VPS is an excellent hosting service option, which is chosen by an increasing number of website owners. A virtual private server can be rented at an affordable price, it is distinguished in reliability and several other advantages. But even when choosing a VPS, providers offer several configurations that differ in technical characteristics that determine the performance of the server. One of these varieties is an effective and promising technology called VPS SSD hosting. SSD servers are extremely popular in the IT world. The reason for this is the maximum speed of downloading information they provide. And if the provider offers you VPS SSD hosting, be sure to check this offer. What is interesting about servers running on SSD drives? Let’s see
Traditional HDD storage technologies, their weaknesses and an alternative to SSD
Over the past few years, there has been much progress in the world of computer technology. The engineers managed to reduce the size of processors while increasing their performance significantly. Servers have become smaller in size and simultaneously more cost-efficient. However the storage – the hard disk – has not changed much. Yes, its internal volume has increased, but the principle of operation remains the same. The mechanical magnetic hard disk drive (HDD) rotates, writes data, and outputs them through a movable read head.
Meanwhile, the storage is not only responsible for storing the information, but also ensures the operation of the entire software. After all, program files are stored on the hard disk, and the operating system constantly accesses them. Such accesses, accompanied by the movement of the head from one part of the disk to another, result in reduced performance of the machine. This may negatively affect the operation of the website hosted on the server. When HDDs are overloaded with I/O requests, data processing speed is reduced and server malfunctions or even mechanical failure can occur. Over time, the hard drive may fail altogether due to the banal mechanical wear of moving parts.
To eliminate such risks, it is recommended to choose a server with an SDD. The technology of operation of this storage device is based on the principles of NAND-Flash memory. The SSD has no mechanical moving parts and uses integrated circuits and binary files for data storage, making for reliable and high-speed operation.
Advantages of SSD VPS
- Speed. SSD servers work faster than HDD counterparts. Solid-state drives have an average write time of 3-4 and read times 5-6 times higher than HDD drives. For the owner of a website hosted on a server with a hard disk, this means that they always find themself at a disadvantage against competitors on SSD hosting.
- Reliability. There are many mechanical moving parts in a HDD. This causes the disc to wear out quickly. SSDs are based on chips that have a much longer lifespan. Such a drive will last for many years without failures. In addition, many hosters update memory devices frequently, preventing the storage device from getting old. Technology is developing rapidly, with providers rushing to “sell” its benefits.
- Size. The mechanical component of the HDD physically takes up a lot of space and has a decent weight. SSD chips weigh no more than 100 grams and are compact. At the same time, the volume of the flash drive can hold up to 8 TB of information.
- Economy. SSD drives are considered an energy-saving solution. If the mechanical analog of the HDD consumes up to 7 watts per hour, then with an equivalent load, the SSD requires no more than 2 watts. This has a positive effect on the cost of maintenance and the environment.
The only relative disadvantage of SSD is the high price of such a drive. However, in recent years, previously elite technology has become publicly available. And the still existing difference in the cost of hard drives and flash memory almost immediately pays off with the above advantages.
Comparison of SSD and HDD
| Parameter / type of storage device | SSD | HDD |
| Size | Small size, light weight. | Large size, large weight. |
| Economy | Low energy consumption. | High power consumption, which negatively affects the battery life. |
| The speed of writing and reading information | High | Low |
| Reliability | The information is securely stored on the chips. | The data is stored on round plates. |
| Nature of the work | There are no moving parts, the disk works without noise and vibration. | It works noisily, vibrations may be observed. |
| Price | High | Low |
Who is suitable for SSD VPS?
SSD VPS servers are recommended for owners of web resources that handle large volumes of data. For example, these may be WordPress-based e-commerce websites – popular online stores that face a periodic peak in traffic. Hosts with solid-state drives will provide a high level of interaction with visitors. That is, they are effective if a large number of disk operations are assumed.
SSD VPS servers are more attractive for SEO optimization of electronic resources. After all, search algorithms have made the speed of the site the most important factor for its promotion. Increased page loading speed and the correct display of text and images have a positive effect on conversion and help to reduce bounce. Web resources that use significant amounts of cache will also benefit from hosting on SSD VPS servers, also due to high computing power.
Who doesn’t need SSD hosting?
Owners of websites consisting of static HTML pages should not be overcharged for switching from HDD to SSD. They, as a rule, do not consume a lot of server resources, so there is not much difference (except for the difference in the subscription fee) you will notice. Also, for hosting sites with file archives (sites for long-term storage of rarely changing data) that do not require high download speeds, it is economically more expedient to choose servers with HDD. Budget servers with hard drives are suitable for single-user blogs-sites with a daily number of visitors of one or two thousand people. You won’t gain much if you transfer them to a high-tech SSD VPS host.
When to choose SSD hosting?
So, for you, as a website owner, high speed, performance, scaling and stability are important. While your resource faces the need to process large amounts of information or daily high traffic. If all this is about your site, then it’s stupid to choose hardware that will work much slower. So, it’s time to choose a VPS SSD. Switching from HDD to SSD hosting, of course, will require certain expenses. But the benefits of such a move are so obvious that they should not be ignored by web resources (online shops, gaming sites, media sites) with growing traffic. For more information on SSDs, please contact the reliable VPS hosting provider HostZealot.