Virtual Private Server is a virtual computer space that allows users to install any of their desired operating systems and allows different applications to run on it. They are commonly known to be used for hosting websites. However, it isn’t only limited to web hosting, there are multiple situations and reasons to use a VPS, and here is what you can do with a Linux VPS server.
1. High Traffic Website
As mentioned above, this is the most common and popular usage of a VPS. The resources provided compared to shared hosting are much better too, which allows the website to be more responsive. This gives users a reason to get VPS over a shared hosting for a hosting website. Aside from that, by having full control over the server, the server owner can have customization over the plugins and software in the server instead of getting bottlenecked by the host.
2. Hosting A Server
This is a more professional usage of a VPS and it is believed that a lot if not most of the enterprise uses either a VPS or a dedicated server to host the company sever. However, a dedicated server can be super expensive for smaller companies so getting a VPS is mostly the better choice. Aside from that, enterprises can have their information private from outside by hosting the server.
3. Hosting A Game Server
As a game developer, if you had developed a multiplayer game, it is inconvenient to keep your personal machine turned on 24 hours just to host a server for the player base. This is where game developers can rely on a VPS to host the server for 24 hours per day so that players can be online anytime even if the developer is inactive in the server. This isn’t only limited to game developers but even to your favorite multiplayer game such as Minecraft. Similarly, if you have a group of friends playing on the same server, it is inconvenient for the host to keep the server on all the time just for another player to join, it can also be used for it to run a server of your favorite multiplayer game.
4. Testing New Environments
Dedicated hosting can be much more expensive and it’s unlikely someone would waste that much money just for testing the environment. VPS can be used as a testing environment, where one can learn how to configure a server or test the setups and performance without letting it go to live.
5. Seedbox
A VPS can also be used for seeding torrents. Torrenting is a peer-to-peer way of file sharing and without a peer being active, there would be no way of receiving or transferring files. If you are a person who torrents frequently, then by torrenting it through the VPS, not only can you free up your home bandwidth but also torrent 24 hours per day.
6. Private Backups
Finally, it can also be used as cloud-based storage like Google Drive or others. Any reason to use this over any other cloud storage is to save cost by not upgrading your cloud storage unnecessarily if you already owned a VPS and there are still extra spaces left in it.
