Though a dedicated server can protect your server from DDoS attacks, there are a few more things you need to consider while protecting your website or application from unwanted threats. 

The interesting fact is that there are two main reasons why businesses need a firewall: prevention and mitigation. To understand how these work together in protecting your website or web application from an attack like a DDoS (distributed denial-of-service), let’s take a look at both concepts separately. 

Prevention

DDoS attacks are becoming more complex, and it seems like they can’t be avoided… But there’s still hope! Firstly – identify if you got hit by a DDoS attack. Then start checking your resources: bandwidth, disk space, and memory.

Depending on the size of your business, there are several ways you can continue to function despite a DDoS attack: upgrading your bandwidth, adding more servers, using botnets, or getting a mitigation product for this type of attack.

Mitigation

DDoS mitigation products are working by using techniques such as the following:

– Traffic Filtering blocks traffic at the front line of defense based on source and destination addresses, protocols used, or other packet information that matches preset attack signatures.

– Application Layer Gateways are designed to allow legitimate traffic through the firewall but block all malicious traffic by providing an additional layer of security. 

DDoS Mitigation is an advanced technique designed to prevent attacks from overwhelming networks and applications by spoofing requests or sending them via legitimate servers.

Final Words

DDoS attacks are a growing problem for businesses and governments. It’s important that organizations create an effective strategy by first understanding the various risks they face and then applying appropriate measures against those threats–determine which type of attack would work best for them and employ protection accordingly!

The post Relationship Between Firewalls And Protection Against DDoS appeared first on VPS Malaysia.

#1 Delete Temporary Files

Whenever the administrator of a VPS server uploads files directly through the file manager, cPanel automatically creates a temporary copy of the file. It is easy to free up the USR partition of your VPS dedicated server.

rm -fv /home/*/tmp/Cpanel_*

#2 Remove Additional Backups

To free up space from your VPS server, you can also remove additional backups. We are not saying to stop automatic backups. You can remove backups that are more than 30 days old.

for user in `/bin/ls -A /var/cpanel/users` ; do rm -fv /home/$user/backup-*$user.tar.gz ; done

#3 Use CleanUp To Free Up USR Partition Of Your VPS Dedicated Server

CleanUp is a free PHP script that can be used to clean up unwanted files from your server under direct FTP access. It is an effective way for web administrators to quickly get rid of old and unused files on the webserver. Some of the file types it can remove are:

• log files

• index.html files older than X days

• images older than X days

• CSS stylesheets older than X days

There are also advanced options, including removing files by file size and type, recursively removing subdirectories, and adding wildcards to filenames. This script is intended as a quick and convenient way to free up space on VPS Server.

Final Words

In order to free up the USR partition of your VPS dedicated server, you need to delete the root user and all its files. This will make more space available on your system. You can do this from a terminal window or using SSH. Once you have deleted the root account, create an administrative password for yourself so that there is no default admin login in place on the machine. We’re here to help with any questions or issues about this process as well, just let us know!

The post Free Up The USR Partition Of Your VPS Dedicated Server appeared first on VPS Malaysia.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a small computer hosted in a mother server that provides you the environment to host myriads of applications. From hosting websites, hosting applications, to hosting new test environments, the uses of a VPS are countless.

In this article we have a list of 6 popular uses of renting a VPS.

You probably have already understood the many technical terms of having a VPS, such as, what is bandwidth, RAM, CPU, or what are the differences between HDD and SSD Storage.

If these terms sound strange, you should check out our guide on how to choose the most reliable VPS hosting for you.

It’s important that you know and understand these technical terms, so that you are informed about your purchasing decision.

Now, the next learning milestone for you is understanding the role of an Operating System (OS) in a VPS, and the differences between Linux VPS and Windows VPS.

Let’s get started!

What is Operating System (OS)?

Operating system (OS) is a software that allows a user to run other applications on a computing device.

technopedia

If you have a laptop or a desktop PC at home, these devices most probably run on a Windows OS. A Macbook runs on Macintosh.

Laptops and PCs aside, smartphones devices also run on different OS. The two most widely used OS in today’s market are androids and ioses. VPS runs on two major OS: Linux and Windows.

Let’s dive into the differences between Linux VPS and Windows VPS.

Operating System: Linux vs Windows

In this comparison, we will be looking at 9 aspects:

1. Performance
2. Security
3. Compatibility
4. Server Access
5. Control Panel
6. Support
7. Ease of Use
8. Scalability
9. Cost

1. Performance

Have you ever closed at website because the page loading speed is terribly slow? I’m sure most of us have been there.

47% of web visitors expect a website to load in less than 2 seconds. If the loading process takes longer than 3 seconds, 40% of web visitors will leave the website.

Kissmetrics

These statistics tell us how important it is to have a fast page loading speed. The big question now is,

What is the difference between Linux VPS and Windows VPS in terms of performance?

Let’s find out.

Linux VPS

VPS running on Linux is designed specifically to be secured with Secure Shell (SSH). SSH is used to manage VPS by typing in command lines. This trait makes Linux VPS more resource-efficient. When there are high loads of resources, Linux VPS doesn’t require its administrator to perform regular reboots. A lesser number of reboots would mean a higher performance since any application hosted on Linux VPS is not susceptible to more technical hiccups.

Windows VPS

Windows VPS are commercial products designed for common users. It uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI), that makes navigation more user-friendly. However, this comes with a downside. After every major/minor patch, and driver/software update, your Windows VPS must be rebooted, or will be rebooted automatically according to its internal schedule. Windows users most probably know this well, if you remember the scheduled computer restart following an update. The other downside of a Windows VPS is that it can be resource hungry if it is not optimized properly. This is because the Windows OS has a lot of pre-installed applications that takes up a lot of CPU power when running in background.

Conclusion: 

The performance of Linux VPS definitely surpasses Windows VPS.

2. Security

Cyber attacks are constantly on the rise. Common threats to a website include DDoS attacks, data breaches and malwares. Here are some facts and figures to give you a sense of how common cyber attacks are in the Internet.

• 92% of malware is delivered by email.
• The average ransomware attack costs a company $5 million.
• It takes organizations an average of 191 days to identify data breaches.

Now we know the importance of cybersecurity, which of the two is more secure- Linux VPS or Windows VPS? Let’s dive into the details.

Linux VPS

An important fact that gives Linux VPS its topnotch security is that Linux is open source. There is a huge community of professional coders who could review, detect and comment on its vulnerability. This also allows the bugs and backdoors to be fixed as soon as possible. But Linux is more secure also due to the reasons that it has a smaller user base. You’ll understand the justification quickly as I explain this in the security of Windows VPS section.

Windows VPS

According to an estimate by NetMarketShare, 88% of all computers on the Internet run on Windows OS. That is more than two third of all these computers combined! With a user base this massive, cyber criminals are constantly prying on Windows OS, trying to find a loophole within.

Conclusion: 

Does Operating System affects the security of your VPS?

Well, the answer is yes, and no.

It is not that Windows have weak protection against cyber criminals. They have been constantly upgrading and strengthening their protections against cyberattacks. But, having a massive user base, cyber criminals naturally set their sights on hacking Windows, rather than Linux.

This article explains in-depth the comparisons between Linux VPS and Windows VPS in terms of security.

If we have to crown only one OS, Linux VPS is much safer than Windows VPS.

3. Compatibility

Linux VPS

An open source code itself, Linux is ideal to host open source software like PHP/Perl, Java, Python, ROR, SSH, CGI, MySQL, and many more. Here is a compact list of 50 open source softwares that are compatible for Linux business users.

Windows VPS

Windows VPS runs only on Windows specific software and applications. Some examples are ASP, MySQL, C#, MS Access and others. Take a look at a list of software and applications designed for Windows by Google.

Conclusion: 

Most commercially available softwares that are ready to use are targeted at Windows OS. It is not surprising since Windows has a larger market share compared to Linux. However, all these commercially available softwares come at a cost. Linux softwares are open source, so they are all available for free.

But either choices work well for users, so we’ll call it a tie in this section.

4. Server Access

Having server access means users have better control over the configuration of their VPS. Which one gives more flexibility to users- Linux or Windows? Can you guess?

Linux VPS

File Transfer Protocol, or in short FTP is a convenient tool for users to upload and download files. Building a website, for example, requires FTP, because you need this tool to upload media (photos or videos) from your PC to your VPS. FTP is accessible on Linux. However, another server access that you want to have is a protection protocol, called SSH, available only on Linux.

Windows VPS

FTP that gives you the ease to move files around is also available to Windows. But, SSH is absent on Windows OS. There is one way to go around this- installing PuTTY on Windows VPS. SSH.com has put together a useful guide on how you can use PuTTY on your Windows VPS.

Conclusion: 

Linux VPS gives users more access to the server. Although Windows VPS doesn’t run on SSH, there are ways to get around. Linux VPS is slightly more advantageous than Windows VPS in this section. Slightly.

5. Control Panel

Building a website is all about customization and management of different settings and features. The control panel covers this pesky job flawlessly for all of us.

Linux VPS

Control panels available for Linux are cPanel or Web Host Manager (WHM).

Windows VPS

Windows uses Plesk.

Conclusion: 

Whether it’s cPanel or Plesk, both interfaces are user-friendly. And again, a tie.

6. Support

Technical issues are unavoidable when it comes to VPS or any other servers. What you need is a professional support team that can assist you in an instant.

Linux VPS

Linux is backed by a huge community of professional coders. They are individuals who find and examine source codes to detect and fix bugs and backdoors. However, the reliability of their support may not be the best you can find. After all, these professionals are not paid to do a 9 to 5 customer support job.

Windows VPS

Windows is an OS developed by a massive multi-billion dollar company called Microsoft. The company is well backed up by a team of professional IT supports who are ready to help you solve any problems at any time.

Conclusion: 

Windows, with its worldwide reputation, has an upper hand in this section.

Whether you choose to host a Linux VPS or a Windows VPS, our professional customer support team is ready to assist you 24/7. We want to make sure that our customers get the best hosting experience at VPS Malaysia.

7. Ease of Use

Back in the day, we always hear, “Whether it’s easy to use or not, it all depends on your technical knowledge.” However, this might not apply entirely today. Advancements and improvements have been made over the years. Let’s take a look.

Linux VPS

Command lines- this used to be the enemy of all basic users. But looking at how GUI is now available to Linux OS today, it no longer applies any truths. Lifewire frames the usefulness of GUI and command lines in different situations perfectly in this article. CPanel which Linux uses is one of the most popular hosting management tools.

Windows VPS

Windows brags its intuitive GUI as a highlighted selling point, which makes it very friendly to use for any user.

Conclusion: 

If you are a knowledge-seeker and you don’t mind Googling up some information on how to use Linux, Linux VPS could be a choice.

If you think that learning is too troublesome, and since you are already very familiar to Windows, then Windows is the perfect choice for you.

8. Scalability

Scalability is the server’s capability to handle increased workload and demand without decreased performance, as explained by technopedia.com.

Linux VPS

There are two main Linux VPS options in today’s market: Linux OpenVZ VPS and Linux KVM VPS. Both can be easily upgraded (this can be done via your control panel) to handle an increased workload. However, only Linux OpenVZ VPS can be downgraded, when required. Linux OpenVZ VPS also doesn’t require users to reboot their VPS after upgrade installations.

Windows VPS

Windows VPS can be scaled up, but not scaled down. Changes only take effect after users reboot their server following upgrade installations.

Conclusion: 

You should consider your application of having a VPS.

If you’re expecting an increase in server workload to follow after some time, both Linux VPS and Windows VPS are suitable.

The advantage of a Linux OpenVZ VPS is that you are ready to downgrade anytime, and your VPS does not require rebooting.

The inability to downgrade and having to reboot are downsides to Linux KVM VPS and Windows VPS.

9. Cost

Cost is a primary concern for many users. Businesses want to save costs. Individuals want to save money so they can plan for trips. Nevertheless, we all want to save costs. Which one is more affordable? It’s pretty obvious, at this point, isn’t it?

Linux VPS

An open-source platform itself, Linux has significantly lower costs. Linux OS doesn’t require you to pay a license fee every year. Most Linux software and applications are free to use too- all thanks to the generous developers.

Windows VPS

Windows is a commercial product by Microsoft, so naturally users have to pay a licensing fee. Our Windows VPS plans include a Windows licensing fee.

Conclusion: 

If you don’t mind paying a little extra for familiarity, then Windows VPS is the right choice.

If you cringe at the knowledge of having to pay extra every month, you should go for a Linux VPS.
Linux VPS has its advantages in terms of performance, security, cost, and server access.

On the other hand, Windows is more advantageous in the aspects of support and ease of use. Looking at this, Linux VPS surely has scored more points compared to Windows VPS.

However, there is one important thing that you must consider- programming language. Linux and Windows both use very different languages.

The Choice Is In Your Hands

While you’re still deciding on which OS to use, have a look at our Linux KVM VPS Plans, Linux Open VZ VPS Plans, and Windows VPS Plans. With less than RM2 per day, you get to enjoy a full-fledged, professional VPS hosting experience.

Why full-fledged?

At VPS Malaysia, you can deploy your VPS in under 30 seconds. If you have any difficulties with your VPS, our professional customer support team is ready to help you 24/7, anytime, anywhere.
And here’s the biggest perk for you- 30 days risk-free VPS! What does it mean? You get to try our VPS, and if you are unsatisfied with the performance, we guarantee to give all your money back in 30 days. Try one of our VPS hosting plans today!

• Linux KVM VPS
• Linux OpenVZ VPS
• Windows VPS

The post Guide To Choose Operating System: Linux vs Windows appeared first on VPS Malaysia.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn and understand how to choose the best dedicated server for  your company and what factors you must consider to get the most value out of your investment.

1) What Is A Dedicated Server?
2) Who Needs A Dedicated Server?
3) 4 Features You Must Look For In A Dedicated Server
4) 5 Reasons Why You Should Invest In A Dedicated Server

1) What Is A Dedicated Server?

Imagine renting an exclusive computer housed in a strategic data center. This exclusivity means that, you can have your very own physical server that is dedicated to your needs. A dedicated server is unlike a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or a shared hosting, that requires you to share the same physical server with other users. The advantages of having your own dedicated server are: 1) higher bandwidth for an improved website performance, 2) highly secured data, 3) protection against cyber attacks and malware invasions, 4) flexible scalability and customization, 5) complete use of server resources catering only to your company, and 6) high-end server performance.

2) When Should You Get A Dedicated Server?

If you notice that your company website is getting more visitors everyday, but the page loading speed is getting slower, it’s the right time to upgrade to a dedicated server ssd.

Other than giving your clients a better website user experience, a dedicated server can do so much more! It hosts your communications tools – like email accounts, ERP software and CRM software. You can also host your company data in a dedicated server. It’s layers of data security and protection will help prevent hackers, viruses and malicious malware from taking your valuable assets away.

3) 4 Features You Must Look For In A Dedicated Server

This is the basics of how to choose a dedicated server that best suits your needs. First, you must know and understand your hosting requirements. That way, you can save a lot of costs by avoiding the negative cycle of subscribing to a lesser package that doesn’t match your needs.

Let’s have a look at the 4 features you must look for to help you choose a dedicated server – the best one!

Feature 1: Server Specifications

Processing Power

Nowadays, most websites would require the services of specialized applications, such as a video player or a customer live chat. Go for hosting companies that offer servers with high-end processors like XEON or dual XEON. Don’t opt in for less just because the servers are priced at a lower end. You want to prioritize performance, stability and reliability.

Bandwidth

You should know the average monthly traffic your website gets. Google Analytics can help determine the amount of traffic your website gets every month. If your website is not linked to Google Analytics yet, follow this simple guide prepared by Google on how you can set up Google Analytics for your website. Websites that get high traffic volume should go for more bandwidth. You should also go for high bandwidth servers if your website loads high-definition galleries and/or streams in-website videos.

Memory (RAM)

Memory dictates server efficiency and the loading speed of your website. Running an e-commerce website requires more memory space because your product listing expands every time you upload new products. In general, more RAM gives your website a boosted loading speed.

Storage

There are two kinds of storage: 1) HDD, and 2) SSD. There are several differences between HDD and SSD. In general, SSD is more expensive compared to HDD. But with a higher price, SSD comes with higher functionality, such as faster read and write speed (it means faster file transfer), lower chances of failure, and information loss due to the absence of moving parts. Read our guide about server storage: HDD vs SSD, so you can learn more about the differences between HDD and SSD. You should also go for hosting companies that offer RAID technology, which uses multiple disks to avoid data loss due to hardware failure, improve overall server performance, and increase server storage capacity.

Operating System (OS)

Choosing between Windows or Linux should depend on the type of applications you want to run on your company server. We’ll get into the type of applications that run on Windows and Linux in the next point.

Application

To host MS SQL, ASP.NET, or Microsoft IIS, you need a Windows Dedicated Server. Go for a Linux Dedicated Server, if you want to use LAMP or MEAN, or any applications that do not require a Microsoft license.

Feature 2: Data Center Standards

Your website is a funnel where sales conversions happen. Downtime can lead to profit loss. Always make sure that your server is up and running 24/7. Research where the servers are located using a Data Center Map. Picking servers located at a strategic locations ensures that your website is accessible at most times. All our servers are hosted in a world-class, tier-3 CX2 Data Center in Cyberjaya. With this, you’ll be guaranteed 99.98% uptime when you subscribe to our hosting services.

Feature 3: Security

Before choosing a dedicated server in Malaysia, you need to ask the customer support team questions related to access to data, building protection against fire hazards, data security and privacy, DDoS protection against cyber attacks and malware, etc. Having a 24/7 customer support team is another big plus that you should consider before renting a dedicated server.

Feature 4: Requirement Analysis

Renting a dedicated server comes at a cost, and you want to make sure that the server fits your requirements. How can you find a hosting company that matches your needs?

First, find out and analyze what are your needs and requirements.

Ask these 5 questions that will give you the best insights into how to choose the right dedicated server.

Question 1: How much traffic does my website get in a month?

The rule of thumb is that the bigger the traffic volume, the bigger the bandwidth and RAM you should go for.

Question 2: Does my website have applications that consume high resources?

If your website has applications, such as a video player, a high-definition gallery to load, or live chat support, then you should go for a server with high computing power. Best to go with Xenon or Dual Xenon servers, so you can upload multimedia files at any creative expense.

Question 3: Do my preferred applications run on Windows or Linux?

To host MS SQL, ASP.NET, or Microsoft IIS, you need a Windows Dedicated Server. Go for a Linux Dedicated Server, if you want to use LAMP or MEAN, or any applications that do not require a Microsoft license. We’ve put together a full table of comparison between Windows and Linux below.

Question 4: How much money am I planning to invest?

A dedicated server is relatively expensive compared to a virtual private server. But, a dedicated server offers more functionality and security, compared to other VPS or shared hosting. A good hosting company should offer flexible dedicated hosting services, along with 24/7 live customer support, so that business owners can upgrade and expand their servers at any time. It is also a sign of a good hosting company if they can offer you flexible payment options (monthly, quarterly, or annually).

 Question 5: Is the customer support team helpful?

Most hosting companies have a dedicated customer support team, but only a handful offer a 24/7 live customer support chat service. Get in touch with their customer support team to get a wholesome experience. Ask about the guaranteed uptime. Notice how swiftly they respond. How long does it take to solve queries?

Also, take time to research and read user reviews about the web hosting company. Genuine user reviews can tell you a lot of things, including how good is their customer support services, how fast can the team solve a problem, and if there are any hidden charges.

4) 5 Reasons Why You Should Invest In A Dedicated Server

Reason 1: Overall better performance

A dedicated server reserves all the computing resources exclusively for your needs and usage only. This means getting an overall better server performance in terms of speed, security, and storage.

Reason 2: Cost-effective

At first glance, a dedicated server appears to be more expensive than other server options (shared hosting and VPS). However, with the same specifications, a cloud server is priced at a higher end compared to a dedicated server. But in the long run, a dedicated server has the highest best-for-value investment, especially for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). It saves you the troubles and costs of upgrades as you expand and scale your server to cater to a higher traffic volume. Go for a long-term investment.

Reason 3: Scalability and Upgradeable Hardware

The best part of having a dedicated server is customization. You can customize all the hardware to fit your needs. Whether it’s adding more RAM, giving it a boost of computing power, or increasing your storage capacity. Call our 24/7 professional customer support team for an upgrade anytime, anywhere.

Reason 4: Flexibility

Servers have many different applications. Ranging from hosting websites, setting up multiple email accounts, data storage, or running a test for an app, a dedicated server can offer you the maximum range of usage flexibility.

Reason 5: Enhanced Security

Shared hosting, VPS, and cloud hosting house multiple users on the same physical server. This increases the risk of data loss, malware infiltration, cyber-attacks, and interception. But, a dedicated server is reserved solely for you. It keeps your company data highly private and tightly secured. Understand the differences between 4 web hostings (shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting) using one of our guides.

Conclusion

Luck is not a factor when it comes to choosing the dedicated server that fits your needs. Avoid making the mistake of falling for high prices. Price doesn’t necessarily justify the quality of a hosting company. Do your research and planning well, so that your investment pays off in the long run. Experiment with hosting companies that offer a 30-day money-back guarantee or a trial (even if they only offer a trial with VPS, shared hosting, or cloud). That way you’ll find out for yourself if the hosting company (that promises 99.98% uptime) is one that you will stick around with.

If you have any questions or troubles with setting up or configuring your dedicated server, get in touch with our professional customer support team. We are more than happy to assist you anytime, anywhere.

Get high-end dedicated servers with the best price at less than RM15/day.
No time to lose? Get Your Dedicated Server Ready In Under 4 Hours. Try Today

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