VPS v3 Release Notes

This document describes several differences between our third- and second-generation VPS servers. In this document, VPS v3 refers to our FreeBSD 6-based servers, and VPS v2 refers to our FreeBSD 4.7-based servers.

What's New

• Increased disk space
• FreeBSD 6 operating system
  • Improved system scheduler for better account isolation and "fair share" technology performance
  • Better threading support (e.g., MySQL)
  • Improved application support (Apache 2, Ports collection)
  • Java support
• UFS2 File System
• Core Services
  • Apache 2.2.4 preinstalled (Apache 1.x available)
  • Telnet is disabled by default, in favor of SSH
• Custom Software Installers
  • PHP 5.x (default version)
  • MySQL 5.0.x (default version)
  • Perl 5.8.7 (default version)
• Java (supported on VPS Pro Plus)
  • Java Developer's Kit
  • Java Runtime Engine
  • Tomcat web server
• Software firewall

Differences Between VPS v2 and VPS v3

This section includes a brief list of differences between VPS v3 and VPS v2. It discusses the most used and popular elements of the VPS server, including the Apache Web server, PHP, MySQL, and vinstall library, including updates to the WordPress vinstall.

The VPS v3 is a significant upgrade to the VPS products. Because VPS v3 includes upgrades to the operating system and the file system, almost all programs and services on the server vary technically in some way from other VPS products. Accordingly, interaction with frequently used and common elements of the server may change.

However, the VPS v3 operating system and file system perform almost identically to VPS v2. This means your interaction with most wrappers, scripts, services, and programs on VPS v3 should not change. For example, your usage of command-line wrappers such as vadduser or vaddhost does not change.

Web Server

The VPS v3 comes with the Apache Web server version 2.x installed by default. This new version performs faster and executes requests in a more optimized fashion than previous versions. The Apache 2 Web server also provides native support for the increasingly popular IPv6 protocol. Please see Apache's web site for more information about Apache 2.x and more specifically Apache 2.2.x.

PHP 5

PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) version 5 is compiled specifically for Apache 2 on VPS v3. PHP 4, available through a vinstall, is compiled specifically for Apache 1. Attempting to use either version of PHP with a different version of the Apache Web server may cause scripts and programs to function incorrectly.

PHP 5.x adds several new extensions and improved support for popular technologies such as XML, SOAP, MySQL, object oriented programming, and others.

MySQL 5.x

The new operating system of the VPS v3 permits the MySQL database server to use native threading, instead of Linux threading as used with previous VPS implementations. MySQL for VPS v3 uses less (sometimes 30 or more) processes than MySQL on other VPS products!

MySQL 5 is the default version installed when executing vinstall mysql or vinstall mysql5 from the command line. MySQL 4 is also available by executing vinstall mysql4.1 from the command line.

MySQL 5.x includes many new controls, elements and features, improving performance and functionality.

Vinstall Library

The VPS v3 introduces several new vinstalls, such as Tomcat and java_jdk. Old or deprecated programs in the vinstall library are no longer offered. The vinstalls offered on VPS v2 that are not supported on VPS v3 include MySQL 3, Perl 5.6, and Perl 5.8.6 or earlier.

The vinstall for WordPress installs WordPress 2.x. Additional command line options are available by executing vinstall wordpress --help.

Software firewall

Your VPS v3 includes a software firewall.

Backward Compatibility

With the introduction of new versions of Apache, MySQL, and PHP, some elements of these new versions may not be compatible with older versions available with other VPS products, such as the VPS v2. Considerations for these services and programs follow.

Apache

With Apache 2, the module interface has completely changed. Because of this, modules used with Apache 2 differ from their Apache 1 counterparts. Scripts and programs written to interact with modules in Apache 1 may not function the same when interacting with the corresponding module for Apache 2. For example, Apache 2 includes support for mod_perl2 instead of mod_perl, the default for previous VPS implementations. Compatibility modules may be available for a specific Apache 1 module. Consult the documentation for the module in question for further information about backwards compatibility of that module.

Apache 2 also introduces some configuration directives changes. For more information about directives changes, refer to the Web addresses mentioned in Web Server above.

MySQL

SQL syntax used in 4.x should function correctly in MySQL 5.x. However, it is always best to perform a full database dump on the system running under 4.x and then import the information in the 5.x system to ensure data is not corrupted. Other considerations when moving between MySQL versions 4.x and 5.x include the following:

• The format of the standard “mysql” database (which keeps user and other essential information) has changed.
• Support for some old types of tables has been discontinued.
• Multi-byte support changed with 4.1x and may be significantly different.

For more information about changes in MySQL 5.x, refer to the Web address mentioned in MySQL 5.

PHP

Most scripts and programs created for PHP 4.x should function with PHP 5.x. Verify that scripts and programs function correct when moving from a PHP 4.x environment to PHP 5.x.

The short tags configuration is disabled by default for PHP 5.x. This can be enabled in the /usr/local/lib/php.ini file.

Migration Considerations

Automated scripts to move sites or content from a different VPS product to the VPS v3 will be available at a later date. Customers interested in migrating their sites and content must create any such scripts or perform such activities themselves at this time.

Please note: the information on this page applies to ITS web hosting plans. It may or may not apply to other environments. If you are looking for a feature described here, or better support from your hosting provider, please consider hosting your site with ITS!

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