Faster storage, faster server: measuring, comparing and optimising disk performance on a VPS

The performance of Virtual Private Servers (VPS) is largely influenced by the performance of the underlying disk systems. Especially for data-intensive workloads, the speed of the storage determines whether applications run smoothly or stall. To assess the performance of a VPS, measuring disk performance is therefore essential. Both write and read speed per second and the number of Input/Output Operations per Second (IOPS) are analysed in detail – two central metrics that provide deep insight into the behaviour of storage systems. In addition to established measurement tools, various approaches are available to specifically improve disk performance.

Disk performance as a critical factor in VPS performance

Disk performance is one of the central factors affecting the overall performance of a Virtual Private Server. In virtualised environments, where multiple users share the same physical hardware, the storage device can quickly become the bottleneck. Applications that process many small files or continuously access data – such as databases, web applications or CI/CD pipelines – are particularly dependent on fast write and read operations. Besides the raw transfer rate, the number of possible I/O operations per second (IOPS) is especially important, as it provides insight into the system’s ability to handle many concurrent accesses efficiently. Insufficient disk performance can manifest as longer load times, delays in script execution or sluggish response times across entire applications. Anyone who wants to accurately assess and optimise the performance of their Virtual Private Server should therefore pay particular attention to the storage component.

Tip: Also see CPU performance for Virtual Private Servers

Difference between I/O operations per second (IOPS) and write/read throughput per second

IOPS and write/read throughput are two distinct but closely related metrics for evaluating disk performance.

IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) indicates how many input and output operations a storage system can process within one second. It is about the number of individual operations, not the volume of data – regardless of whether 4 KB or 1 MB is being read or written. This metric is particularly relevant for applications with many small accesses, such as databases or log files.

The write and read throughput per second, usually expressed in megabytes per second (MB/s), measures the actual amount of data that can be written or read per second. This metric is especially important for large, sequential files – for example when copying large media files or loading substantial software packages.

Summary:

• IOPS measures the number of operations → important for many small accesses.
• MB/s measures the data volume per second → important for large, sequential accesses.

An efficient system should ideally deliver good results in both areas – high IOPS for responsive applications and high MB/s for fast data throughput.

Tools and methods for analysing disk performance on VPS hosting

To assess the disk performance of a Virtual Private Server (VPS) precisely, various tools and test methods are available. They provide important metrics such as the maximum transfer rate, the number of I/O operations per second (IOPS) and the average access time. Depending on the deployment scenario, different measurement methods are appropriate.

For a sound assessment of disk performance, a combination of several tools and tests is recommended. This captures different aspects of storage performance and provides a realistic evaluation of a VPS hosting instance's performance.

What disk benchmarks on VPS hosting tell you — and what they don't

Disk benchmarks such as fio or ioping provide important indications of the storage system's capabilities on a VPS hosting instance. High IOPS figures and short access times point to a fast SSD- or NVMe-based setup and are especially beneficial for data-intensive applications.

However, the measurement results are always snapshots taken under specific test conditions. In shared hosting environments, performance can vary depending on the time of day or the load from other customers. Benchmarks therefore show the technically possible performance range — but do not guarantee consistently stable performance in real-world operation.

Find out which VPS in our performance test scores best for disk performance:

Optimisation: Get more performance out of the VPS

Optimising disk performance on a VPS is often only possible to a limited extent, especially with shared storage. Nevertheless, targeted measures can help noticeably improve performance or avoid bottlenecks.

Some approaches to optimisation are:

• Adjust file system options: The noatime option can prevent unnecessary write operations to the file system, since access times are no longer recorded.
• Use caching strategically: Database and web server software such as MySQL or NGINX offer extensive caching features that reduce disk accesses and improve response times.
• Minimise swap usage: Sufficient RAM prevents the system from falling back to slow swap storage.
• Optimise processes and cron jobs: Regularly scheduled cron jobs should be timed so they don't run during periods of high load.
• Choose higher-tier plans: VPS hosting plans with guaranteed SSD or NVMe resources often provide significantly better I/O performance than entry-level models.
• Review provider choice: Specialist hosts sometimes offer plans with IOPS guarantees or storage tuning – ideal for data-intensive applications.

For particularly high demands, we ultimately recommend switching to a Dedicated Server with guaranteed resources. Only then can disk performance be reliably and permanently maintained at a consistently high level.

Conclusion: Assessing VPS disk performance correctly

Disk performance is a crucial component for the overall performance of a VPS – especially for data-intensive applications. At the same time, storage is among the components whose actual speed can vary most in virtualised environments. Factors such as the storage technology used, the virtualisation layer and the load caused by other customers can significantly influence the measurable values.

Benchmark tools such as fio, ioping or iostat provide important comparative metrics and reveal typical strengths and weaknesses of the storage system. However, they always represent only snapshots and cannot guarantee that the measured values will be consistently achievable under real-world load.

For a realistic assessment of disk performance, results should therefore always be considered in conjunction with your own usage scenario. If you regularly rely on fast I/O access, you should look for hosting plans that offer dedicated resources, SSD or NVMe storage, and fair storage allocation. Additionally, workload-optimised settings at the system and application level help to get the most out of your VPS.

Only by deliberately measuring storage performance, interpreting it correctly and optimising it when necessary can bottlenecks be detected and avoided early.

Tip: Find out about the fastest VPS hosting in Germany and how they perform in terms of storage performance.

Our article is based on our own experience and research, as well as information from external sources.

Sources & further reading on the topic:
https://fio.readthedocs.io/en/latest/fio_doc.html (Benchmark software)