Hyper-V Virtual Dedicated Server vs Dedicated Server

Now that Microsoft Hyper-V virtualization platform is becoming acceptable in the marketplace, it is worthwhile to compare Hyper-V virtual dedicated servers with traditional dedicated servers.  These options differ quite significantly in terms of management limitations, connectivity and their uses.

A dedicated server is actually a physical server that you could rent from a Managed Service Provider and includes a powerful hardware with related server software, a good bandwidth connection to the internet, and IP connectivity for a remote access.  A dedicated server is able to be configured and operated from the company making use of it, and it saves costs in terms of staffing, security, bandwidth and administration of the network. It is more flexible for customization than shared hosting as the client has complete control over the hardware and operating system.

Hyper-V Virtual Dedicated Servers (VDS) are actual software implementations of dedicated servers implemented using the powerful virtualization platform from Microsoft called Hyper-V.  VDS are sometimes also referred as VPS (Virtual Private Server).   This system allows the client to benefit from the features of a dedicated server, but at a far more cost effective price.  In this instance a physical server is split into multiple virtual servers or virtual machines that can be configured to share the desired level of server resources.

To describe precisely what a VPS or VDS is, we refer to the Wikipedia explanation – “A virtual private server is a method of partitioning a physical server computer into multiple servers such that each has the appearance and capabilities of running on its own dedicated machine.  Each virtual server can run its own full-fledged operating system, and each server can be independently rebooted.”

For all practical purposes, the end user can treat the VDS just like a regular dedicated server.  A Hyper-V Virtual Dedicated Server provides a workable solution for the client for a low monthly cost, starting under $50/month.