What is a managed Linux virtual server?
A virtual server (VPS, or VM for virtual machine) is an independent server running on a shared physical machine: the virtual processors (vCPU), memory and storage allocated to it are reserved for it alone. With HaiSoft managed services, our engineers install, update, secure and monitor your Linux server: you have a server of your own, without having to administer it.
A managed Linux virtual server is particularly suited to:
- websites and online shops that have outgrown shared hosting;
- web agencies hosting their clients' websites on a server dedicated to their business;
- web applications, APIs and MariaDB (MySQL) databases;
- development, test and staging environments;
- applications such as Nextcloud or Moodle (see our application solutions).
Virtual server, shared hosting or dedicated server: which should you choose?
| Criterion | Shared hosting | Linux virtual server | Dedicated server |
|---|
| Resources | Shared between several customers | vCPU, RAM and storage reserved on a shared machine | Entire physical machine reserved |
|---|
| Configuration | Set by the hosting provider | Software, versions and services of your choice | Software, versions and services of your choice |
|---|
| Typical use | Brochure site, blog | Medium-traffic websites, applications, multiple websites | High-traffic websites, e-commerce, demanding business applications |
|---|
| HaiSoft managed services | Included | Included | Included |
|---|
| Price | From €3.99 excl. VAT/month | €39 to €69 excl. VAT/month, or custom | €99 to €399 excl. VAT/month |
|---|
For a first website, shared hosting is often enough; for fully reserved resources, choose a managed dedicated server. For a detailed comparison: Virtual server or shared server: the advantages of a managed virtual server.
What virtual server management includes
Management is included in the rental of every HaiSoft virtual server. It covers:
- installation and initial configuration of the server;
- round-the-clock monitoring of the server by our technicians: the main services are checked every 5 to 15 minutes and a technician steps in if anything goes wrong;
- a hardware guarantee: faulty infrastructure parts are replaced within 4 hours of the problem being detected;
- a network connection guarantee, with availability above 99.9%;
- simple package installation and configuration;
- updates of server components (PHP, MariaDB, Apache, Plesk…);
- ticket support 24/7, with a response within 2 hours during business hours.
More specific operations, such as installing software that has to be compiled, are carried out on a quote basis. Details in our service commitments (SLA).
Linux virtual server specifications
| Plan | Processor | Memory | Storage | Price |
|---|
| VM Small | 2 vCPU | 2 GB RAM | 50 GB SSD | €39 excl. VAT/month |
|---|
| VM Medium | 4 vCPU | 4 GB RAM | 100 GB SSD | €49 excl. VAT/month |
|---|
| VM Large | 8 vCPU | 8 GB RAM | 200 GB SSD | €69 excl. VAT/month |
|---|
All plans include the Plesk panel, monitoring and management. Need a different combination? Configure your virtual server: operating system, 2 to 8 vCPU, 2 to 64 GB of RAM and 50 to 200 GB of SSD storage, with the price shown live. Your virtual server is up and running within 1 working day.
Debian or AlmaLinux: which Linux distribution?
HaiSoft Linux virtual servers are available with Debian or AlmaLinux. Since 2024, HaiSoft has installed its new servers with Debian, a community distribution renowned for its stability and long-term security support; AlmaLinux remains available for applications that require a Red Hat-compatible environment. We explain this choice in our article Goodbye AlmaLinux, hello Debian!.
Plesk and administration tools
The Plesk panel lets you administer your server from a web browser: adding domains and websites, running several PHP versions side by side, MariaDB databases, FTP accounts, Let's Encrypt SSL certificates, email addresses and backups. On a virtual server, you can also:
- deploy your websites from a Git repository (GitLab, GitHub) with the Plesk Git extension, and automate deployment on every push using a webhook;
- enable Fail2Ban, which blocks the IP addresses of bots trying to guess your passwords (SSH, FTP, email, Plesk, WordPress);
- manage your WordPress websites with the WordPress Toolkit;
- relay your outgoing email through MailChannels, as an option, for better deliverability.
Root SSH access: available on request. We first explain the risks: with root access, a wrong command can make the server unusable, and the customer is then solely responsible for any problems they cause. For most uses, Plesk and our managed services are all you need.
Should you enable automatic updates? We answer that question in the article Plesk servers: should you enable automatic updates?.
