VPS stands for Virtual Private Servers, which are emerging as a robust tool for businesses and individuals. It offers flexibility, scalability, and control over computing resources. Being a developer, an entrepreneur, or an IT professional, everyone has a question in mind: what application or software can be installed on a VPS? The versatility of VPS opens a door for multiple possibilities, enabling users to deploy a myriad of applications and software to tailor their specific needs. Thus, since a VPS starts functioning like a dedicated server, you can install almost any application or software you want. Under this, you can manage the entire root control of your VPS and operate it as you need.
VPS servers offer you features similar to those of a dedicated server. As you have root access to your server and administrative control, you have the freedom to set it up in a manner that you find reliable for your business. You get dedicated but limited resources for disk space, RAM, CPU, etc. The environment of a VPS server is one of the most flexible ones and enables it to run on different kinds of software. It has been demonstrated that a VPS server that does not impose any restrictions on resource usage is capable of supporting demanding software.
Software that requires minimal resources runs very efficiently on a VPS server. But if you want a closed environment for your software, you can convert a dedicated server into a virtual space of your own. This enables your server to run email servers, websites, VPNs, etc. In this guide, we are going to embark on a journey to explore the number of applications and software that can be installed on a VPS. So, without any delay, let’s get started.
Thus, these are a few examples of applications and software you can install on a VPS according to your specific requirements. However, you need to ensure that you have the necessary permissions to install and configure software on your VPS and consider security best practices when managing your server.
Software You Can Install on VPS
As discussed, a Virtual Private Server can host numerous software depending on the requirements of businesses and individuals. Virtual servers come with ample storage space and can handle a massive volume of traffic and processing. This arrangement minimizes downtime so that businesses can scale online operations without interruptions. Furthermore, VPS hosting offers individuals the freedom to configure the server to any specification and install any specific software. Here are some common types of list of software that can be installed on a VPS are as follows: Content Management System (CMS): CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal can be easily installed on your VPS. It empowers you to create, manage, and customize your online presence for managing website content. E-commerce Platforms: If you are into e-commerce, VPS supports platforms like Magento, WooCommerce, and Shopify for running online stores. Database Servers: MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and others can be installed to manage databases. Development Tools: Git, Docker, Jenkins, and others can be installed for software development and deployment purposes. Web Servers: Apache, Nginx, or LiteSpeed are the software that can be installed to serve web pages and applications. Security Software: For enhanced security, safeguard your VPS with firewall software (UFW), an Intrusion detection system (IDS), antivirus software, and an SSL certificate to encrypt data transmissions.Application You Can Install on VPS
There are so many applications that can be installed on VPS without any need for modifications. Registered users can run a number of standard and commercial applications quite successfully and easily. Some common applications that can be installed on VPS are as follows:| Application Category | Examples |
| Web Servers | Apache, Nginx, LiteSpeed |
| Database Servers | MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB |
| Application Servers | Tomcat, JBoss, Node.js |
| Content Management Systems | WordPress, Drupal, Joomla |
| E-commerce Platforms | Magento, WooCommerce, Shopify |
| Development Tools | Git, Subversion, Docker, Jenkins |
| Email Servers | Postfix, Exim, Dovecot |
| Monitoring & Analytics | Nagios, Zabbix, Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack |
| Security Software | Firewalls, IDS, Antivirus Software |
| FTP Servers | vsftpd, ProFTPD, Pure-FTPd |
| Collaboration Tools | Nextcloud, Mattermost, OpenProject |
| VPN Servers | OpenVPN, WireGuard, SoftEther VPN |