Linux Virtual Server Overview

A Protected Environment

Our Linux Virtual Servers, also know as Linux Virtual Private Servers (Linux VPS) provide a private and protected area that operates as an independent server. Each Linux Virtual Server appears to be and behaves as if it is a stand-alone physical server offering excellent security, performance, and flexibility.

The isolated environment of the Linux VPS is established by creating a server sandbox. Each Linux VPS has its own complete directory structure, a virtual file system, its own set of independent applications (Web server, mail server.); a security policy that limits one Linux VPS from interfering with, or even seeing, another Linux VPS.

Each Linux Virtual Private Server and it’s applications are configured independently. Customers have full administrative control, including the ability to install, customize, and run almost any custom or off-the-shelf application. Additionally, customers have complete control of their Linux VPS configuration and settings. This provides “Functional Isolation.”

You also get fault isolation similar to separate physical servers. A fault in one application running within a Linux VPS account does not affect any applications running on other Linux VPS accounts on the same physical server.

Network Security

A network virtualization layer isolates the Linux Virtual Server instances from each other and from the physical network. Each Virtual Server includes its own IP address. Because he network traffic of your account is isolated from all other accounts traffic snooping is not possible.

You an also setup your own firewall rules from within the virtual server environment using IP Tables providing additional control over access to your servers.

Resource Management

Our Linux Virtual Servers utilize resource management to control the amount of resources available for each account. This includes things like CPU usage, disk space and memory resources. This resource management system allows us to:

  • Share physical server resources in fair manner among individual accounts.
  • Maintain a servers network QOS.
  • Isolate performance and resource utilization.
  • Help protect the server from DOS attacks.
  • Collect usage information for system monitoring.

Copy-on-Write (COW) File System

Our Linux Virtual Servers utilize a COW file system where the base operating system utilizes a tested, stable Red Hat Enterprise Linus (RHEL) installation. Even as you modify your files on the server the base operation system will continue to use the stable platform allowing continued stability and the ability for us to quickly update and manage core services.

Virtualization Layer

Our Linux VPS technology virtualizes servers on an operating system layer, including the kernel. This method of virtualization extends the concept of a chroot mechanism. This technology has a low overhead allow the system to maximize an efficient use of system resources. By utilizing a single kernel approach it allows our resource management system to control and limit the critical finite resources like:

  • CPU time
  • Disk Space
  • Network Access
  • RAM
  • Shared Memory
  • Number of Processes