.

Also If you chose to host your files on Public Cloud (DigitalOcean,Linode etc), it is relatively cheaper but less secure than Private cloud.. But as compared to the VPS, Pubic Cloud hosting has the edge and that is why it is getting popular everyday.

In a Cloud hosting, you get relatively cheaper price, secure environment and freedom of resource scaling. What else do you need.

Cloud hosting means resources from a group, a network of servers located online and working together („the cloud”) which allows for great flexibility and reliability.  Imagine a large network of servers hosting your application or data, which means that if one experiences downtime there is always another one to supplement it.  Also, should you need extra resources during a period of time, the network would be able to provide the necessary support.  With VPS - Virtual Private Server – a single server is divided into multiple virtual servers to provide an user with the resources they need.  I believe the cloud has the advantage when it comes to scalability and reliability.

A large proportion of the service provider market has not yet developed a true IaaS offering. End users companies are frustrated with having to cut through marketing hype to find out which solutions are genuine IaaS offerings and which are merely conventional hosting services with the word ‘cloud’ added to the title. Instead, these organizations remain at the virtualized level with virtual private servers (VPS) masquerading as cloud services.

VPS requires the hosting provider to allocate your server; with cloud hosting you do it yourself using their control panel or API and you're up in minutes.  VPS is just regular web hosting; cloud hosting is IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service). Another difference that comes out of this is that massive server Deployments are much more common and easier to run through cloud hosting.

Cloud computing is the all encompassing terms for shared online technologies. Hosted services like Google app engine, and other SaaS are included as cloud services. So are infrastructure as a service (IaaS) like VPSs.

VPSs are virtually partitioned cloud servers. You get to treat them as your own systems, installing your own operating systems, and software stack.

Virtual Private Servers use virtualization technology to partition a powerful server into smaller “virtual” servers. Cloud  Hosting is a virtualized environment that is comprised of many servers,  working as a pool. It's a  technological framework rather than a  defined physical object. Cloud  hosting allows many different servers to  function as one unit for  storage and processing. The data and files  for your site are distributed  throughout hard disks that are integrated  and organized for optimized  efficiency, reliability, and speed (i.e.,  low latency). A cluster of  servers, managed through a cloud hosting  platform, draws on the  operating power of many machines. Feel free to check out this post from my company blog which breaks it down a bit more

A virtual private server is a middle ground between a dedicated  server and shared hosting. Using virtualization software on a server, a number of different companies can each experience the basic advantages of a dedicated server without having to undergo the expense of a complete server. Hosting via cloud computing is on-demand, meaning the amount of storage you have, bandwidth you need, and CPU you require is all changeable on a moment by moment basis. VPS can be adjusted as well, just like any hosting package, but not immediately. Also, VPS allows  bursting, popping up into unused resources when a flood of traffic hits and the apportioned resources max out, but that capability is limited.  Cloud is designed in a way that is truly optimized for scale; it’s virtually unhindered. I work with a company that did a post on this very subject.

There is a lot of talk these days about cloud computing or cloud hosting. Many companies are using these terms loosely to discuss either VPS or cloud servers (public or private). But, what do these terms mean? You will definitely see a difference when you look at the price tag, so understanding what each of these services are will help you in your quest to determine the best option for you or your company.
To help you out, here is a description of each and even some of their pros and cons.
Virtual Private Server: Also known as VPS, Virtual Dedicated Server, VDS
Definition: One physical server, divided into several smaller server slices that each act as their own virtual server environment.
Pros:
  • Typically less expensive than cloud servers. 
  • No file or data access occurs between VPS clients on the shared server. They are kept separate. 
  • If needed one VPS can be rebooted without affecting other VPSs on shared server.

Cons:
  • They do not offer high-availability. If physical server fails, all VPSs on that server fail. 
  • There can be security concerns. If a customer on your shared server does not take security seriously, and gets hacked or gets a virus, then your VPS could be negatively affected. 
  • Computing resources are shared between all clients, therefore, RAM, bandwidth and CPU performance can be affected if another VPS on the shared server is demanding a higher load. 
  • Only one operating system can be utilized by each physical server. 
  • They are not scalable. Storage is based on physical server limitations. Once you meet your max VPS capacity, you have to either buy more space or look into other options. This could take many hours or days of downtime to migrate to a new solution.

Cloud Servers: Also known as VM, Virtual Machine, IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
Definition: Cloud servers utilize multiple servers connected together in a cluster which is backed by SAN storage. Customers utilizing a cloud platform will benefit from the multiple servers because they will receive unlimited storage, maximum bandwidth, managed load balancing and no ties to a specific piece of hardware. The basic difference between public and private clouds are in public, the cluster is multi-tenant and a private is a single client.

Pros:
  • Scalable – add more server power in a moment’s notice. 
  • Custom Infrastructure - clients can include custom network architecture, firewalls, load balancing and IP deployment. 
  • High Availability - if a physical server fails, cloud servers are migrated to another physical server without experiencing an outage. 
  • Burstable Computing Resources - no concern about lagging RAM or CPU power, even if another cloud customer's load grows. 
  • Completely secure since you virtually have your own server. If a client on the shared cloud gets hacked or gets a virus, your cloud server will be completely separated with no risk to your data. 
  • Each customer on the cloud can select their specific operating system.
    Unlimited storage as it is based on SAN storage.

Cons:

    Typically, a little more expensive than VPS.

As you can see, the cloud servers are a little light on the con side. And, if you are utilizing a shared cloud, the cost is not significantly more than a VPS and there is much upside.

VPS hosting and Cloud Computing are very close to the same.  The main difference is VPS hosting provides you with a virtual server sitting on one physical server while Cloud Computing will provide you with that virtual instance on a cluster of servers that are sharing resources.  Neither one is technically more powerful than the other, but theoretically Cloud can offer you limitless resources if you have lots of cash to burn.

Because Cloud is run over a cluster of servers, it should be more reliable than the most basic form of VPS.  If your host server fails in a VPS environment than your VPS will go down with it.  However quality VPS providers also offer high availability options that are capable of automatically moving your instance to a new host without interruption..

VPS is not your regular web hosting, and it is a part of the IaaS category.

VPS, or Virtual Private Server, gives to a web hosting plan in which the virtual server seems to users as a dedicated server, but is installed on a computer that serves many websites. By way of such, the physical server hardware is shared. That being said, VPS does not use a computer as a server. As an alternative, VPS works as software inside a user’s personal computer and functions like a separate computer dedicated to each individual’s specific IT wants. In doing so, VPS turns as a middle ground between shared hosting and a dedicated server. In utilizing this mode, users are allotted in full formation, customization, and management as they would with a dedicated server; though, they do not have to pay for a dedicated server. Instead, the server is divided (virtually) into pieces, which still keep the same functionality. This means that each user that uses VPS Hosting is allocated a definite part of the system’s resources, which they then adapt to their desires.
Though some may think this task of space is restricted, that is never the case. In using VPS, users are able to change their systems built on the resources they purchase—i.e. speed, Memory, space, etc. As such, solutions can be scrambled and bent quickly based on users’ requirements. With the two dedicated and shared hosting, users pay for the amount of loading and handling power. This lets users to scale their systems much more efficiently and powerfully. In spite of this, some users may quiet feel this method to be restrictive; however, all of the existing resources are organized within the virtualized hardware’s limits. Moreover, users are also able to modify and tailor their system to exactly fit their own requests. While flexibility, scalability, and customization are excessive perks, they eventually work to allow for superior control over one’s system, as well as improved consistency of one’s system.
As control and reliability are offshoots of scalability, flexibility, and customization, VPS Hosting safety are a result of control and consistency. Typically, security imitates better with VPS as the systems security standards those of a dedicated server. Moreover, in doing all of this, VPS Hosting is normally found on one souped up server. As such, data is integrated as it is kept in a specific, distinct portion of the specified server in one location.
While VPS Hosting is normally kept on one server, it is likewise able to be sent via cluster; however, it rarely is. Instead, this is usually how Cloud Hosting is carried. Cloud services are rapidly becoming gaining fame and Cloud Hosting is no exemption. Cloud Hosting works through a network of servers that comprise the cloud. As a result, the data is slitting from many servers. That being said, there is naturally little to no interruption with Cloud hosting—which means there will always be a server available to handle users’ requests. This is in stark difference with both traditional hosting modes

A VPS is a virtual private server. A VPS uses virtualization technology to partition a powerful server into smaller “virtual” servers. From the outside, a VPS looks just like an ordinary  dedicated server. They are completely configurable.  You can change any of the software within the VPS to meet the needs of  your business and quickly upgrade  to add extra resources. This means you can start with a lower level VPS and scale up as needed. At some point you'll have to choose between a managed and unmanaged server as well. This is a post that I wrote about virtual private servers and how they can help your business scale. Virtual Private Servers Help Your Business To Scale Smoothly. On the most basic level, cloud hosting is  a service that is provided to clients through multiple connected servers that comprise a cloud, instead of being a single server.

Generally it's almost same.
Cloud - definition: One physical server, divided into several smaller server slices that each act as their own virtual server environment.
VPS - Definition: Cloud servers utilize multiple servers connected together in a cluster which is backed by SAN storage. Customers utilizing a cloud platform will benefit from the multiple servers because they will receive unlimited storage, maximum bandwidth, managed load balancing and no ties to a specific piece of hardware. The basic difference between public and private clouds are in public, the cluster is multi-tenant and a private is a single client.

Virtual private server hosting commonly referred as VPS hosting is a service provided by web hosting service providers as a midway solution between a completed dedicated server and a shared hosting format.
digitalserver.com.mx
Cloud hosting service does not rely on single server instead uses network of server which might be at different locations, to create cloud servers.
The basic difference between VPS hosting and cloud hosting is that VPS offers single divided server where cloud hosting offers a cloud of server that are connected together and act as one. VPS hosting has physically less hardware involved so it is cheaper compared to Cloud.

Both VPS and cloud hosting are designed in such a way to make hosting affordable and easy to scale, but there are some obvious differences between VPS and cloud hosting.

In VPS hosting, a single dedicated server is divided into multiple parts of smaller size using the virtualization technology. So, a VPS server host multiple sites like a shared hosting server, and also provides security and privacy like a dedicated server up to certain extent. A VPS server ensures that websites hosted on the same server do not experience conflicts and also gets enough server resources.

Whereas, a cloud server on the other hand is a network of multiple different servers connected together and acting a giant single server. The cloud servers are located at multiple locations and your website data files are more secure as they are moved to a different server whenever a server is down and makes sure that your website faces no downtime. Server Setup :

1.) A virtual private server is a single physical server and split up between a limited no. of users.
2.) A cloud hosting uses distributed resources across multiple physical servers.

Location :

The major difference between a VPS and a Cloud Hosting is the location of the hardware.

Scalability :

1.) Cloud control panels are built with quick provisioning and deployment in mind.
2.) A VPS requires you to upgrade your service manually, send in a support ticket to the provider or call to the customer support.

Cost :
  1. A cloud hosting is expensive in terms of hardware. 
  2. A virtual private server is vastly less expensive and even cheaper than dedicated server hosting.
  3. Cloud is just a fancy name to dynamic allocation of resources using API, that including a launch and termination of a VPS. 
  4. Cloud providers these days offer other services as well such as load balancing, storage, databases, CDN all using API calls, while traditional VPS provides still require you to login to a GUI and order another VPS.
    One physical server, divided into      several smaller server slices that each act as their own virtual server      environment. Whereas a private cloud uses distributed resources across      multiple physical servers.
  • A virtual private server is generally hosted at an off-site, third-party web hosting provider. Whereas a private cloud is situated on site or at a data center you own. 
  • VPS are typically less expensive than cloud servers. 
  • Virtual Private Servers are not scalable whereas cloud servers are highly scalable. 
  • VPS doesn’t offer high availability whereas if a physical server fails, cloud servers are migrated to another physical server without experiencing an outage. 
  • There can be security concerns. If a customer on your shared server does not take security seriously, and gets hacked or gets a virus, then your VPS could be negatively affected. Whereas cloud servers are completely secure since you virtually have your own server. If a client on the shared cloud gets hacked or gets a virus, your cloud server will be completely separated with no risk to your data. 
  • Computing resources are shared between all clients; therefore, RAM, bandwidth and CPU performance can be affected if another VPS on the shared server is demanding a higher load. Whereas on cloud servers there is no such concern about lagging RAM or CPU power, even if another cloud customer's load grows. 
  • Only one operating system can be utilized by each physical server. Whereas each customer on the cloud can select their specific operating system.

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