Three terms that often get mixed up
Anyone renting a server runs into VPS, virtual server, root server, dedicated server and bare metal. The terms overlap – and some providers use them vaguely on purpose. Here is an honest breakdown:
- VPS / virtual server: a virtual machine on a physical host shared by several customers. CPU cores, RAM and storage are assigned to you, the hardware underneath is not.
- Root server: only describes access: you are the administrator (root) and may install anything. It can be a VPS or a dedicated server.
- Dedicated server / bare metal: an entire physical machine just for you – no neighbours and no virtualization layer in between.
There are also LXC containers: they share the host kernel, which makes them especially lean and affordable – ideal for Linux services, bots and Docker projects.
Side-by-side comparison
| LXC container | KVM VPS | Dedicated server | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware | shared, common kernel | shared, own kernel | exclusive |
| Root access | yes | yes | yes |
| Operating system | Linux | Linux or Windows, custom ISO | your choice |
| Provisioning | minutes | minutes | instant to 1–7 days |
| Scaling | in the dashboard | in the dashboard | hardware change only |
| Starting price with us | from €1.99 / month | from €3.49 / month | see dedicated page |
| Best for | Bots, web apps, Docker | Game servers, websites, Windows | Large networks, own virtualization |
When a VPS is the better choice
For most projects a KVM VPS is the most sensible start: it is ready in minutes, costs a fraction of a dedicated server and can be scaled up or down when needed. With us you get up to 16 Ryzen, 24 Xeon or 32 EPYC cores per VPS – enough for the vast majority of game servers, shops and applications.
- You are starting a new project: and do not yet know exactly how much power you need.
- You want to stay flexible: – cores and RAM can be changed without reinstalling.
- You need Windows: or your own ISO image.
When a dedicated server pays off
- Sustained load on all cores: e.g. large FiveM or Minecraft networks, rendering or build servers.
- Your own virtualization: you want to run Proxmox yourself and distribute VMs.
- Lots of RAM or storage: e.g. 128–256 GB RAM or several NVMe drives.
- Isolation: requirements that rule out shared hardware.
Our dedicated servers are available as instant servers in Frankfurt with a fixed monthly price and as SkyLink systems in Eygelshoven, delivered on request within 1–7 days.
Managed or unmanaged?
Root access comes with responsibility: updates, firewall, backups and monitoring are up to you. We take care of hardware, network, data center and DDoS protection. If you do not want to manage an operating system at all, ready-made services such as game servers, TeamSpeak or Discord bot hosting are the more relaxed choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is a root server the same as a dedicated server?
No. “Root” describes full administrator access, which you have on our VPS plans just as on dedicated servers. Dedicated means the entire hardware belongs to you.
Is a VPS slower than a dedicated server?
Not necessarily. The cores and RAM assigned to you are yours. A current Ryzen VPS can be faster for game servers than an older dedicated machine. A dedicated server mainly pays off for constant full load or when you want to virtualize yourself.
What is bare metal?
Another term for a dedicated physical server without a virtualization layer – you work directly on the hardware.
Can I move from a VPS to a dedicated server later?
Yes, via a migration: provision the new server, transfer data, switch DNS. Our migration checklist shows how to do it without long downtime.
Which is cheaper: LXC or KVM?
LXC containers start at €1.99 and KVM VPS plans at €3.49 per month. LXC is leaner but only supports Linux and no custom kernel.
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