What is a Windows VPS for?

Part 4 of the series on choosing the right kind of RackNerd hosting.

Most VPS guides assume Linux. A Windows VPS runs Windows Server instead, and you use it through a remote desktop that looks much like a normal Windows PC. This guide explains what it is good for, what it costs you in memory and licences, how to secure it on day one, and when a Linux VPS is the better choice.

The honest summary: a Windows VPS is the right tool when you need software that only runs on Windows. For websites, VPNs and most self-hosted apps, Linux is usually cheaper, lighter and better documented.

What is in this guide

• A few words you will see
• What a Windows VPS is
• Good uses
• When Linux is the better choice
• How much memory you need
• Licences to check
• Connecting with Remote Desktop
• Securing it on day one
• Troubleshooting
• Limits
• When to step up
• More in the series

A few words you will see

Term	What it means
Windows Server	The edition of Windows made for servers. It looks like desktop Windows but is set up differently.
RDP	Remote Desktop Protocol: the standard way to see and use a Windows server's desktop from another device.
Remote Desktop client	The app you use to connect. Built into Windows, and available for macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Administrator	The main admin account on the server.
Windows Firewall	The firewall built into Windows. It decides which connections reach the server.
Licence	Permission to use software. Windows itself and some apps on it need one.

What a Windows VPS is

A Windows VPS is a virtual server running Windows Server. Like a Linux VPS, it has a set amount of memory, CPU and disk, and it runs all the time in a data centre. The difference is how you use it: instead of a command line over SSH, you usually connect to a full desktop with Remote Desktop.

That makes it feel familiar to anyone who uses Windows. You can install programs, open a browser and leave apps running after you disconnect.

It is still unmanaged. You install software, run Windows Update, set up the firewall and keep backups. Support can help with the server itself, but usually not with your apps.

Good uses

• Windows-only software that needs to run all the time. Some business tools, automation apps and data tools only run on Windows. A VPS keeps them running when your own PC is off.
• Apps built on Microsoft technology. Websites or services built for IIS, ASP.NET (older .NET Framework apps in particular) or Microsoft SQL Server.
• A remote Windows desktop. A Windows machine you can reach from a Mac, a Chromebook or a phone, for occasional tasks that need Windows.
• Game servers that only ship for Windows. Some dedicated game server programs have no Linux version. Check the game's own documentation. See VPS for game servers.
• Testing. Checking that your software installs and runs on Windows Server.

When Linux is the better choice

For many jobs, a Linux VPS does the same work for less money and less memory.

Job	Usually better on	Why
WordPress or most websites	Linux	Most web software is built and documented for Linux
VPN	Linux	Lighter and well supported. See setting up a VPN
Docker and self-hosted apps	Linux	Most containers are Linux containers
Small bots and scripts	Linux	Python, Node.js and similar run well on small Linux plans
Windows-only desktop software	Windows	It will not run on Linux
IIS and Microsoft SQL Server apps	Windows	They are built for it

If you are not sure, check whether your software has a Linux version. If it does, a Linux VPS is usually the cheaper and simpler option. The advantages of a VPS covers the basics.

How much memory you need

Windows uses far more memory at idle than a minimal Linux server, because it runs a full desktop and many background services. These are rough figures and vary with the Windows version and what you run:

Memory	What to expect
2 GB	A practical minimum. Fine for one light app and occasional remote desktop use. It can feel slow.
4 GB	More comfortable for a desktop session plus one or two apps.
6 GB to 8 GB	Room for heavier apps, a database or several programs at once.

Windows also needs more disk space than Linux, and updates take space too. Leave plenty free. A page file, the Windows version of swap, helps when memory runs short, but like swap it is a safety net, not extra RAM. Test your own apps in the first days and watch memory in Task Manager.

Licences to check

Licensing is where Windows differs most from Linux. Check these before you order, and follow Microsoft's current terms rather than this summary:

• Windows itself. Check on the order page whether the Windows licence is included in the plan price or charged as an extra.
• More than one user at a time. Windows Server allows a small number of admin remote sessions. Running a server for several people to use at once usually needs extra Remote Desktop licences.
• Your apps. Microsoft Office, SQL Server and many business programs have their own licence terms for servers. A licence for your home PC may not cover a server.
• Game and trading software. Some software restricts where it may run. Read its terms.

Connecting with Remote Desktop

1. Find your details. The welcome email gives the server's IP address, the Administrator username and a password.
2. Open a Remote Desktop client. On Windows, search for "Remote Desktop Connection". On macOS, iOS or Android, install Microsoft's Remote Desktop app from the official app store. On Linux, use a client such as Remmina from your package manager.
3. Connect. Enter the IP address, then the username and password. Accept the certificate warning the first time, as the server uses its own certificate.
4. Wait for the first start. The first login can take a while as Windows finishes setting up.

When you close the Remote Desktop window, your session stays running in the background unless you sign out. Programs keep working while you are disconnected.

Securing it on day one

A Windows server with Remote Desktop open to the internet attracts automated login attempts within hours. Do these first:

1. Change the Administrator password to a long, unique one stored in a password manager. Press Ctrl+Alt+End inside the remote session to reach the change password option.
2. Run Windows Update from Settings until no more updates are offered, rebooting as needed. This can take a while on a fresh server.
3. Limit who can reach Remote Desktop. In Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security, open the inbound Remote Desktop rules and, under Scope, allow only your own IP address if it does not change often. A safer option is to reach the server only through a VPN. See setting up a VPN.
4. Keep Network Level Authentication turned on. It is in the Remote Desktop settings and makes login attempts cheaper for the server to reject.
5. Create a separate account for daily use if others will log in, and only give admin rights to people who need them.
6. Leave Microsoft Defender on and up to date.
7. Do not use the server for everyday browsing. Install what you need and close the browser. Less use means fewer risks.
8. Plan backups. Do not assume backups are included. Copy important data to somewhere else regularly, and test a restore.

Before you change firewall rules, keep the current session open, and know how to reach the console in the VPS control panel in case you lock yourself out. For general principles, see securing your VPS.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Cannot connect at all	Server still setting up, wrong IP, or a firewall rule blocks you	Wait a few minutes, check the IP, or use the control panel console to fix the firewall rule
Connected but very slow	Updates running, or too little memory	Let updates finish, then check Task Manager. Lower the colour depth and screen size in your Remote Desktop client
Locked out after a firewall change	Your IP changed, or the rule was too strict	Use the control panel console to adjust the Scope of the Remote Desktop rule
Account locked	Too many failed logins, possibly from attackers	Use the console to unlock it, then limit Remote Desktop to your IP or a VPN
Disk filling up	Updates, logs or downloads	Run Disk Cleanup and remove old downloads

Limits

• Not a gaming PC. A Windows VPS has no graphics card for games or video editing. Remote desktop is fine for normal apps, not for fast visuals.
• More memory for the same job. A job that fits on a 1 GB Linux plan may need 2 GB or more on Windows.
• Licences cost money and need care. Using software beyond its licence terms is your risk, not the provider's.
• Rules still apply. RackNerd's acceptable use policy covers Windows plans. Unmetered does not mean unlimited, and fair-use limits apply to CPU and bandwidth.
• Fewer guides for beginners. Most self-hosting tutorials, including many on this site, assume Linux.

When to step up

If your Windows apps keep running out of memory, or the desktop is slow even after updates finish, step up to the next size. If you run something heavy all day, such as a busy database or many users, a dedicated server may be a better fit. And if your software has a Linux version, compare a Linux VPS before paying for a bigger Windows one.

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

More in the series

This is part 4 of 5. Previous: Reseller hosting for freelancers and small agencies. Next: Using a storage VPS for backups. See the whole series.