Managing a VPS server is just like managing any other server. It requires knowledge, patience, and constant security and backups. Only a few of our clients have demonstrated that they are capable of managing their own server. Clients without sufficient Linux knowledge use the ISPconfig 3 admin interface installation, which takes care of basic server settings. There is nothing wrong with ISPConfig. It is an advanced system that handles most tasks, but...
Client servers can be divided into two groups:
- Multi-purpose - Web, emails, databases, statistics, cron jobs... up to hundreds of websites on one VPS server.
- Single-purpose - For example, one website + database
Managing hundreds of websites on one VPS server without administration is laborious and time-consuming, so it's good to use a ready-made admin interface like ISPConfig. ISPConfig optimally sets up the web server, mail server, database server, and everything else for optimal and stable performance. ISPConfig is a great tool, but it does not mean the server is maintenance-free! On the contrary, a server with ISPConfig requires more management than a server without ISPConfig. However, an administrator using ISPConfig can transfer the lightest server management tasks to the user, making the server easier to work with. The administrator still needs to set up external backups, monitoring, and maintain system updates for the VPS server with ISPConfig.
For most standard websites, ISPConfig is sufficient and there is no issue.
But what if you have a website with 50,000 UIP/day?
ISPConfig sets all services to operate optimally and takes control over everything. It is necessary to painstakingly modify ISPConfig to handle such a high-traffic website. After modifying all ISPConfig configuration files, you have to hope that your changes are not overwritten with the next update. From experience, we can say that your changes will be overwritten!
At this point, a single-purpose server comes into play. One web hosting and database are set up manually on the server. Thanks to a completely clean environment, the VPS server can be fine-tuned to achieve much higher performance while maintaining the same parameters as a server with ISPConfig. All server configuration relates to a single web hosting and a single database. Nothing is influenced by anything else, and after some time of tuning, the server achieves peak performance.
VPS Server with ISPConfig vs. Single-purpose VPS Server
VPS Server with ISPConfig:
- For many websites
- Websites with standard load
- Additional services on the server (email, cron, statistics, ruby, etc.)
- Management via web interface
- No need for OS knowledge
- Immediate server deployment
- Not utilizing the server's full potential
- Server still requires management
Single-purpose VPS Server:
- For one website
- High-demand and highly visited websites
- Without additional services (only web or only emails)
- Managed by self or external admin
- Advanced OS knowledge required
- Requires time for tuning before production deployment
- Maximizes the server's hardware potential