20 Aug VPS Hosting vs. Shared Hosting

Recently, I had the opportunity and the urge to try out Linode.com for their well-renowned VPS hosting service.  The major question that I had and still do to some extent is what does this service provide that a shared hosted service does not?

The linode experience was an experiment for hosting a multi-million dollar Ecommerce business, but in my pursuit of continued digital marketing education, I was able to make some of my own conclusions for use cases.

Control

One of the major things I miss from my shared hosting provider is the ability to install the Google Sitemap generator.  For whatever reason, this application is only available in a command-line installation.  In times where rich content is a must, I believe that using a Google tool is possibly an advantage.  Who REALLY knows?  But that ability would require my ability to access root level install functions.  Using a VPS solution would allow me the control I need to install special applications like this.

So, I think that VPS hosting boils down to control.

The linode.com experience is laid out nicely.  From server provisioning to all the step by step experiences to get a site up and running.  I was impressed by the outlined support documents to install a Linux flavor, select a web server application (like Apache) and then install firewalls, MySQL, and supporting apps and server updates.

Control for Whom?

I have to conclude that the perfect persona for their value proposition is a seasoned developer with Linux experience OR anyone wanting to learn Linux and resulting server management.

I really liked refreshing my Linux command line knowledge and “feeling” like I was a mad man systems engineer.

BUT, I felt like I spent a lot of time Googling stuff.

• How to open a port?
• Which Linux distro should I install ?
• Ok, now that I picked Ubuntu, what’s the difference I the versions of Ubuntu?
• If a compromise occurs, is it 100% on me to patch?
• My site isn’t loading, what are the blanket commands to change directory permissions to 755 without changing files from 644?

Support

I was thoroughly impressed that out of the four support tix I created, one was addresses within 4 minutes and all of them under 10 minutes!

But out of the four support tickets,  at least three were finalized with an answer of

 “…. You may want to check our community for that answer.  We don’t offer a managed service”.

This left me scrambling on a forced learning curve to Google my way to answers.

If you are beginner to even intermediate website owner and/ or marketer, then here is my opinion on hosting :  a strong hosting platform powering shared hosting should give you the required power and support that you need in order to run an online business with the following presumptions:

• Shared hosting allows  content management tools like Joomla and WordPress to be run with good uptime and response times.
• It allows easy access to files and implementation of packages supporting Analytics.
• Shared hosting is managed…. And the right host can be a tremendous help to newbies and experience digital marketers alike.
• Shared hosting can support a decent amount of traffic.  Consider it your queue to consider bigger server options when you start getting warnings for your shared hosting service for using too many of the server’s resources.
• Shared hosting supports online transactions, and some give away Ssl certifications and other business features that enable Ecommerce.

There are a cadre of pros and cons to both shared and VPS hosting.

Linode.com has a niche.  Perhaps the best solution for me should have been to test out a managed VPS service.  That way, when my site was moved to Linode.com, I would not have run for the hills when I got aggravated on simple directory permissions for my tested site move.

For now, the mathematical ROI on paying Hostgator $15 per month works for me in comparison to the level of service,  technical assistance, and shared liability for my site’s performance AND for the ability to run my average 5-10 sites …. oh and did I say “WITH” help and for only $15?

Don’t get me wrong… Linode.com rocks…. For those rockers who already know how to dance to that tune.

For me, I will continue doing my swag dance on shared hosting….