While always a more cost-effective option than a dedicated server, in its nascent phase the virtual private server (VPS) presented fairly basic features and limited power, but Lunarpages is changing the industry by offering low-cost VPS products that are technologically advanced and packed with new features that specifically cater to advanced users and developers. The company is a low-cost leader when it comes to hosting, and this turn of events might help the low-cost virtual private server industry become more robust and up-to-date. Those customers looking for a even higher-tech virtual private server than is typically offered will be delighted by what Lunarpages.com is selling.

Advanced Features Set Lunarpages Virtual Private Server (VPS) Products Apart

It’s easy for all of the virtual private server (VPS) hosting options on the market to blur together after a prolonged period of searching of the best fit. Lunarpages is doing their best to prevent that from happening when customers investigate their own VPS hosting options; the company offers Windows and Linux hosting with only a minor price disparity, and also offers access to Microsoft WebMatrix as part of its Windows Server hosting packages. Unlike other discount virtual private server (VPS) providers, Lunarpages installs Windows Server 2008 on all of its virtual private server (VPS) products, instead of the outdated Windows Server 2003.

In addition to these leading-edge features for Window users, Lunarpages powers both its Windows and Linux virtual private server (VPS) products with the Plesk Parallels panel. That allows customers to instantly install any software application on their server, as well as resell space and bandwidth on the server and scale services and features to the given need a customer has. This is among the most innovative virtual private server (VPS) control panels on the market.

Of course, customers can opt for more standard installations, with Linux customers having the choice of cPanel over the Plesk Parallels installation, and Windows customers being able to opt for .NET technologies, Java runtimes, and Microsoft SQL software.

Lunarpages also offers the highly-scalable Xen Cloud platform, which supports the company’s proprietary control panel technologies as well as Microsoft and Linux alternatives.

Four Pricing Plans Depending on Platform

Virtual private server (VPS) packages at Lunarpages.com come in four distinct flavors, depending on the operating system installed and the platform chosen (either Xen Cloud or Plesk Parallels). The most affordable plans are those which run the Plesk Parallels software.

The servers in this category include 512MB of RAM, 30GB of hard disk storage space, and 1TB of monthly data transfer. One IP address is included for both the Windows and Linux options. For Linux customers, this virtual private server (VPS) costs $44.95 per month, while Windows customers will pay $59.95 monthly.

Those virtual private server (VPS) customers who choose the Xen Cloud platform offered by Lunarpages will pay slightly more on a monthly basis for their hosting services. These servers are also slightly higher-powered, with 1GB of memory, 50GB of hard disk space, and 1TB of monthly bandwidth paired with one static IP address. For Linux customers, a Xen Cloud virtual private server (VPS) solution costs $57.95 monthly, while Windows customers can expect to pay a slighter higher monthly price of $75.95.

Those customers who prefer a managed virtual private server (VPS) solution will appreciate the two affordable server management packages sold by Lunarpages. For basic (known as Lite) management, customers will pay an extra $9.99 per month; for more robust management (called “Intense”), customers can expect to add $24.99 to their monthly virtual private server (VPS) hosting fee.

The Lunarpages Uptime Guarantee and Support Options

Lunarpages.com proudly advertises that the company strives to maintain 99.90 percent uptime across all of its products, and it guarantees its customers that it will meet that target consistently. Should extended downtime occur, customers who have virtual private server (VPS) hosting with the company can expect a refund on their next month’s hosting bill that compensates for the outage.

Customers in need of technical support will find the Lunarpages toll-free customer service line to be of great help. The service isn’t 24 hours, however, but is rather available from 7am through 7pm Pacific Standard Time. In the event that a support issue arises when the hotline is non-operational, customers can file a support ticket using the company’s priority-based help desk solution.

Those virtual private server (VPS) users with some technical knowledge will appreciate the company’s community forums and its innovative, self-hosted wiki. That wiki can help server users diagnose, understand, and even repair their own issues without relying on technicians or the toll-free hotline.

Lunarpages is Ahead of the Competition

Most virtual private server (VPS) hosting companies are okay with simply installing Windows Server or Linux operating systems onto their products and letting users figure out the rest on their own. That approach isn’t good enough for Lunarpages, however, which commits to major technologies — WebMatrix, Xen Cloud, and Plesk Parallels — while still being competitive on price and technical support. The truly technology-minded hosting customers need look no further than Lunarpages for a good partner in high-tech pursuits.