How VPS Bandwidth Works Here (and What Happens at 100%)

Most bandwidth-usage explanations are vague. Here's specifically how it works on a RepublicNodes VPS.

It Survives Reboots and Reinstalls

The hypervisor's own network counters reset to zero every time a VPS restarts — that's just how the underlying virtualization works, and it's a real problem if your billing month happens to include a reboot or a reinstall. So we don't rely on those counters directly: every few minutes, we read them and add whatever they've grown by to a running total we keep ourselves, tied to your service rather than to the VM instance. A reboot, a crash, or a full reinstall doesn't erase what you've already used — the counter genuinely tracks your month, not your uptime.

What Counts

Depending on the plan, either incoming + outgoing traffic both count, or outgoing only — check your plan's spec for which. The monthly period starts on the day your service began, not the calendar month — so if your VPS started on the 14th, your bandwidth month runs 14th to 14th.

Unlimited Plans Are Actually Unlimited

If your plan says unlimited bandwidth, there's no hidden quota being tracked against you in the background — the check is simply skipped for that plan.

What Happens When You Use It All Up

Each plan is configured with one of three behaviors for when the quota is reached:

• Slowed down (the default on every current VPS plan): once you hit 100% of your quota, your network speed is capped to 1 Mbps — enough for SSH, basic browsing and small downloads, but too slow for heavy transfers — until the next billing period starts. The exact cap is shown on your plan's spec and can be raised by an admin per-plan if needed.
• Stopped: the VPS is powered off until the next period, or until you add more bandwidth.
• Recorded only: nothing happens automatically — usage is just tracked for your own visibility.

Whichever applies, you get an e-mail warning at 80% used, and another when the limit is actually reached, so it's never a silent surprise. Both lift automatically the moment the next billing period starts, or immediately if you buy an extra-bandwidth add-on.

Checking Your Usage

Open your VPS's Manage page → Bandwidth tab: current usage, how much is included, when the period resets, and the last 6 months of history. It updates every few minutes, not once a day.

Need More?

If you're consistently close to the limit, an extra-bandwidth add-on (where available) or a plan with a higher/unlimited allowance is usually cheaper than repeatedly getting throttled. Check VPS plans or open a ticket if you're not sure which fits.