Comparing Semi-Dedicated and Cloud VPS / Cloud Compute Packages Print

Hawk Host offers semi-dedicated hosting and cloud compute hosting, both services are catered towards higher resource websites & applications. As both the semi-dedicated and compute plans offer significant resource upgrades compared to shared hosting, this article will provide a breakdown of the differences between semi-dedicated environments and compute environments.

Semi-Dedicated Hosting Features:

• Provides cPanel access like standard shared hosting
• Offers extra software features like standard shared hosting (SpamExperts email filtering, Acronis backups, PHP Selector, Node.JS application manager, Litespeed web server, Imunify360 malware and virus protection)
• Hosting server environment is managed by Hawk Host
• Has limits like total PHP processes (15), MySQL concurrent connections (50), and total processes (100).
• Has CPU, RAM, and disk IO limits (individual values increase as you use higher tier SD plans)

In general, a semi-dedicated plan is best for a high traffic or high resource website that is already properly optimized. This allows you to continue hosting in a shared-type environment with no server level management responsibilities, while enjoying the performance and resources of an enterprise level hosting configuration. If you rely on features such as SpamExperts, Acronis for backups, or legacy PHP versions, you may want to consider a semi-dedicated environment over a compute. A semi-dedicated plan can be migrated/upgraded to a compute at any time with the help of our team.

Cloud Compute Hosting Features:

• Full root access within your own private server environment
• By default a base installation of your chosen OS. Control panels like cPanel/WHM, DirectAdmin, or any other panel you choose must be added to have a web based GUI to manage your sites or services
• Does not include software features like SpamExperts, Acronis backups, PHP Selector, or Litespeed by default. Many features can be added through paid licenses, there is no restriction on the software you can install on your compute
• Semi-Managed hosting environment. What this means is Hawk Host can help with major issues such as your compute not booting, system services not starting, an unresponsive compute, or other similar critical system-level issues. Our compute support does not extend to acting as a personal webmaster/sysadmin for tasks related to your websites individual software and management, installing or maintaining custom OS level software, debugging your code, etc.
• Does not have software-defined limits like PHP processes or MySQL connections
• Does not have software-defined CPU, RAM, or disk IO limits. All sites or applications have full access to all compute hardware resources by default 

In general, a cloud compute is best for an application or website that needs all restrictions or resource limiting removed. It is also suitable for users who require complete control over their hosting environment and the ability to modify system level software and configurations. Users who experience network / DDoS attacks are also best hosted on a compute. Hawk Host offers DDoS protected IP options with all compute plans for an additional layer of protection within a compute environment.