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What Is Virtualization and Why You Should Care About It<\/h2>
Virtualization technology is software that enables users to create and manage multiple virtual environments, called virtual machines<\/strong> (VMs), in a physical server. Each VM operates as an autonomous server with its own operating system, applications, and dedicated hardware resources.<\/p> At the core of VPS virtualization is the hypervisor<\/strong>, a software layer positioned between the physical server and the VMs. It is responsible for allocating resources, creating VMs, and maintaining strict isolation between virtual machines.<\/p> Hypervisor allows the actions and processes of each VM in the same server to remain entirely independent, ensuring a secure and reliable hosting environment.<\/p> Virtualization’s main objective is to optimize hardware resource utilization, boost operational efficiency, and lower overall hosting costs. By running multiple VMs on a single host, the server can distribute workloads more evenly, resulting in more efficient resource usage.<\/p> This setup enables users to deploy diverse operating systems on each VM according to their needs, including Linux-based distributions like Ubuntu or CentOS. Moreover, they can install other software in an isolated environment based on their applications’ requirements.<\/p> KVM<\/strong> and Open Virtuozzo (OpenVZ<\/strong>) are popular virtualization technologies with distinct approaches. In this section, we will explain their pros and cons.<\/p> KVM or Kernel-based Virtual Machine<\/strong><\/p> KVM is a hardware-level virtualization solution that gives each VM a dedicated kernel for better environment isolation and security. It uses hardware virtualization extensions to create virtual environments.<\/p> Pros of KVM:<\/strong><\/p> Cons of KVM:<\/strong><\/p> OpenVZ or Open Virtuozzo<\/strong><\/p> OpenVZ is an operating system-level virtualization solution based on containerization. It shares the host OS kernel among multiple containers – in this case, VPS instances.<\/p> Pros of OpenVZ:<\/strong><\/p> Cons of OpenVZ:<\/strong><\/p> Hostinger uses both virtualizations, but now users can only purchase the KVM plan<\/a>. To help you understand its benefits, we will compare two Hostinger VPS plans with different virtualization technologies.<\/p> For the OpenVZ virtualization, we will use the old Hostinger VPS 2<\/strong> plan with two cores<\/strong> and 2 GB of RAM<\/strong>. We will compare it against the Hostinger KVM 1<\/strong> plan with KVM virtualization, one core<\/strong>, and 4 GB of RAM<\/strong>.<\/p> This test will measure three main performance metrics – CPU, storage, and network speed.<\/p> As of April 18th, 2023, all of the VPS plans Hostinger offers come with KVM virtualization<\/a> instead of the OpenVZ one. However, existing OpenVZ VPS users can still renew their plans.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p> CPU Speed – Geekbench<\/strong><\/p> CPU speed is a crucial factor in determining VPS performance. The CPU is the brain of the server responsible for executing instructions and processing data.<\/p> To ensure data accuracy, we use Geekbench<\/a> CPU benchmark software to test each VPS plan’s performance. A higher score means a faster and more powerful CPU.<\/p> The graph shows that the KVM 1<\/strong> plan offers 35%<\/strong> higher single-core CPU performance despite only having a single core compared to two in Hostinger’s VPS 2 OpenVZ<\/strong>. The multi-core performance is also nearly identical.<\/p> Storage Speed – FIO<\/strong><\/p> Storage speed, also known as disk speed or I\/O (Input\/Output) performance, is another critical factor significantly impacting a VPS’ overall performance. In this benchmark, we are testing a combined random read and write test (50\/50).<\/p> The read<\/strong> speed measures how fast the drive accesses data stored in it. Meanwhile, write <\/strong>speed <\/strong>measures how quickly the drive saves information.<\/p> The graph shows that the KVM plan offers a 67% <\/strong>increase in read and write speeds compared to the OpenVZ one.<\/p> Network Speed – iPerf3<\/strong><\/p> Network speed is crucial for fast data transfer, quick site load time, smooth media streaming, low-latency gaming, remote access, and handling concurrent users on a VPS. It ensures efficient content delivery, data backups, and software updates.<\/p> In the following benchmark, we compare network transfer speeds for Hostinger KVM 1<\/strong> and Hostinger VPS 2 OpenVZ <\/strong>plans using iPerf3<\/a>. This tool measures the maximum achievable bandwidth on a network, including between a client and VPS.<\/p> KVM shows 66%<\/strong> better performance in download and upload speeds. In addition, our new KVM plans use a 300<\/strong> Mbps <\/strong>network, while the deprecated OpenVZ plan uses 100<\/strong> Mbps<\/strong>.<\/p> Choosing Based on Performance<\/strong><\/p> KVM uses hardware virtualization extensions to create virtual environments, like Intel VT-x or AMD-V. As a result, it provides near-native performance for most workloads. It also gives each VM an independent kernel for better VPS isolation.<\/p> KVM is generally better for workloads requiring complete isolation, compatibility with various operating systems, and plenty of processing power due to its capabilities to optimize your WordPress website.<\/p> The best virtualization technology to optimize your WordPress site depends on various factors such as performance, resource requirements, scalability, isolation, and management complexity.<\/p> Both OpenVZ and KVM have their advantages and drawbacks for hosting WordPress websites. To help you pick the best one, let’s compare them based on their performance, scalability, and isolation.<\/p> Performance<\/strong><\/p> KVM provides near-native performance since it operates as a full virtualization solution with dedicated resources and hardware virtualization extensions. This makes it suitable for resource-intensive applications like WordPress, especially when you need consistent performance.<\/p> OpenVZ has lower overhead due to sharing the host OS kernel. It can achieve better resource efficiency and performance for lightweight applications or when hosting multiple instances of the same WordPress site.<\/p> Scalability<\/strong><\/p> KVM offers greater flexibility and scalability when adding more resources like CPU, RAM, and disk to individual VMs to accommodate various workloads.<\/p> OpenVZ containers share the host’s resources, making scaling out and deploying multiple instances of the same WordPress site easier.<\/p> Isolation<\/strong><\/p> KVM offers complete isolation between virtual machines, providing better security and separation between WordPress sites.<\/p> While OpenVZ containers provide some isolation, each VM is not fully independent. This could be a concern if you want to host multiple unrelated WordPress sites as it may cause software conflict.<\/p> KVM and OpenVZ for WordPress: Which One is Better?<\/strong><\/p> KVM is the better choice for a WordPress website if you prioritize high performance, complete isolation, and the ability to handle resource-intensive workloads.<\/p> In addition, KVM’s full virtualization approach ensures dedicated resources and strong isolation between VMs, preventing software conflicts. It makes the virtualization suitable for hosting multiple WordPress sites with different requirements.<\/p> To support this, we will compare the more powerful Hostinger VPS 4 OpenVZ<\/strong> plan with 4 CPU Cores<\/strong> + 4 GB of RAM <\/strong>against the Hostinger KVM 1 <\/strong>plan with a single core<\/strong> + 4 GB of RAM<\/strong>.<\/p> We will use GTmetrix<\/strong> to test three website types – personal, eCommerce, and web design agency. We will run the test five times and take the average score to see which configuration offers the fastest fully loaded time<\/strong>.<\/p> Important!<\/strong> All tests in this section use the LiteSpeed cache plugin on an OpenLiteSpeed web server. In addition to the virtualization, both software can significantly affect performance.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p> Personal<\/strong><\/p> A simple personal website usually functions to showcase personal information, interests, or projects. It typically serves as a digital identity or online portfolio, allowing visitors to learn more about the website owner and their activities.<\/p> The VPS requirement for this type of site is generally modest since personal websites are simple, draw low traffic, and consume minimal server resources. A VPS plan with one CPU core<\/strong> and 1-2 GB of RAM<\/strong> should be sufficient. Here’s the test result:<\/p> The graph shows that the KVM plan offers a considerable 10%<\/strong> site speed improvement. Moreover, it performs better despite having three<\/strong> fewer CPU cores<\/strong> than the OpenVZ one.<\/p> eCommerce<\/strong><\/p> Unlike personal websites, an eCommerce website<\/a> has more resource and feature requirements. It needs additional features for handling online transactions, showcasing product catalogs, and processing customer data.<\/p> As such, a WordPress-based online store is generally more resource-heavy than a simple personal website. Aside from the additional functionalities, an eCommerce website typically has more data and web pages to offer a seamless shopping experience to customers.<\/p> For these reasons, eCommerce websites deal with more complex operations and potentially higher traffic. So, we recommended having a VPS with at least two to four CPU cores<\/strong> and 4 GB to 8 GB of RAM<\/strong> to ensure optimal site performance.<\/p> Despite the fewer processing units, the KVM plan handles the eCommerce website well and offers a 21%<\/strong> page load time improvement compared to the OpenVZ VPS.<\/p> Web Design Agency<\/strong><\/p> A web design agency site is a digital platform showcasing a company’s services, expertise, portfolio, and contact information. Its primary purpose is to attract potential clients, demonstrate the agency’s capabilities, and provide essential information to visitors.<\/p> The requirements for a VPS will depend on factors such as the expected traffic, the number of websites hosted, the WordPress theme, and the web pages’ complexity.<\/p> For instance, the server resource consumption will increase if a page uses many JavaScript (JS) files and external HTTP requests. In addition, the more web pages a website has, the longer it takes to load.<\/p> You will also need a higher-performance VPS if the website requires specific services or applications, like a map API. A VPS hosting plan with at least two CPU cores<\/strong> and 4 GB RAM<\/strong> for a web design agency should be sufficient to start with.<\/p> Based on the findings, our new KVM 1 <\/strong>plan handles the web design agency WordPress website well, offering a 5%<\/strong> page speed improvement compared to the OpenVZ plan.<\/p> In addition to the virtualization technology, choosing the best web server is crucial to speed up your WordPress website performance. To help with your WordPress optimization, this section will compare three popular web servers – Apache<\/strong>, NGINX<\/strong>, and OpenLiteSpeed<\/strong>.<\/p> Apache is a popular web server currently powering around 30%<\/a> of websites worldwide, making it the second largest in the market. This open-source web server is known for its performance, extensive compatibility, and module system.<\/p> It is compatible with various operating systems, including OpenVMS and other Unix-like operating systems, like MacOS or Linux. It is also a recommended web server for hosting a WordPress site<\/a>.<\/p> The module system lets users add or remove functions to configure their web server according to their needs. In addition to flexibility, Apache modules are dynamically loadable, resulting in more efficient memory utilization and better performance.<\/p> Pros:<\/strong><\/p> Cons:<\/strong><\/p> NGINX is a free, open-source web server popular for its high performance, resource efficiency, and speed. It has a similar market share as Apache but is currently the most used web server, powering over 34%<\/a> of websites worldwide.<\/p> Unlike Apache, NGINX uses an asynchronous, event-driven architecture that efficiently distributes client requests across worker processes. It allows the web server to serve many concurrent connections with consistent performance and minimal resources.<\/p> Pros:<\/strong><\/p> Cons:<\/strong><\/p> Want to learn more about these two web servers? Check out our in-depth comparison between NGINX vs Apache<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p> OpenLiteSpeed is an open-source variant of LiteSpeed, a commercial web server designed to replace Apache. It is compatible with Apache configurations, enabling users to switch between the web servers without making significant changes.<\/p> However, OpenLiteSpeed offers significant performance and scalability improvements over Apache. It incorporates the asynchronous event-driven architecture similar to NGINX, resulting in better efficiency when handling concurrent connections.<\/p> Since Apache is more popular, OpenLiteSpeed’s community support may be less extensive. Moreover, it’s only compatible with Unix-like operating systems.<\/p> Pros:<\/strong><\/p> Cons:<\/strong><\/p> When choosing a web server for your WordPress website, note that each option has its strengths. Apache is well-established, user-friendly, and compatible with various applications. Meanwhile, NGINX performs better, efficiently handling concurrent connections and serving static content.<\/p> On the other hand, OpenLiteSpeed may be an excellent choice if you want an alternative to both web servers. It offers NGINX’s PHP handling performance with seamless Apache compatibility and straightforward configuration.<\/p> OpenLiteSpeed provides a balance between performance and ease of use, making it an ideal option for hosting a WordPress site. Its built-in caching capabilities and efficiency in handling PHP requests ensure optimal page speed and responsiveness.<\/p> Moreover, transitioning from Apache to OpenLiteSpeed is relatively seamless due to its compatibility with the web server’s configurations. Plus, you won’t experience a performance drop when switching from NGINX for their similar architecture.<\/p> To objectively measure their performance, we tested each web server by running personal, eCommerce, and web agency WordPress websites. Like the previous test, we will use GTmetrix and focus on the fully loaded time metric.<\/p> We also use the same VPS plan, Hostinger KVM 1<\/strong> with one core<\/strong> and 4 GB of RAM<\/strong>.<\/p> Our tests show that OpenLiteSpeed offers faster page speed for every website type than Apache and NGINX. It is 16% <\/strong>to 32%<\/strong> faster in fully loaded time than Apache and performs 14%<\/strong> to 38% <\/strong>better than NGINX.<\/p> In this section, we will explain the steps to set up OpenLiteSpeed and KVM virtualization using Hostinger’s VPS hosting for your WordPress site. Before proceeding, ensure you have purchased the new KVM hosting plan.<\/p>Types of Virtualization<\/h3>
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Pro Tip<\/h4>\n
![\"Graph](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/kvm-openvz-geekbench-cpu-performance-comparison-graph-1024x992.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>![\"Graph](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/kvm-openvz-fio-storage-speed-comparison-graph-1024x992.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>![\"Graph](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/Graph-comparing-the-iPerf3-network-speed-of-KVM-and-OpenVZ-1024x992.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>Best Virtualization for WordPress<\/h3>
![\"A](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/a-personal-website-landing-page-1024x584.png\")
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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>Best Web Server Choice for WordPress<\/h2>
Apache<\/h3>
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NGINX<\/h3>
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Learn More About NGINX vs Apache<\/h4>\n
OpenLiteSpeed<\/h3>
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Choosing the Best Web Server<\/h3>
![\"Graphs](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/apache-openlitespeed-nginx-performance-comparison-graphs-for-three-website-types-1024x992.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>How to Set Up Best-Optimized WordPress on Hostinger VPS (with OpenLiteSpeed and KVM)<\/h2>