A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a server of your own that lives inside a shared physical machine. "Private" because its resources (CPU, RAM and disk) are yours and isolated from everyone else; "virtual" because it does not take up a whole physical machine, which makes it much cheaper than a dedicated server.
With a VPS you get root access: you choose the operating system, install whatever you want and manage it as if it were a computer sitting in the datacenter, without buying hardware or worrying about power, cooling or connectivity.
How a VPS works
A physical server in the datacenter is split by a hypervisor (KVM in GINERNET's case) into several fully isolated virtual servers. Each VPS boots its own operating system, has its own IP address and its guaranteed resources. If another customer on the same physical machine maxes out their server, yours does not notice: that is the key difference compared to lightweight virtualization with shared resources.
Shared hosting, VPS or dedicated: which one do I need?
| Shared hosting | VPS | Dedicated server | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do you manage the server? | No | Yes (or the provider) | Yes |
| Root access | No | Yes | Yes |
| Resources | Shared | Guaranteed | Whole machine |
| Ballpark price | € | €€ | €€€€ |
| Best for | Simple websites | Projects needing control or power | Very large workloads |
The usual signs it is time to move from hosting to a VPS: your website slows down at peak hours, you need to install something the hosting does not allow (a specific runtime, Docker, a bot, a heavy cron job) or you want a dedicated IP.
Managed or unmanaged VPS?
- Unmanaged VPS: you take care of the system (updates, security, backups). Maximum freedom and minimum price. That is the classic pay-per-use VPS.
- Managed VPS: the provider configures and maintains the server (at GINERNET, with cPanel, 24×7 monitoring and backups). Ideal if you want VPS power without managing Linux.
And if your workload is Windows (remote desktop, an ERP, MetaTrader), there is the Windows VPS with RDP included.
What you can run on a VPS
You can run almost anything that runs on an always-on computer: websites and stores, APIs, databases, a private VPN with WireGuard, automations with n8n, bots, AI agents, game servers or a remote desktop. Our documentation has step-by-step guides for several of these use cases.
How much does a VPS cost
It depends on the resources. What matters is not the entry price but the billing model: at GINERNET a VPS is billed by the hour against your prepaid balance. You create the server with minimal resources, and if the project grows you add CPU, RAM or disk separately, without migrating and with no lock-in. A basic VPS costs a few euros per month; per-resource prices are always up to date in the VPS configurator.
Still not sure? As a guide: if your project is "a WordPress site and little else", start with hosting; if you need to install system software, run 24/7 processes or control the server, it is a VPS.