Virtual Private Server Hosting

Sometimes, root access is used as a selling point for hosting packages. Some companies will make a very big deal out of providing root access for their VPS or dedicated server customers, while others will quietly neglect to mention that they don't. So, what is root access, and why is it a good thing for your site?
 
Root access gives you admin-level access to your server. It usually doesn't matter if you have a self- or fully-managed hosting plan, a hosting company can provide you with root access even if they're doing your server monitoring and maintenance for you. Some companies will offer root access to all of their hosting plans above shared hosting, including virtual private servers, resellers, and dedicated servers. Others will only offer it to dedicated servers, or only VPS or dedicated servers. 
 
Having root access gives you more options when it comes to maintaining and using your server than regular access does. When you don't have root access, your hosting company must make any serious changes to your server for you. This means that any changes you want to make must be relayed through your hosting provider, and they are within their rights to refuse to do anything that they feel may compromise their server. So, you can end up having to request a change, wait a long time for their IT guys to get around to it, and then find out that your request was denied. 
 
When you do have root access, you can change things at will. You are not required to make requests from your hosting company beforehand, and, as long as you aren't violating your hosting company's Terms of Use, you're in the clear. This means that you can go in and alter any number of settings for your server. If you'd like to turn your web server into a gaming server, you can do that. If you want to host a third party application, you can do that, too. If you just want to be able to host multiple websites off of the same web server, that's no problem, either. With root access, you get total control over your server's behavior, and all of the content placed on it. 
 
Beware web hosting companies that don't mention that they provide root access for their users- chances are, if they don't explicitly say so, they don't provide it. Not having root access is a deal breaker for a lot of hosting clients, so most hosting companies that do provide it make sure to put that information right up front.
 
If you're a novice site owner who isn't interested in monkeying around with their server's settings, then root access probably isn't a necessity for you. If you're a web developer, want to be able to upload whatever program you like to your server, or plan on using your server for something other than hosting a simple website, then root access is something you should seriously consider.