Before taking the plunge and signing up for a reseller account, you may need to think about these key points:

Will I have the necessary time to market my services? – Keep in mind that in order to stand out among the many webhosts available in the market, you will require marketing your services. Be ready to spend as much time as possible every day marketing your new web hosting company or learning different techniques for marketing your services.

Am I prepared to provide support to my clients? – To effectively support your clients whenever they have questions about web hosting or in case something is not working properly, you should either have experience with web hosting or the company offering reseller services must provide this support.

Am I in this for the long haul? – As you advertise your services and become more visible to the Internet community you will definitely start to land customers. Make sure you are committed to providing these services for an indefinite period because your customers have put their trust in you and are counting on you to be around.

Is it worth it? – Selling hosting services can be a highly rewarding business that you can run from the comfort of your home. Please be patient and market your services every day. So before long, you will have several clients and may consider upgrading to a dedicated server account.

First up is IX Web Hosting. What we liked best about them was, first of all, the price at only $39/mo (not to mention you can save yourself 25% if paid 2 years ahead of time) and the fact that bandwidth would not be an issue for most people. 500 Gigabytes of monthly transfer is capable of serving even some of the most largest communities on the internet. If the average web page is 100kb, then you’ll be able to upload 5 million pages per month. It’s hard to imagine a single webmaster having that much of a traffic load.

Other than it’s larger-than-necessary bandwidth allowance, IX Web Hosting’s basic VPS plan comes with 384MB of RAM, a 10 gigabyte storage capacity, the ability to use 2 IPs, and complete full root access. There servers are located around the Kentucky area, so all your US-based traffic will be able to access your website(s) at lightning-fast speeds. Their customer support team can be reached ‘round the clock at 1-800-385-0450

A2 Hosting. These guys are unique in the fact that they can offer VPS hosting for only $10.46, but the catch is that most webmasters will be willing to spend a few extra dollars to upgrade their resources. Still, their base plan is comparable to the above IX Web Hosting VPS plan. You still get 10Gs of storage, and 24×7 access to customer support. Their servers are still located in the United States (Detroit area), and this plan even comes with a free control panel (KLOXO), something that IX Web Hosting doesn’t supply with their value setup.

The trade-off here is they give you 1/3 less RAM, and the amount of monthly bandwidth is only 100 gigabytes. Still, it’s a heck of a value for only $10.46/mo. If you need to tweak the resources a little in order to do what you need to, the plan is very flexible willing you’ll be able to pay a few extra dollars a month. Check out their site. We consider these guys to be the best value for someone just getting started in dabble in VPS hosting.

The last guys we’re going to look at is Inmotion Hosting. If you’re looking for something a little more powerful and feature rich, and don’t mind paying $40/mo, then these guys are for you. Though they only supply you with 256MB of RAM, that really seems to be their only weakness. This is the only company we’ve seen that mentions anything about SSH, which is nice, and upon signup you get a full license to cPanel.

Each party signed up for their base plan will be able to use 2 different IPs (which aren’t shared among anyone else), and a free domain name to get you started. They give you the largest data allowances of the bunch as well, offering 40Gs with their base plan. And you don’t have to be afraid of trusting 40 gigabytes worth of data with a 3rd party’s computer either, because its stored on a RAID 10 system. That means that every time you upload a file, it is copied 10 times to 10 different hard drives on the server. Hard to imaging any data loss due to hardware issues there.

And so when looking at all three plans, each of them has their strong suit. If you’re just starting to dabble in VPS and don’t know yet whether its something you need or not, you can play it safe and sign up for A2’s budget plan at only $10.46/mo. If you’re planning on running a lot of large server-side scripts, then we recommend IX Web hosting due to their large RAM allowance. But if you’ve got a site with some big storage and transfer requirements, like a downloads or video-sharing site, then Inmotion Hosting will supply you with the resources you need.

A VPS is meant so that people can be in more control of their hosting, without having to pay to rent out an entire machine. If you’ve ever used an emulator before, a VPS works the same way. A computer emulates hardware using some type of software, and one powerful computer can then become many slightly slower ones. Using a remote desktop connection, customers can connect to these emulated computers and modify whatever they want about them as if the machine was their own, without the risk of damaging any of the other systems.

But VPS is not meant for everyone. If all you need to do is run a blog, share some photos, or host a forum, then a VPS is probably above and beyond what you need. Below we’ll discuss the specific instances in which a VPS becomes necessary.

The most common use for a VPS system is for the webmaster who runs many sites. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could run them all using the same machine? Since a VPS gives one access to a file system and allows the advanced webmaster to upload and run their own programs to constantly run, things like performing repetitive tasks across multiple sites can be done with ease. Jobs that used to take hours, such as starting 10 blogs and having to upload, install, and configure WordPress (not to mention all those add-ons) becomes as simple as copying and pasting. SQL databases can be managed in a similar way as well. Not to mention you aren’t only limited to using one type of database, but any kind you want. Heck, you could design your own database system and use that too.

A VPS is in fact absolutely necessary for anyone who wants to develop their own server-side scripting languages and database management systems. Since you have full access to change, modify, or add on to the software that your server uses, you could upload your own programs to let the server understand these languages. There’s always new useful scripting languages being developed on the open-source sites, but to be able to run any of them a server must be used and configured properly from the system‘s end. Having a VPS is very handy when you don’t want your websites to be limited by the functions PHP can perform.

Finally, VPS can be useful where downtime is absolutely unacceptable. For servers that need to complete repetitive processes every time on time, a VPS can be more reliable than a shared system. VPS servers don’t go down for regular maintenance by the hosting company, nor do they go down due to some other webmaster causing an error in the server. The time in which the computer’s processor is used to perform takes is fairly divided between all VPS programs. This way, no one webmaster can try and eat up all of the machine’s resources and slow everyone else down.

One of the key features a good VPS hosting provider has is the ability to customize your resources. There are actually providers out there that let you pick and choose exactly the resources that you need in order to maintain your website. What’s good about this is that you’re billed for only the features you use, and not the ones that are worthless to you. Why should you need to upgrade your available disk space when all you needed was a little more RAM? The VPS providers that are willing to listen to what you need are the ones you’re going to want to deal with.

If you’re looking at VPS hosting, then chances are you probably need a pretty fast server. But what happens to all that speed when your hosting is halfway across the earth? You’re going to have to wait for 10 times the amount of computers to respond and route the signal to where you and your website visitors are. Just because a little island off the coast of India can provide the same hosting features and speed as an American host for half the price doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to benefit you. Geographical location is directly related to the time it takes for your site to load, and that’s a very important thing to remember when dealing with the large and complicated applications that call for VPS servers.

Finally, there’s software. All VPS servers aren’t created equally in terms of the availability and functionality of good software. Your not just dealing with a cPanel anymore. That’s all in the past as soon as you step into the world of VPS servers. Chances are, you’re going to be dealing with more than one type of control panel. It’s extremely important to make sure all of these panels can be set up in a way that they all run smoothly together. When you’ve got VPS hosting, you suddenly become in charge of all that. Your control panels can only run as good as you can set them up to be, and if you’re unable to do that then you should start looking for another host.

Virtual Hosting refers to a situation in which many websites are hosted on the same physical hardware. Two options for Virtual Hosting are Shared Virtual Hosting, and a Virtual Private Server.

Shared Virtual Hosting is popular for small businesses, because of its low cost. For around $50 per month on average, you can have your web site hosted by a hosting company with an administrator to deal with settings, server software, and maintenance. In Shared Virtual Hosting, a file directory is set up for your domain and for all the other domains housed on the server. Each domain shares a web server, mail server, and other software. While this may suit a business owner who doesn’t have the time or the skills to take care of a dedicated server, there are also disadvantages to Shared Virtual Hosting.

One disadvantage is that in a shared hosting environment, one domain can dominate usage of the CPU, memory, or disk space. That means that fewer data crunching resources are available for other domain accounts on the server. Additionally, with shared web and mail software, a technical glitch on one domain could cause a system crash, causing your domain to crash as well.

Security is less robust in shared hosting. Each domain is protected by file-level passwords, which may not be secure enough for some business applications. Additionally, configuration settings at the hardware level are also shared, which limits your ability to configure the hosting environment for only your account.

A Virtual Private Server uses special software to mimic a full, dedicated server for each account. To the account holder, it is as if a server is dedicated exclusively to his or her web domain. This eliminates many of the disadvantages of Shared Virtual Hosting. There are also other advantages to using a Virtual Private Server.
One advantage is that each Virtual Private Server, or VPS, is partitioned from all other VPSs. The VPS is also independent from the physical hardware, meaning you can move a VPS “container” from one physical server to another easily. That means that a crash on somebody else’s VPS will not affect your VPS.

Each VPS has its own assigned portion of CPU, memory, and disk space, so that one VPS is not allowed to dominate any of these resources. Plus, each VPS has the same security as if it were a “real” dedicated server, meaning there is no contamination of one virtual server’s data by another. Each VPS has its own set of virtual controls that allow you to administer your domain yourself.

While VPS service costs more than Shared Virtual Hosting, it still costs much less than non-virtual, or “real” Private Hosting. Hosting companies generally provide an array of VPS options based on your performance and security needs. These plans usually range from $20 per month to $200 per month. Shared Virtual Hosting usually costs between $5 and $30 per month.

Advantages:

Cheap and affordable: It comes at a very affordable price and it is the basic approach for many companies. Lots of companies offer this service at cheap prices and its market share is also high when compared to other hosting options.

Comes devoid of maintenance cost: No maintenance cost is involved and the price is an all inclusive one. One really does not have to bother about server maintenance or the setting up of the server.

Fast setup

With  a shared hosting service unlike a dedicated hosting service your website will be launched within 24 hours of purchasing.

Best for small sites: It is one of the best choices available for beginners and first timers.

Disadvantages:

Resources are limited: As thousands of websites use the same server, the resources are limited. Therefore if one server utilizes maximum of resources the others might be deprived of it and may slowdown. And if a website is problematic others might also be effected. However there are many quality shared web hosting providers that do a quality job of preventing such situations with server resource controls in place.

Dynamic IP address: Some shared hosts provide only a dynamic IP address.  A static or dedicated IP address is required if your website does  e-commerce transactions. Most companies provide option for a dynamic or static IP address and charge you extra per month for dedicated static IP.

Not suitable for large database e-commerce sites: This is not suitable when it comes to large websites which need lots of server space and receive high amounts of traffic.

Finally there is no doubt that shared web hosting is a great option for the majority of people that want to host a website. There are many high quality, reliable shared hosting companies out there that will not let you down. Shared hosting generally is the best place to start out and if down the road your website happens to grow in size and popularity you may need to upgrade to a VPS (virtual private server) or a dedicated hosting solution.

Recommended Shared Web Hosting Companies: HostGator – HostMonster – BlueHost – A2 Hosting – Downtownhost

This means they can show a single server’s characteristics. Separate software can be installed into it; it can set up several connections onto its core and it can be rebooted. This practice has been around for a while now in a lot of important computer organizations that make use of main-frame computers while partitioning it into multiple servers on the internet, which can host more than one company at once. Although this practice isn’t as prevalent nowadays due to the arrival of office software on the Internet, there has been a recent renaissance. In technical terms, VPS hosting connects the gaps that shared and dedicated hosting services have left behind. The expenses of VPS servers are usually very cost-efficient, even when compared to normal expenses with physical servers. Because of this, the amount of companies saving money by running this service has escalated in no time.

Each server has the capability of running independent copies of the operating system, while customers who make use of this service have unique amounts of control over personal domain names and host websites. One thing you need to remember is that these servers do not work well with particular software, such as anti-virus software and firewall applications. They have a remote nature, so VPs are basic landscapes when it comes to security issues, scheduled updates and maintenance. Such private servers are coined ‘honeypots’; they can let several machines run programs with security flaws without putting an affect on other machines whatsoever. The amount of companies who provides services like extensions for regular website hosting solutions has also escalated as of late.

These are only several factors that are already known when it comes to VPS hosting. Although several risks are involved when such services are employed, you need to comprehend that advantages can be enjoyed; including lower costs if peripheral extensions are necessary to be used in your domain. With VPS, you can have several factors such as managed or unmanaged hosting, which give you control as the host provider. Do your homework and find out if VPS hosting is ideal for you.

VPS hosting gives the impression of you having your own private server when in fact it is a single server partitioned into different areas and each is allocated to a single webmaster. The server is still technically still shared, but, it’s nothing like shared web hosting. Each VPS acts independently of the other, and they function as a dedicated server. The RAM, CPU, and disk space are equally divided among webmasters, and each VPS has access to only its own resources, unlike with shared web hosting.

VPS hosting provides numerous advantages such as:

• If you need to install additional software or extra applications, it is possible.
• Your configuration options are not limited, so you can change them as necessary to make your web site functional.
• VPS hosting is a convenient and flexible solution for the webmaster that needs more than what shared hosting can offer but is not ready for a dedicated server.
• VPS hosting allows you to choose your own operating systems and software programs.
• You will be able to control your server as if it were yours alone like a dedicated server but without the cost.
• VPS hosting is stable, and it’s perfect if you want to expand from shared hosting but still enjoy some of the same benefits.

The disadvantages:

• If a webmaster is unaware of what he’s doing, he/she might cause some software to malfunction if they make any mistakes while altering any settings.
• If a webmaster doesn’t have any technical knowledge then they will inquire extra costs for needed support.
• During times of peak level operations, the VPS may experience some unforeseen problems that may affect your web site. Shared hosting providers are proactive but with a VPS, they won’t know that something is wrong unless you tell them.
• An occasional rarity of critical software and hardware resources could mean problems in real-time, especially if you have customers using forum or chat applications, or anything custom.

If you are starting to feel that your web site has outgrown shared web hosting but you are not quite in a position to take on a dedicated solution, then, VPS hosting sounds like the right choice for you. Before you decide to go with any hosting company, however, you need to check out what exactly they offer and compare their prices to other companies offering the same. You also want to make sure that you choose a reputable company so look around for web hosting reviews as well. Sometimes, customer opinions can provide a lot of insight and they can save you a lot of future headaches as well.

VPS hosting is a little different from shared web hosting. Your web site will be sharing a server with other sites, but the number is hugely smaller than that of shared hosting. Depending on the type of VPS, you may share software or you have the choice of your own. The server administrator is in charge of configuring all the software applications of the web server, and you will not have access to this part of the server. Sometimes, however, the web host will allow you access to install your own software if your server supports it. You will have control over the security of your web server, like you do with a dedicated hosting plan. This is a feature that will be of importance to you if your website deals in any kind of e-commerce. You will be able to make sure that your site is protected from hackers and you will be in charge of maintaining the security of your customer information database. A VPS allows more security than that of a shared server, and so, your customers will be able to be confident that your site is secure and their information is safe with you.

VPS hosting works like this:

A single server is partitioned into different segments for each customer. Each customer essentially will have their own private server as no other VPS on that one server will affect another. So, you have the capabilities of a dedicated server, like increased reliability and resource usage. This type of server is also more stable and secure than a shared server. You will have a greater amount of accessibility to the configuration files of your web server, and of course, you have the usual access to your files via FTP. When you are looking for a VPS plan, you want to be sure that it includes all of these features so that you have more retained control over your own content and web site functions.

VPS hosting also offers more storage space and usable bandwidth than you normally get with a shared hosting plan. You essentially get more for your money, and instead of being limited in what certain space is used for, you can make that choice yourself. A VPS hosting plan is like a middle ground between shared and dedicated hosting. You don’t pay the high cost of a dedicated server but your VPS will be more like one, and your resources aren’t limited like a shared server.