What is VDS, or Virtual Dedicated Server? According to Wikipedia a Virtual Dedicated Server (VDS) usually referred to as a Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a method of partitioning a physical server computer into multiple servers that each has the appearance and capabilities of running on its own dedicated machine. Each virtual server, or VDS host environment can run its own full-fledged operating system, and each server can be independently rebooted. The practice of partitioning a single server so that it appears as multiple servers has long been common practice in mainframe computers, but has seen a resurgence lately with the development of virtualization software and technologies for other architectures. Different Types of Virtual Dedicated Servers There are 2 kinds of virtualizations: software based and hardware based. In a software based virtualization environment, the virtual machines share the same kernel and actually require the main node's resources. Within a hosting environment this aids in real time quota incrementing and decrementing without having to restart the node.  Within software based virtualisation, the main examples are Virtuozzo (an SWSoft product), and HyperVM (an lxlabs product), and VMWare (a VMWare product). In hardware based virtualisation, the virtualization mechanism partitions the actual or real hardware resources thus removing the ability to modify burst or realtime quota modification.  These limits are thus hard, and the systems need to be restarted for any modification to function. Although it has a glaring deficiency it does tend to be a little more secure and thus useful in an enterprise usage. VDS as flexible as a dedicated server With VDS systems users share the system resources -- such as the CPU and memory -- but, unlike a shared platform, where you are a virtual host on a shared hardware server, the file systems are fully partitioned meaning only you have access to it! This provides the flexibility to customise your 'server' to your needs, adding modules and installing software for your specific requirements. As cost effective as a shared server Partitioning a single hardware server into multiple servers has been around for a long time.  In fact, mainframe computers have long been partitioned into multiples.  By sharing the resources you are able to get far more 'bang' for your proverbial 'buck'. With VDS Hosting you therefore combine the benefits of both shared hosting and dedicated hosting allowing you to virtually run your own virtualized server at a fraction of the cost! Partnered with SWsoft We've partnered with SWsoft to offer you a choice between CentOS Linux and Microsoft Windows 2003 VDS hosted systems using the latest Plesk 8 and Virtuozzo Power Panel technology.