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The choice of operating system (OS) not only has a significant impact on your website’s performance, security and reliability, but also on the applications and hosting environments available to you.
Two popular choices for Linux servers are CloudLinux and AlmaLinux. In this post, we’ll examine the key differences between the two operating systems and explain why CloudLinux is the ideal choice for shared hosting, whilst AlmaLinux is best suited to VPS, dedicated servers and the cloud.
CloudLinux – an operating system for shared hosting
CloudLinux is a specialised Linux operating system, originally built on the CentOS platform, which has revolutionised the management of web hosting providers’ shared hosting solutions and brought numerous significant benefits to users.
In the past, shared hosting was often plagued by the problem of ‘noisy neighbours’, whereby the busiest websites used up too many server resources. This left the other websites with too little CPU, RAM and bandwidth, which had a negative impact on their performance.
CloudLinux solves this problem. The operating system features a function called Lightweight Virtual Environment (LVE), which enables web hosting providers to allocate dedicated resources to each user, thereby preventing the high traffic of one website from affecting the performance of other websites. If your hosting plan uses CloudLinux, your website will always receive the resources allocated to it, regardless of how heavily loaded the other websites on the server are.
Another advantage of CloudLinux is enhanced security. The operating system features a function called CageFS, which is a virtual file system that places each user in an isolated environment. The isolation of user accounts prevents a cyberattack targeting one account from spreading to others, and protects users’ sensitive data.
Two further key features of CloudLinux are advanced PHP management and the installation of kernel updates without downtime. Advanced PHP management allows web hosting providers to customise the PHP settings for individual websites, enabling users to freely choose the PHP version that best suits their needs. For example, if your theme is not compatible with newer versions of PHP, you can continue to use the older version rather than updating the theme.
The ability to install kernel updates without downtime ensures that the server remains online even during important maintenance work, and that visitors can continue to access your website.
Although CloudLinux is a proprietary operating system, the licence fee is paid by the web hosting providers, not the customers, so the operating system is included in their plan.
AlmaLinux: a versatile operating system for a wide range of uses
AlmaLinux, originally released in 2021, is a free, open-source operating system widely regarded as the ideal replacement for the discontinued CentOS operating system. It is virtually indistinguishable from Red Hat Enterprise Linux and is compatible with most Linux applications, as well as popular servers such as Apache and Nginx, databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL, and programming languages such as Python, PHP and Java.
AlmaLinux is extremely versatile and can be installed on VPS, dedicated servers and cloud servers; on the latter, it also supports containers and other cloud-based technologies. The operating system is customisable, allowing users to adjust server settings to suit their needs, for example to boost performance or run specific applications. Regular system updates ensure security and keep the system up to date with the latest technological developments.
Security considerations
Security is essential in any hosting environment. As previously mentioned, CloudLinux enhances security by isolating user accounts, preventing users from accessing each other’s sensitive data, and stopping cyber-attacks from spreading from one account to another. It also uses SecureLinks technology to prevent symbolic link attacks. These are attacks in which hackers trick Apache web servers into reading users’ PHP configuration files. The operating system also features built-in PHP hardening, ensuring that even users running older versions of PHP can use them securely.
Although AlmaLinux does not require CloudLinux’s specialised user isolation features, it strictly adheres to industry standards and security best practices. Security patches and updates are released regularly; it uses digital GPG signatures to verify downloaded files; and its Secure Boot feature prevents unauthorised software from running at system start-up.
Cloud integration
Both CloudLinux and AlmaLinux are compatible with cloud-based environments. CloudLinux is ideal for cloud-based shared hosting, as its ability to isolate user accounts makes it suitable for websites operating on public cloud-based platforms that utilise server resources shared amongst multiple users. AlmaLinux, meanwhile, is easy to install on cloud-based platforms, runs on virtual machines, and can be integrated with container technologies commonly used in the cloud, such as Docker.
CloudLinux and AlmaLinux are excellent Linux-based operating systems, each with different areas of application. CloudLinux enables service providers, including resellers, to manage their shared hosting plans and provide their customers with dedicated resources, consistent performance and enhanced security. AlmaLinux can be used by individual businesses in VPS, dedicated server or cloud-based hosting environments. It is an ideal alternative for those who previously used CentOS, as it is versatile, reliable and open-source, making it completely free.