In the world of web hosting, just having a server isn’t enough—it needs an operating system (OS) to connect with the outside world. Choosing the right OS is crucial for your hosting server. It brings benefits like better security, performance, and stability. A good OS ensures your server can handle any level of traffic and stays updated with the latest security measures. When considering options like CloudLinux & AlmaLinux, understanding their differences is essential in making the best choice for your hosting needs.
It also safeguards your data and keeps everything running smoothly. Whether you’re using Shared Web Hosting, VPS Hosting, or Dedicated Servers, understanding the importance and advantages of the OS is vital. Today, popular options include CloudLinux and AlmaLinux, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Let’s explore the differences between CloudLinux vs. AlmaLinux to help you make the right choice for your needs.
Table of Contents
What is CloudLinux OS?
CloudLinux OS is a special type of operating system made for servers that host websites. It’s designed to make sure these servers stay stable, safe, and fast, especially when lots of websites are hosted on them together.
CloudLinux OS makes sure that each website hosted on a server gets a fair amount of resources like memory and processing power. This prevents one website from using up all the resources and causing the other websites to slow down.
A really important part of CloudLinux OS is the Lightweight Virtual Environment (LVE). It’s like a manager who monitors how many resources each website is using to ensure they don’t use too many.
It’s not just about sharing resources, though. CloudLinux OS also takes security seriously. It has special features to protect against certain types of attacks that could harm websites.
In summary, CloudLinux OS is a reliable and secure choice for hosting websites, especially when many websites are hosted together on one server. Its focus on stability, security, and performance makes it a top pick for both web hosting providers and website owners.
Benefits of using CloudLinux
CloudLinux is a Linux distribution that is built on the cloud. It offers several benefits, including:
- It separates each user to avoid affecting each other.
- Users cannot see any private information and configuration files.
- Users can easily monitor and control RAM, CPU, and I/O usage.
- It monitors and operates MySQL usage.
- It offers a CageFS file system.
- End-users can select PHP versions – 5.2 to 5.6; 7.0 to 7.4; 8.0 & 8.1
- It averts symbolic link attacks.
- It supports all the control panels.
- It is secure and stable.
Check out more benefits of CloudLinux OS here.
What is AlmaLinux OS?
AlmaLinux, first launched in March 2021, is the open-source Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
CloudLinux decided to launch its open-source operating system called AlmaLinux when CentOS announced that it would no longer continue to create a stable operating system.
AlmaLinux provides a high level of transparency, as its governance is public. It frequently publishes new updates, releases guides, source codes, and how-to guides for installing software on AlmaLinux, so people can easily update anything.
In addition, AlmaLinux offers a migration tool to migrate to AlmaLinux and provides users with source code.
However, the saying “Old is Gold” is somehow relevant here since AlmaLinux is new and hasn’t gained much popularity. Hence, it becomes difficult for people to move to AlmaLinux OS.
AlmaLinux is a versatile operating system that can be used for various servers. It is stable, easy to use, and reliable on all servers, such as web servers, file servers, database servers, and email servers. In addition, it is a secure and reliable platform for businesses of all sizes
Benefits of AlmaLinux OS
The primary benefits of AlmaLinux OS include the following –
- A robust and stable kernel.
- Comprehensive security features.
- A wide range of supported hardware.
- An easy-to-use package management system.
AlmaLinux OS is an ideal choice for businesses and organizations that require a stable and secure server platform.
CloudLinux vs. AlmaLinux – Comparison
Cloudlinux is a powerful and versatile operating system to improve the performance and stability of websites and servers. It also offers a wide range of tools and features that optimizes website and server performance. In addition, it is based on the Linux kernel providing a more stable and secure environment for running servers and web applications.
AlmaLinux is a good choice for enterprises that need stability as it is a reliable Linux distribution. It is also compatible with RHEL, which makes it easy to deploy in existing infrastructure. Furthermore, AlmaLinux provides long-term support so enterprises can rely on it for mission-critical applications. The project’s goal is to create an operating system that is easy to use yet powerful enough for advanced users. It also includes tools to manage devices and applications.
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Cloudlinux |
Almalinux |
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Pricing |
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| $4 to $18 per server per month | Free / Open Source |
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Security Features |
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| LVE Manager | |
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| Other | |
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Conclusion
In this article, we covered and compared various critical features of CloudLinux and AlmaLinux to help you make an informed decision before buying the best Linux distribution that suits your requirements.
Therefore, based on our assessment, we can say that CloudLinux is perfect for a shared hosting environment for businesses that need a high level of security and compliance.
On the other hand, AlmaLinux may be better suited for users who want more control over their system settings.
Your comparison does not mention the added overhead of CloudLinux with the extra features or any performance comparison at all.
Many of the missing features in your table actually exist and supersede CloudLinux once a control panel has been added (ie cPanel).
Throttling individual users is not always the best solution since there may still be plenty of power available on the server; its biggest use is upselling.
The system should only throttle users using excessive usage if there is a performance loss on another user.
Passing all system calls through a regulating administrator can be expensive, as well as adding one more point of failure.
AlmaLinux is not new; it’s a branch of CentOS, and as far as that goes, some could argue it’s among the most stable of Operating Systems.
I have tried them all, and if you are looking for fast and lean, AlmaLinux is in the lead.
If you are running a managed cPanel server, I don’t see the need for CloudLinux since ‘top’ works fine for stats.
If you run an Unlimited Everything for $2.99/mo, self-signup hosting business, CloudLinux is probably a good idea.
– Just trying to be more open about the best fit for the job O/S
@Kent Lacroix – Thank you for responding more eloquently than I could, AND it surely isn’t difficult to change to since it is the defacto heir to CENTOS 7, a copy of RHEL without the support, which CENTOS 8.0 is not. If “old is gold”, then Alma Linux is the gold.