CloudLinux started in 2010, and it presently is used by thousands of web hosts. In simple terms, CloudLinux is a Linux-based operating system that lets hosts have better command over their server’s resource usage.
CloudLinux is a hosting-oriented Linux allotment based on CentOS. It uses the LVE (Lightweight virtual environment) kernel technology similar to OpenVZ in some aspects or other OS-based virtualization technologies.
The intent behind designing CloudLinux OS is to use common servers. The most common downtime reason in shared hosting is a single account grabbing most of the shared resources due to heavy site(-s) or unoptimized script(-s). The OS makes the situation where several users cause severe load or even hang up the server impossible.
CloudLinux enhances server strength by encapsulating each client in a safe, isolated environment. It indicates that each user on the server is limited by the number of resources it can use, being placed in a so-called ‘container’ (separated operating environment).
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How does CloudLinux work?
Let us assume that there are ten different user accounts on a shared hosting server. Suppose one of these ten accounts gets a spike in traffic (say, the given website goes viral overnight). In that case, there are good chances that the resource usage of the entire server might turn unstable.
CloudLinux dissuades the overhead scenario by providing an encapsulation layer for each account. In other words, each version is given its own share of CPU and memory resources. If one account overuses the allocated quota of resources, it is limited. The other accounts on the same server, however, remain unaffected.r
The platform offers very durable hosting circumstances. It is more comfortable to manage for web hosting providers. Similarly, the CloudLinux file system, commonly known as CageFS, restricts each user account to its own “cage” or “cell”.
Pros of using Cloudlinux
1. Server Strengthening
Cloudlinux controls fluctuations in resource use and guarantees that servers are stable in all circumstances. It decreases the resource usage of a single user and improves server stability. Cloudlinux will limit a single user from not using the whole server resource by using the LVE kernel-level module and executing the control of RAM and CPU.
2. Security
Cloudlinux releases the security patches at regular intervals to protect the websites hosted on it. A lightweight virtualized environment (LVE) protects your websites from malware and hackers accessing vulnerable files.
3. Solitariness
When one or more accounts are compromised on other server operating systems, the whole server goes down, endangering all the accounts hosted on the server.
But CloudLinux’s lightweight virtualized environment (LVE) isolates each user on the server, so it doesn’t affect the entire server but the single account only.
4. Upsurge Server Efficiency
Cloudlinux allows us to limit resource usage per user. When you create the number of users on your server, it will impact the server resources. Since you set the limitations on utilizing resources by each account, it increases server efficiency.
5. High-Compatibility with cPanel
This is one of the critical advantages that CloudLinux brings with compatibility with other interfaces like cPanel. cPanel provides GUI to work with your Linux OS, and most web hosts offer it to their clients. CloudLinux is also compatible with cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk control panels, and CentOS and RHEL.
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Limitations to CloudLinux
The limiting aspects of CloudLinux are rare to find. Most web hosts that use it would instead bypass the negative qualities of their OS. There are no hard and fast drawbacks of CloudLinux that are analytically proven. But in rational terms, many of its elements tend to be misapplied and can be counted as disadvantages.
- Take the case of PHP Selector. CloudLinux allows the host to pick the PHP version they wish to use, be it 5.3 or 7. However, if the web host is not assertive, there are good chances that the default PHP version is still 5.3 on the server, which arrived at the end of life quite a while back.
- Many users do not have trouble changing the same(or are unaware of this) and continue using popular scripts such as Drupal, WordPress, and others while running PHP 5.3. Even though they may keep their CMS and plugins updated, the PHP version is obsolete and may not play well with the latest scripts. This is definitely a security risk.
- Similarly, CloudLinux allows web hosts to monitor MySQL usage and CPU, I/O, and memory usage. In the hands of a poor web host, these features can make life difficult for the end-user, as hosts find it convenient to monitor and throttle and severely cripple the resource usage on cheaper plans to compel users to upgrade to costlier plans.
- You might notice nearly all the smaller and cheaper budget web hosts relying on CloudLinux. This is, for sure, a practical consideration, as a decent web host will use the same monitoring tools to run the server well and wisely.
In contrast, a bad host might misuse those tools to blame the users for their overcrowded and oversold servers.
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