10 Things to Check When Renting a VDS Server (Checklist)

Renting a VDS takes a few clicks; renting the right VDS takes a bit of research. Plan tables look very similar: vCPU, RAM, disk, traffic. The real differences are often hidden in the fine print or in details that aren't mentioned at all. In this article we've put together a checklist of what to verify when renting a VDS server before you buy, plus a few simple tests you can run in the first hour after the server is delivered. If you're curious about the basic difference between a VDS and a VPS, see our VPS vs VDS article.

Before you buy: 7 checks

1. Is the CPU model clearly stated?

"2 vCPU" on its own doesn't mean much. There can be a serious performance gap between a core of an older-generation server processor and a core of a current one. A good plan page states the CPU model clearly. If it doesn't, ask; if you can't get an answer, treat that as a warning sign.

2. Are the cores really dedicated?

The whole point of a VDS is that CPU power is reserved for you. Look for "dedicated vCPU", "dedicated core" or a similar phrase in the plan description. Simply saying "VDS" isn't enough, because some providers use the terms VPS and VDS interchangeably. We explain below how to test this after delivery.

3. Is the RAM guaranteed?

If the plan says 4 GB of RAM, that memory should be reserved for you under all conditions. In some virtualization setups memory is defined as "flexible" and can be reclaimed under heavy load. On a VDS, that's not acceptable.

4. Disk type and size

The speed difference between NVMe SSD, SATA SSD and HDD is large. If you're going to run a database, an online store or a game server, disk type matters as much as the CPU. When sizing your disk, remember that the operating system, log files and local backups will also take up space.

5. Traffic quota and port speed

Is there a monthly traffic quota, and what happens when it runs out? There are three possibilities: the server is shut down, you're charged extra, or the speed is reduced. The third is the most predictable. For plans labeled "unlimited", read the fair use terms too.

6. Location and network

If your users are in Turkey, having the server in Turkey as well reduces latency. For details, take a look at our Turkey-located VPS article. Before buying, test the provider's network with its looking glass tool; at TürkiyeVPS, this tool is on the Looking Glass page.

7. Support, payment and cancellation terms

• Through which channels and at what hours is support provided? Is it in Turkish?
• Which payment methods are accepted? Do prices include VAT?
• Where are the cancellation and refund terms written? Read the distance sales agreement.
• When you need to grow, can you upgrade the plan with your data preserved?

After delivery: 3 tests in the first hour

Once your server is delivered, connect via SSH and run the checks below. The commands are for Ubuntu 24.04 and Debian 12.

8. Verify the CPU and memory

nproc
lscpu | grep -E 'Model name|^CPU\(s\)'
free -h

nproc shows the number of assigned cores, lscpu the CPU model and free -h the total memory. The values should match the plan page.

Next, check the steal time value to see whether the CPU is really dedicated to you. Steal time is the share of time your virtual server wanted the CPU but had to wait in line on the physical machine:

sudo apt install -y sysstat
mpstat 5 12

This command takes a measurement every five seconds for one minute. On a server with a dedicated CPU, the %steal column should be very close to zero. If it stays low even when you put load on the server (e.g. during a compile), the CPU really is dedicated to you.

9. Measure disk speed

You can measure disk performance with the fio tool. The test below performs random 4 KB reads and writes on a temporary 1 GB file for 60 seconds, a scenario similar to a database workload:

sudo apt install -y fio
fio --name=test --filename=/root/fio-test --size=1G --rw=randrw --bs=4k \
    --direct=1 --ioengine=libaio --iodepth=32 --runtime=60 --time_based --group_reporting
rm -f /root/fio-test

In the results, look at the IOPS values on the read and write lines. On NVMe disks these values are noticeably higher than on SATA SSDs. Don't run the test on a server hosting live data during peak hours; it keeps the disk busy for a full minute.

10. Check the network and security

From your own computer, measure latency to the server with ping and traceroute (tracert on Windows). Then secure your server: update the system, switch to SSH keys and enable the firewall. We walk through all of these steps in order in our Linux server security guide. At the very least, run these three commands on day one:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw enable

Checklist summary

What do TürkiyeVPS VDS plans include?

Our VDS plans clearly state the CPU model (Intel Core i5-10400F) and the number of dedicated vCPUs, and RAM is guaranteed. The servers are in Istanbul; traffic is unlimited, with no monthly quota and no speed throttling. You get root access with Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 12 and a browser-based web terminal. If you'd like to start on a smaller budget, take a look at our shared-CPU VPS plans as well. We explain in detail what drives prices in our VDS prices article.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell whether a VDS really has a dedicated CPU?

Check the %steal value with the mpstat 5 12 command. On a server with a dedicated CPU, this value stays very close to zero even when the server is under load. If it's consistently above a few percent, the CPU may be shared.

Can I install Windows on a VDS?

It depends on the provider. At TürkiyeVPS, servers are delivered with Linux (Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 12); we don't offer Windows servers.

What's the minimum amount of RAM I should get when renting a VDS?

For a single small site or bot, 1-2 GB is usually enough. For WordPress e-commerce, a database or multiple services in Docker, 4 GB or more is a more comfortable starting point. Monitor usage with free -h and upgrade if needed.

Will the fio test harm my server?

No, the test runs on a temporary file it creates itself, and you just need to delete that file at the end. However, because it uses the disk heavily while it runs, don't run it on a live server during peak hours.