What is a Virtual Private Server?

A virtual private server (sometimes referred to as a VPS or Virtual Server) is a physical server that has been partitioned into multiple servers that each operate as if they were their own dedicated machine.

Each VPS can be independently re-booted and the virtualisation software allows each virtual server to run its own copy of the operating system with superuser-level access to install and run almost any application.

The physical servers that power Net24’s VPS plans run the Parallels Virtuozzo Containers virtualisation software. Virtuozzo virtualises servers on an operating system layer. The operating system level architecture has lower overheads due to a single-kernel approach that helps to maximise efficient use of server resources compared to emulation based methods.

Virtuozzo controls the resources available to each VPS with the major resources being CPU time, disk space, and RAM. Virtuozzo allows these resources to be redefined in real-time, which means VPS plans can easily be upgraded to allow for greater resources without requiring a re-boot of the VPS.