What do these terms mean?

In hosting and server management, technical terms can be confusing. This article explains these concepts clearly, helping you understand their importance and make better hosting decisions.

Definitions

VPS: A VPS, or Virtual Private Server, is a fully containerized computer that is able to run multiple apps. It (and multiple other VPS servers) runs on a hypervisor software, which in itself runs on a base server.

Pterodactyl: Pterodactyl, commonly referred to as Ptero, is a panel that allows you to manage docker containers. It works by connecting to servers via a system called Wings (a server manager) and giving you a web interface to control them.

SFTP: SFTP is a secure protocol to send files between two servers. It is a combination of FTP (File Transport Protocol) and SSH (Secure Shell Protocol). It works by splitting files into what are called Packets, encrypting each packet, sending it over the internet, decrypting the packets, and adding them to the server.

Git: Git is a file tracking protocol that tracks changes made to files. I've written a longer article about git entitled Pull, Push, and Merge: Basics of Git

MySQL: MySQL is a database system that uses relational data and structured query language to store data. Think of it like an efficient Excel Document that stores data in tables. Each database can store multiple tables.

Docker: Docker is a platform that creates a container on a device and runs it seperately from other functions on your computer. Each docker container can have its own libraries, configuration, and software. Pterodactyl uses Docker for each container and manages them using Wings.

Hypervisor: A hypervisor is a software that runs virtual machine containers. It works by splitting each VPS into a seperate container and runs a full software on it. While docker creates a container that runs a function, a hypervisor creates a VPS that acts as a fully seperate computer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding these terms is crucial for anyone involved in hosting and server management. By familiarizing yourself with VPS, Pterodactyl, and other related technologies, you can make more informed decisions and optimize your infrastructure effectively. Whether you're managing a small personal project or a large-scale enterprise system, these concepts form the backbone of modern computing and can significantly impact your workflow and efficiency.