Choosing the right kind of RackNerd hosting

The hub for the series on choosing the right kind of RackNerd hosting.

RackNerd sells more than Linux VPS plans. It also sells shared hosting, reseller hosting, Windows VPS plans, storage-focused VPS plans and dedicated servers. Each one suits a different kind of person. This series explains the types that most beginner guides skip, so you can pick the one that fits your job rather than the one that looks cheapest.

The guides do not list prices or say what is in stock. Plans change daily, and the lists on these pages are live.

What is in this guide

• The five parts
• Every hosting type in one table
• Where to start
• Which plan for which job
• What this series does not cover
• When to step up

The five parts

Part	Guide	What it covers
1	Shared hosting or a VPS for your first website?	Who should skip the VPS, what shared hosting does for you, and moving up later.
2	Add-on domains and cPanel accounts explained	The terms in shared and reseller plan names, and how to read a plan description.
3	Reseller hosting for freelancers and small agencies	Hosting client sites, what becomes your job, charging clients and keeping sites safe.
4	What is a Windows VPS for?	Good uses, memory and licences, Remote Desktop and day-one security.
5	Using a storage VPS for backups	Off-site, encrypted and tested backups with rsync and restic.

Every hosting type in one table

Type	Who runs the server	Best for	Skills needed
Shared hosting	The provider	Your own websites and email	A web control panel
Reseller hosting	The provider	Hosting websites for clients	A control panel, plus running a small service
Linux VPS	You	Websites, VPNs, apps, learning	Linux command line basics
Windows VPS	You	Windows-only software running all the time	Windows and Remote Desktop
Storage VPS	You	Backups and file storage	Linux command line basics
Dedicated server	You	Heavy workloads running all day	Confident server admin

Where to start

• You want your first website. Read part 1. If shared hosting fits, part 2 helps you compare plans.
• You build sites for other people. Read part 3, with part 2 for the terms.
• You need a program that only runs on Windows. Read part 4.
• You already have a server and no off-site backup. Read part 5 today.
• You are about to buy in a sale. Read the buyer's series as well.

Which plan for which job

A rough starting point, not a promise. Needs vary with software, settings and traffic. Test your own workload in the first few days.

Job	A sensible starting plan	More reading
A blog or small business site	Shared hosting	Part 1
A few of your own small sites	Shared hosting with add-on domains	Part 2
Sites for several clients	Reseller hosting	Part 3
A site needing custom software	2 GB Linux VPS	VPS for websites
Windows-only app, light use	2 GB Windows VPS	Part 4
Windows desktop plus a few apps	4 GB Windows VPS or more	Part 4
Off-site backups	A VPS with lots of disk and 1 GB to 2 GB of memory	Part 5
Self-hosted apps	2 GB to 4 GB Linux VPS	VPS for self-hosting
Very large storage or heavy load	Dedicated server	What can you do with a dedicated server

What this series does not cover

• Managed services. RackNerd VPS plans, including Windows and storage plans, are unmanaged. You look after what runs on them.
• Every operating system. The Linux examples use Ubuntu and Debian. Other systems need their own documentation.
• Legal or licensing advice. Part 4 points out licences to check. Follow the software maker's current terms.
• Other providers and services. Sometimes a hosted shop platform, a dedicated email service or pay-per-use cloud storage suits a job better than any hosting plan. That is a fine choice.

Some cautions apply to every type: "unlimited" and "unmetered" are still subject to fair use, swap is a safety net and not extra RAM, RackNerd's acceptable use policy covers what you host, and backups are your job unless a plan clearly says otherwise.

When to step up

Shared hosting usually leads to reseller hosting if you take on clients, or to a VPS if you need more control. A small VPS leads to a bigger one when memory runs short. When a workload is heavy all day, every day, a dedicated server is the next step.

To compare what is available now, start with the cheapest RackNerd VPS guide and check the sales page.