{"id":27317,"date":"2020-12-31T06:04:12","date_gmt":"2020-12-31T12:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=27317"},"modified":"2021-01-12T14:37:45","modified_gmt":"2021-01-12T20:37:45","slug":"move-from-shared-hosting-to-vps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/move-from-shared-hosting-to-vps\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You Ready to Move from Shared Hosting to a VPS?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article is part of HostGator\u2019s Web Pros Series. In this series, we feature articles from our team of experts here at HostGator. Our Product Managers, Linux Administrators, Marketers, and Tech Support engineers share their best tips for getting the most out of your website.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It happens to most of us eventually. We\u2019re doing OK living with our folks, and then something makes us want to get our own place. Maybe their quiet-hours rules conflict with your gaming schedule. Maybe their place gets a little crowded. Maybe you need space to do your own thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same thing can happen with web hosting. You start with a shared hosting plan<\/a> that\u2019s all good but at some point, you want more control over your site than shared hosting allows. Or your host tells you to look for a new place because you\u2019ve got too much traffic and your server neighbors are complaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where should you go? Dedicated servers are awesome but spendy. Somewhere between shared hosting and dedicated is the VPS a virtual private server<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n

You might like…<\/h4>
  • \"\"<\/a><\/span>Shared Hosting<\/a><\/li>
  • \"\"<\/a><\/span>VPS Hosting<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n

    What\u2019s a VPS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A VPS<\/a> gives you the root access and freedom to customize you\u2019d get with a dedicated server, but in a shared environment that keeps your costs a lot lower than dedicated hosting rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The VPS combination of customizability and affordability gets a lot of site owners interested when they\u2019re ready to move from shared hosting. But like moving out of your parents\u2019 house into your own apartment, there are trade-offs, new responsibilities and things you need to know before you make the move-especially if you\u2019ve never lived on your own before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For instance, when you\u2019re living with your folks, you\u2019re probably not the one dealing with bills, weird projects like vapor barrier installation (what?), and all the daily tasks that keep the household operating. On your own, you have more freedom, but you also have to handle all that stuff yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To make the move to VPS worth it, first make sure it\u2019s what you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why do you want to make a change?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You need your own space so you can do what you want, but is a VPS the right space for what you want to do? It depends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Below we outline the common reasons people change their hosting plans, and whether VPS is the right choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you need more server resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A VPS probably isn\u2019t your best move if you\u2019re using too many CPU resources on your current hosting plan, because most VPS plans don\u2019t have big resources, either. For example, if you\u2019ve been getting suspended for terms-of-service (TOS) violations because your site has a ton of traffic or isn’t optimized, a VPS may actually leave you with less resources to draw on than your shared plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Think of it this way: Moving from your parents\u2019 big house to your own studio apartment frees you from your folks\u2019 limits on your ever-expanding indoor collection of carnivorous plants, but a studio won\u2019t have the space your thousands of hungry plants need to grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Same with a VPS. You get your own space, but it may not have enough RAM to do what you need. If you want your own server for something resource-intensive and you have the budget, a dedicated server<\/a> is probably a better choice. It\u2019s like skipping the studio apartment and going straight for your own spacious house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you want a place to try out new things<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re a developer, a VPS may be the sandbox you need. You\u2019ll have the space and resources you need to test out ideas for your website, without making changes to your live site until you\u2019re sure they work exactly the way you want them to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you need a custom setup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If your website is already optimized and doesn\u2019t have resource issues, but you need root access or something special that\u2019s not available on your shared plan, a VPS can give you the freedom to customize your site. In other words, you can finally paint your space that shade of black that your folks vetoed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Getting ready to move from shared hosting to a VPS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Does VPS sound like what you need? Cool, cool. Don\u2019t call the movers or order your site migration just yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are a few things you need to plan for first, to ensure that your switchover goes smoothly. Think of this like ordering utilities and learning how the appliances work so you\u2019re not sitting in the dark with no coffee when you get to your new place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Get to know Web Host Manager<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    With shared hosting, your provider sets up your cPanel for you. With a VPS, you have to set up cPanels for all the websites on your server, and that starts with setting up Web Host Manager (WHM). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Read all about it in our WHM Getting Started Guide<\/a> and check out our WHM login video so you\u2019ll be ready to set up WHM when you get your VPS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n