Managed VPS or Unmanaged VPS, Which is best for you?
Managed VPS or Unmanaged VPS Which is best for you? Although both managed VPS and unmanaged VPS have their advantages and disadvantages, which is best for you depends a lot on yourself, your skill set, and what you’ll be using your VPS for. This guide aims to help you work out if you need a managed VPS or an unmanaged VPS.
Why you might need a VPS.
VPS are usually used to host websites or web applications. For the purpose of this post, I’ll be referring to websites for simplicity’s sake. Although VPS simply stands for virtual private server, people often use VPS to refer to a web connected and publicly accessible server. The virtual part of virtual private server means that they’re a virtual, rather than physical, and often this equates to cloud computing and greater resilience as opposed to a physical server. The private part of virtual private server means that the VPS is dedicated to the operation of your services alone, rather than them being shared between other users and yourself. These types of servers are usually used to host websites or web applications that visitors or users access over the internet. Virtual private servers offer a dedicated hosting service with CPU and RAM resources dedicated to the operation of your website.
The need to move to a VPS from shared hosting is often driven by one of the following factors:
- The need to obtain a dedicated RAM and CPU resource set that provides more power to your website.
- The need for a bespoke configuration that wouldn’t normally be permitted in a shared hosting environment.
- The need to consume large amounts of resources, such as bandwidth, CPU or RAM that wouldn’t be permitted in a shared hosting environment.
It’s often the case that the website hasn’t initially been developed on a VPS to start with. This dictates the need to migrate your website or web application to a VPS.
The difference between managed VPS, and unmanaged VPS.
The obvious difference between managed VPS and unmanaged VPS is cost. Unmanaged VPS are often quite cheap, and managed VPS are more expensive. The difference in costs is due to the additional level of service that’s gained when using a managed VPS.
If you purchase an unmanaged VPS, the usual level of support you’ll get from the respective provider will consist of “hardware” and networking. If the VPS is up and running, and is network reachable, the provider’s obligations are fulfilled. Anything beyond this is up to you to cover. This includes the installation, configuration updating, maintenance and management of the underlying stack needed to run your website. Typically this comprises of an operating system (usually linux), a web server (apache, Nginx, or Litespeed), a database server (usually MySQL or Maria DB), and the PHP interpreter. If you choose to use an unmanaged VPS, you’ll need to cover these components, as well as the operation of your website. There can be additional actions needed to be able to operate the website, such as the installations of certificates.
A managed VPS comes with a service that covers the installation, configuration updating, maintenance and management of the underlying stack needed to run your website. From your perspective, this means that you only really need to cover the operation of your website. You won’t need to do things like install, configure and maintain the web server or the database server, for example.
What you’ll need to cover:
A managed VPS:
- The operation, updating and maintenance of your website.
An unmanaged VPS:
- The operation, updating and maintenance of your website.
- The operation, updating and maintenance of the underlying stack needed to run your website.
- The operation and maintenance of supplemental facilities to aid with running your website (an FTP server and mail server, for example)
- The installation and configuration of site specific services, such as certificates.
Migrating to a VPS.
Migrating to a VPS usually involves copying the site files and database to the VPS, then repointing your domain’s DNS to bring the site held on the VPS in to effect.
Migrating to a managed VPS.
If you’re using a managed VPS, the VPS provider will usually be able to migrate your website to the VPS for you. The managed VPS will also be set up and configured ready to receive your website.
The managed VPS provider also be able to check the site functions OK before repointing DNS. Should there be any issues found with the site on the VPS, it’s usually the case that the VPS provider will be able to address these by adjusting the configuration of the underlying server and stack.
Migrating to an unmanaged VPS.
If you’re using an unmanaged VPS there’s a lot of work that you’ll ned to carry out before you can start migrating your website.
If your website uses a database you’ll need to install and configure a web server, a database server, and the PHP interpreter. You might also need to install and configure an FTP server and maybe some kind of control panel to allow you to manage things like databases and site files using a GUI.
You’ll then need to create a database and database user, assigning/grant relevant permissions, import the database, copy the site files to the VPS, then connect the site files to the database by updating the relevant configuration file. You’ll then need to check your site (using a hosts file edit), then once you’re happy with how the site functions, you’ll then need to repoint DNS to bring the site held on the VPS in to effect.
Maintaining a VPS.
All VPS require some level of maintenance. Usually this consists of applying updates, but it can also involve dealing with issues on the fly, such as denial of service attacks.
Maintaining a Managed VPS.
You won’t need to carry out any patching and updating of the underlying stack or linux operating system if you’re using a managed VPS service. You’ll only need to update and patch your site or CMS (content management system, such as WordPress) if you’re using one. Your VPS provider will patch and update the underlying stack for you.
Should any problems occur specific to updates applied to the underlying stack, your VPS provider will be able to roll back versions of software to regress the changes and restore service.
If you notice any issues, such as your site being unavailable due to a denial of service attack, you can ask your VPS provider for assistance to mitigate the effect of the denial of service attack.
The same applies to other service affecting issues. When using a managed VPS you have a systems administrator that you can ask for assistance. Due to this you gain the benefits of systems administration skills, without the cost of employing your own systems administrator, or the time overhead for you to learn systems administration.
Maintaining an Unmanaged VPS.
You’ll need to proactively patch and update your VPS, it’s linux operating system and the stack running on your VPS. You’ll need to do this to maintain a reasonable level of security as many patches and updates are made available to address vulnerabilities that can be used to compromise or gain access to your VPS.
You’ll also need to be able to address any update specific problems should they arise. You may need to roll back versions of installed software to bring services back online. You might also need to adjust the configuration of certain services post update, for them to continue to function.
You may need to be able to address issues on the fly. Although I’ve mentioned denial of service attacks above, you might have to do things like work out why your server has been blacklisted by email providers, address the cause of this, then request delisting. Often this involves examining logs via the command line, so you’ll need a basic understanding of grep and awk (as most web hosting servers are linux based) to be able to find information that’s key to diagnosing and addressing issues when they arise.
Upgrading your VPS.
Sometimes there’s the need to upgrade a VPS to obtain more RAM, CPU or disk space. How do you know that you need to upgrade, and what you’ll need to upgrade to?
Upgrading a managed VPS.
Usually your VPS provider will be able to give you an idea of whether you need to upgrade your VPS. They’ll be able to tell if you’re exhausting RAM or CPU resources, or running out of disk space. They should also be able to provide an idea of what you’ll need to upgrade to.
Your managed VPS provider will also be able to carry out the upgrade for you. They’ll be able to explain implications such as downtime or DNS propagation should this be involved with the upgrade. They’ll also be able to let you know the effect thee implications will have for your websites visitors, any potential pitfalls (such as losing orders if you’re running an online store) and how to mitigate these problems.
By working with your VPS provider you’re more likely to gain an upgrade that will be both cost effective and suitable for your website.
Upgrading an unmanaged VPS.
Usually upgrading an un managed VPS will involve adjust RAM, CPU and disk space, and then rebooting your VPS. To be able to do this effectively you’ll need to have worked out what amount of these resources you require to be able to run your website.
Whilst it is possible to over-spec your VPS, this often results in a greater cost, and it’s questionable how much this will be.
It is possible to downgrade RAM and CPU resources fairly easily, but the same doesn’t apply to disk space. Reducing the size of virtual disks isn’t usually recommended as it’s risky and can result in permanent data loss.
To be able to effectively upgrade an unmanaged VPS without an excessive cost, you’ll need to have an idea of the resources you require, to be able to effectively upgrade.
You’ll also need to be aware of implications such as downtime, or maybe DNS propagation should a migration be involved with the upgrade. You’ll need to understand how these implications affect your customers and the operation of your website to be able to effectively manage the upgrade process.
When there are issues with your VPS.
Whilst we all hope for a consistent and reliable VPS experience this isn’t always the reality of managing a VPS. There’s likely to be times when your VPS has some kind of problem, and in some cases this will cause your website to fail. How do you deal with these problems when they arise?
When there are issues with a managed VPS.
In many cases your VPS provider will already be aware of the issue with your VPS and is most likely working to address the issue at hand. Managed VPS are usually monitored for service affecting issues and generate alerts should there be a service failure. This prompts your VPS provider to take action to remedy the issue at hand. This all happens without your intervention, and in some cases you won’t even notice there’s been a problem.
If there is a service affecting problem at hand and your VPS provider isn’t aware, it’s usually just a case of contacting them and letting them know the issue at hand. The VPS provider will then address the issue for you, and take measures to prevent the same problem occurring again in the future.
When there are issues with an unmanaged VPS.
Unless your VPS isn’t network reachable, it’s usually the case that you’ll have to identify the cause of any issues, and then take steps to address them. If you’re not experienced in systems administration this can involve a lot of research and learning on the spot, just to be able to know what needs to be done to address a problem. This can take a significant amount of time, and your website will often be down during this period. In some cases, it might not be possible for you to address the issue at all.
As your site is likely to be down while you’re dealing with the issue that the VPS has, this can cause reputational problems for your website, and you may lose some of your regular visitors.
After addressing any issues with your VPS, you’ll also need to take some steps to prevent the same problem occurring again in the future.
Use an unmanaged VPS if:
- You’re looking to save costs.
- You’re able to install and configure the underlying stack.
- You can handle the migration of your website to the VPS.
- You’re able to administer a VPS.
- You’re comfortable upgrading your VPS should you need to.
- You’re able to deal with problems your VPS may have and prevent them occurring again in the future.
Use a managed VPS if:
You have a slightly large budget.
You’d like someone to set up and configure the VPS and underlying stack.
You’d like someone to migrate your website for you.
You want to focus on the operation of your website, rather than the VPS.
You’d like someone to patch, update and maintain your VPS for you.
You don’t have the time or inclination to learn systems administration.
You’d like someone to upgrade your VPS for you should there be the need.
You would like someone else to handle any problems that your VPS might have, and to take steps to administer a VPS.
Managed VPS FAQs:
This varies between providers but it’s usually somewhere between £30 and £40 difference.
This depends quite a lot on the individual, and their prior knowledge and experience. It would take a lot of time and effort for someone with zero experience to be able to administer a VPS, but it would take less time for someone who’s well versed in computers and how they function to be able to gain the required systems administration skills. There’s an element of risk associated with doing things yourself, the simplest way to think of things is that “you don’t know what you don’t know”, and you may have to work out what you don’t know to address a problem as and when it’s happening.
Your VPS provider won’t provide you with any training. Whilst manuals are usually available, they’re something that you have to find (usually on the internet) rather than you being provided with a handbook upon the purchase of the VPS. There’s also one manual per service, so one for the operating system, one for the web server, one for the database server, another for PHP, and so on. There are quite a lot of manuals.
You can, but you’ll need to know the query to submit, and you’ll also need to be able to tell if the answer you’re given is relevant (or relevant to your specific use case). You’ll also need to know how to implement the answer once it’s found. It’s also entirely possible that you won’t find an answer to the problem that you have. There’s no guarantee that chatGPT or google will present an answer that you can implement that addresses the issue you have, so there’s a large element of risk associated with this approach.
The managed VPS provider won’t managed your website for you. That’s the side of things that you’ll always need to cover, regardless of whether a you use a managed or unmanaged VPS.
Reading managed VPS provider reviews usually helps with this. Speaking to the provider about what they do and don’t cover in terms of support before making a purchase will also help gain an idea of how proficient they are.
What you’re really asking here is “can I get a managed VPS for a reduced cost”. While the answer is usually that the VPS is either managed or unmanaged from the offset and into the future, this can vary between providers. Some providers won’t offer unmanaged VPS, and some will only offer managed VPS. Generally speaking, expecting to receive support when you’re not paying for this, or a managed service, isn’t a realistic expectation.
