According to Margaret Rouse defined VPN and VPS as stated below:
VPN network definition
A virtual private network (VPN) is a network that uses a public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or individual users with secure access to their organization's network. A virtual private network can be contrasted with an expensive system of owned or leased lines that can only be used by one organization. The goal of a VPN is to provide the organization with the same capabilities, but at a much lower cost.
A VPN works by using the shared public infrastructure while maintaining privacy through security procedures and tunneling protocols such as the Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP). In effect, the protocols, by encrypting data at the sending end and decrypting it at the receiving end, send the data through a "tunnel" that cannot be "entered" by data that is not properly encrypted. An additional level of security involves encrypting not only the data, but also the originating and receiving network addresses.
VPS Defination
A virtual private server (VPS), also called a virtual dedicated server (VDS), is a virtual server that appears to the user as a dedicated server but is actually installed on a computer serving multiple Web sites. A single computer can have several VPSs, each one with its own operating system (OS) that runs the hosting software for a particular user.
The hosting software for each VPS can include a Web server program, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program, a mail server program and specialized applications for activities such as e-commerce and blogging.
The VPS alternative is often chosen by small businesses that need a customized Web site but cannot afford a dedicated server. Another useful aspect of VPS technology is the ability of a single subscriber to maintain multiple virtual servers. For example a Web site owner might use one server for the production-level Web site and the other for a "dummy site" that can be used to test planned updates, modifications or new programs.
VPS and VPN – Similar Names, But Much Different Functions
In accord to the refference of "The Atlantic.Net Blog" states that:
"Although VPS (Virtual Private Servers) and VPN (Virtual Private Network) have similar names, they are extremely different
things altogether. A Virtual Private Server is a place to host your
website, where you have root level access to the server while still
sharing the hardware. However, a Virtual Private Network is a way to
browse the Internet securely and anonymously.
A VPS is created when one massive server is partitioned up so that it can have several servers on it running independently of each other. Virtualization layers are then created to make sure each virtual environment appears as a standalone server with the ability to run its own OS and applications. Therefore, a VPS enables multiple virtual servers to be located on one physical server. A VPS is great for companies if they have outgrown a shared hosting plan and are not yet ready to leap into the financial commitment involved in owning a dedicated server or colocation.
On the other hand, a VPN is very different as its purpose is to extend a private network (as well as its resources) across public networks, such as the Internet. For example, a VPN allows a computer to send and receive data across other networks, shared or public, as if it were a private network. It secures your computer’s Internet connection to guarantee that all of the data you’re sending and receiving is encrypted and secured. Whatever you do, you are always behind the VPN".
What is the difference between a VPS & a VPN?
A VPS server is a share of a main HOST computer in a data centre. One host may carry multiple virutal machines to which access is completely independant of each other. When you log into a VPS it looks and feels like your home Windows computer (with a few cosmetic differences). A VPS is commonly used for many tasks from hosting websites to running remotely operated software, such as Bet Angel Professional.
The benefits are high speed connections to the internet and thus the exchange plus the ability to be able to access the VPS from any internet enabled device that has a remote access client such as a smartphone, tablet computer or iPad.
VPN: Virtual Private Network
We do not sell VPN's but for the sake of clarity here is a definition for those wondering what the difference is compared to a VPS.
A VPN is a networking option that uses the Internet to connect a central business location to regional or satellite offices, but securely keeps the information away from the public’s eye. It connects “privately” via a virtual connection to keep information secure and allow the exchange of data with quick efficiency, without having to invest in costly equipment to build an actual private network or company Intranet structure. It offers the ability to share information between distances much like a desktop sharing program.
Another research stated below that...
First of all, I am not sure where to post this, so if it is in the wrong place, feel free to move it and I apologize for the pain caused.
Browsing the boards lately I've seen a LOT of confusion between VPN and VPS. It might only be typo errors, but better safe than sorry. One is about hosting, the other one about hiding his tracks on internet.
Hosting related
A Virtual Private Server is a place where you host your websites. To make it simple, it is big server (dedicated server) that is separated in multiple smaller virtual server (thanks to virtualization technologies). Hosting companies rent those places. It is totally hosting related.
Basic hosting plan are shared server: you can only host files, and run some cron jobs, if you want to add some programs (ie: unzip, unrar for managing archived files) you'll have to ask your hosting company to do it for you. Most of the tome they won't install any specific program. They just provide basic hosting related stuff: perl, php, etc.
Then you have VPS which are "better, faster and stronger" than shared hosting. When you rent a VPS, you can install ANYTHING (as along as you respect TOS or are not caught) you want into it. You are provided with a SSH access. This SSH access allows you to manage your system via command line. You are root, which means you can do anything on the VPS. You can install any software, create any script, you can even break it. However since VPS are part of a bigger server, you don't own the full hardware for yourself. You share the hardware with other customer and get only a defined part of resources (lets say 1024mb ram, 2ghz CPU, 100mbtis bandwidth). Most of time you have what you pay for, but sometimes resources are poorly managed and you can have less than what you paid for, or it can feel slower than the same dedicated hardware (this can be seen mainly on Windows VPS for xrumer / scrapebox boxes). Please alos note that sometimes VPS can be slowed down if someone hosting another VPS (on the same dedicated server than you) run some programs that uses resources outside of the VPS... It is pretty rare and the user would get banned quickly but it happens.
Finally, there are dedicated server. Like a VPS you have a SSH root access, and can do anything you like with your server. However this fime you don't share the hardware. You rent the full computer and you are sure to get what you paid for. It is of course more expensive, but it is way better if you need a heavy box.
Now the VPN, which is about browsing internet anonymously.
A Virtual Private Network is a way to browse internet without revealing your IP address, hence anonymously. Technically, your computer (or router, see ddwrt on google) connects to an remote PC with an encrypted connection (allways use openVPN, and flee pptp vpn). Then this remote computer (the VPN) browse the web, pull your email, scrapes stuff, with his own IP.
This process is totally transparent for the end user (it only adds a few ms of latency and decrease your connection by very small amount due to encryption) and allows you a total anonymity on internet. In some point, this is better than proxies, because whatever you do, you are allways behind the VPN, whatever the port or the application is, with no setup, you are protected!
However, if you go scraping, or mass commenting, you wand to prefer multiple proxies. Multiple proxies = multiple IP,a nd proxies are like napkins. Use them, once they are busted / blacklisted, change them! The VPN only has one IP for all the customers... once you blacklist it, you have to find a new VPN provider.
In short:
- everyday browsing = VPN,
- comments, xrumer / scrapebox = proxies,
- Shared hosting / VPS / Dedicated = hosting solution (from the weakest/cheapest to the strongest/more expensive).
How to know if i need a VPS or a VPN
As at Aug 2013 Paul the author of the below write-up made a refference to the above mentioned theme and package it all in radom as quoted:
"Hi there.
i am in need of a bit of anonymity so i am looking to set myself up with either a VPS or a VPN.
now, i am a beginner when it comes to either of them.
i wouldnt consider myself as tech savy, but i can use a computer at a average level.
however, i am a hands on learner, so most things i need to do i do a bit of research online on what to do and i am able to do most things i need this way.
i have been doing some reading up about both options, and although there is plenty to tell you what each one is, i havnt been able to find anything that tells me what i need to know about what one i need to go for.
i want to be able to do anything i want to do online, whether it is totally legit or a bit questionable without any worry of anything being tracked back to me.
now, i know that it would seem logical that i should go with a VPN, but i dont like the idea of not really knowing if the vpn host company are actually keeping logs on me or not, and whether they would hand them over to the authority's or not.
my thinking behind the idea of a VPS is that for one i could create the VPN myself and make sure that no logs are kept at all,
and two, that i could potentially sell off use of some of it to others and cover my own cost of the VSP (so i have been told).
however, there are a few things i dont totally understand yet, if i buy a VPS do i loose out on the option of different ip addys in a number of different countries like some VPN companies can offer?
i also dont understand what the difference is when it comes to buying a VPS at different bandwidth limit, does this mean that if i had a 1TB VPS that only 1TB of traffic can go through that server (both upload and download) accumulated from everyone that may be using it?
and would it be possible for me to be able to set up a VPS how i would need it and be able to set it up to divide it up for others to use, or would i need to be more tech savy than i am to be able to do this.
i would very much appreciate any help that is offered from anyone, and would hopefully like to find someone that wouldnt mind me picking there brain about this subject so i can ask the type of questions i want to know, not just the standard textbook way that things are supposed to work.
thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this, and even more thanks to anyone who is willing to help me out.
Cheers.
Paul
i am in need of a bit of anonymity so i am looking to set myself up with either a VPS or a VPN.
now, i am a beginner when it comes to either of them.
i wouldnt consider myself as tech savy, but i can use a computer at a average level.
however, i am a hands on learner, so most things i need to do i do a bit of research online on what to do and i am able to do most things i need this way.
i have been doing some reading up about both options, and although there is plenty to tell you what each one is, i havnt been able to find anything that tells me what i need to know about what one i need to go for.
i want to be able to do anything i want to do online, whether it is totally legit or a bit questionable without any worry of anything being tracked back to me.
now, i know that it would seem logical that i should go with a VPN, but i dont like the idea of not really knowing if the vpn host company are actually keeping logs on me or not, and whether they would hand them over to the authority's or not.
my thinking behind the idea of a VPS is that for one i could create the VPN myself and make sure that no logs are kept at all,
and two, that i could potentially sell off use of some of it to others and cover my own cost of the VSP (so i have been told).
however, there are a few things i dont totally understand yet, if i buy a VPS do i loose out on the option of different ip addys in a number of different countries like some VPN companies can offer?
i also dont understand what the difference is when it comes to buying a VPS at different bandwidth limit, does this mean that if i had a 1TB VPS that only 1TB of traffic can go through that server (both upload and download) accumulated from everyone that may be using it?
and would it be possible for me to be able to set up a VPS how i would need it and be able to set it up to divide it up for others to use, or would i need to be more tech savy than i am to be able to do this.
i would very much appreciate any help that is offered from anyone, and would hopefully like to find someone that wouldnt mind me picking there brain about this subject so i can ask the type of questions i want to know, not just the standard textbook way that things are supposed to work.
thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this, and even more thanks to anyone who is willing to help me out.
Cheers.
Paul
