Types of hosting

Hosting can be classified into following types:

1. Virtual hosting
2. Virtual dedicated server hosting (VPS/VDS)
3. Cloud hosting
4. Dedicated server hosting
5. Cluster hosting

Let's discuss each of them in more detail.

Virtual hosting

Imagine that you bought a monthly Swedish cuisine restaurant breakfast subcription. Everyone can choose and take whatever they prefer. It's okay and the price is reasonable.

The problem occurs when you realize that what you see far isn't what you get. For instance, the menu said "Red fish". But it turned out that it's just the fish in tomato sauce. Really, it looks red. Not that tasty as you expected, but actually ok and nutritious. In hosting we call it "Your website have errors not related our hosting server" .

Then you find out that the restaurant's got quite a few visitors and sometimes you have to wait before they find a seat for you. And the complete drama is when you come up to the door, it shuts right before you with a weird explanation "502: Technical break". Hosting calls is "server overload" or "overselling".

And, finally, one day you are not let into the restaurant due to security reasons claiming "you eat too much" and your account is suspended. They don't reimburse and suggest to sue them. The evidence is you get no profit since suing cost equals years' subscription at this restaurant. Hosting calls this "Your account overload server".

Why does this happen? The answer is simple. Restaurant owner business is to sell out the subscription. Once sold out, he loses his interest in clients, since money is non refundable, and if he does refund, he'll make it as much pain for a client as possible. Especially watch out those who try to sell you years' subscriptions. Monthly fee isn't that serious, years' subscription is quite a penny.

Virtual server hosting

For reasonable price you hire half a kitchen space where you can find all needed utilities to cook meals to your taste and the fridge that has food supply. There's some red fish you can find, not too much, still it's tastier than fish in tomato sauce. You pay monthly for fresh food supply for the fridge.

Here we should make a short break to explain that server with common kernel (OpenVZ, Virtuozzo) varies from complete virtualization (Xen, VmWare):

In case of complete virtualization you can find an oven or an extra option of artesian water.

Still, if you have common kernel virtualization, you get a fake fireplace, and all food you want to cook follows into the same oven. The advantage is that you won't get tomato fish replaced with the red fish. The disadvantage is that one oven is not capable to get all meals cooked and it takes longer. This is also called "overselling".

The problem is when you pay for your kitchen space, you are not thinking that you can't cook yourself and you need to hire a chef. Evidently some hosters offer "basic support" when they show you how to fry eggs or bake potatoes. And that's it. Weren't you craving for some red fish?

Now you need a chef. Hosting calls them sysadmins. They get the basic server installation done, enable security and good work of your machine. They provide monitoring to have it work permanently as well.

Cloud hosting

You rent a cafe. If you need to arrange a party, you will have employees bring you tables and chairs, load the fridge with essential supply. When the night is over, they will move furniture and leftovers. The good thing is that you pay for as much you've eaten.

Hosting calls it "Get the website ready for a high traffick". And surely your chef is vital here. It's never enough to get essential food, make it look good and tasty is the end result needed.

Dedicated server hosting

You rent a real restaurant. Fridges are full of various food. Things look very good.

The problem is you have to look after the restaurant so no thieves would be let in. hosting calls them hackers. You have to process complaints, which are called "abuses". And finally, you have to look after the work space condition, which is called equipment.

Your hoster was responsible for the work space earlier, now you have to see the building start breaking before it turns into a wreck. Hosting calls this case "server down".

Cluster hosting

You rent a few restaurants or at least, book tables in them. If one of the restaurants accidently sets up on fire, you leave it for another one and have your lunch there. You will not be hungry which is an avantage.

The disadvantage is you will have to pay for each table cooked no matter if you have lunch there today or not.