What is a Linux distribution?
When we talk about a GNU/Linux distribution, we mean a collection of software packages that includes both the Linux kernel and the operating system containing all the GNU tools.
There are all kinds of distributions: commercially supported ones such as Red Hat or Fedora, OpenSUSE, Ubuntu; community-maintained distributions such as Debian or Gentoo and distributions that are not associated with any company or community, such as Slackware.
Choosing the Linux distribution for your VPS is crucial and will depend on certain criteria you need to consider. Below, we show you the main features of each one to help you make the right choice.
Which Linux distribution to choose for your VPS
CentOS
CentOS is a Linux distribution based on the enterprise distribution Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), compiled by volunteers from the source code published by Red Hat. Recent versions receive 10 years of support, except for the latest version (CentOS 8).
In December 2020, IBM, which had bought Red Hat, decided to end support for CentOS 8, although it will continue to support CentOS Stream.
Following this decision, the project's founder, Gregory Kurtzer, created another distribution called Rocky Linux as its successor. Meanwhile, Cloud Linux also announced the creation of AlmaLinux as an alternative to CentOS 8.
Both projects, Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux, are now in their final, stable phase.
Key features of CentOS for your VPS
- Easy maintenance
- Ideal for long-term use in a production environment
- Enterprise support
Remember that installing CentOS on your cloud server is very easy on our platform, as a preinstalled application is available in your client panel. Just select it and you're done!
AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux
After IBM decided that CentOS would follow a rolling release model (in English, Rolling Release), part of the community decided to create a new distro. Since then, several new distributions have emerged, such as the previously mentioned AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux. At Clouding, you can quickly and easily install the former using our preinstalled AlmaLinux image from your client panel.
On the one hand, AlmaLinux is a fork of RHEL with its own repositories that does not follow a rolling release model, so it has all the advantages RHEL offers. On the other hand, Rocky Linux is also based on RHEL and has a larger community behind it, with the original founder of CentOS, Gregory Kurtzer, as its driving force.
Both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux provide scripts to convert CentOS or RHEL to AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux very easily. The process is quite quick and only requires you to restart the server after running the script to load the new kernel.
Debian
Debian GNU/Linux is a free operating system developed by thousands of volunteers around the world. It was started in 1993 by Ian Murdock through his "Debian Project". The idea was to create a GNU system using Linux as its kernel. Its very large volunteer base, non-commercial nature and open development model set it apart from other distributions.
Its development process is distinctive, as versions are not released regularly as they are with Ubuntu. Debian has several development branches: stable, currently 11.0 "Bullseye", oldstable, Debian 10.10 "Buster", and testing, whose upcoming version is 12.0 "Bookworm". It also has a version released daily, called unstable and known as "Sid".
Key features of Debian for your cloud server
- Stability is its main strength
- Active community
- Exceptionally secure thanks to its very stable packages
At Clouding, the preinstalled Debian application is also available in your client panel, so you can have your Debian server ready with just one click. The latest update available at Clouding is Debian 11.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a Linux distribution based on Debian GNU/Linux sponsored by Canonical, a British company owned by entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth. It has several versions for both desktops and servers. Ubuntu Server is a version aimed at businesses.
Ubuntu releases a new version every 6 months, always in May and October. These versions receive support from Canonical through security updates, patches for bugs that are critical and minor software updates. It also has LTS versions (from the English Long Term Support), which are released every two years. These versions receive support for five years.
Key features of Ubuntu for your VPS server
- Long-term support
- Paid enterprise support
- Extensive documentation on the Internet
As with the other distributions, a preinstalled Ubuntu image is also available at Clouding for you to install on your server, quickly and easily! 😉
What is the best Linux distribution for your VPS?
This question is difficult to answer, as one distribution may suit you better than another depending on the project you need to deploy.
- Some will say that the best option is CentOS, since, as an enterprise distribution, its packages are maintained for longer, making it quite stable. This differs from Debian and Ubuntu, which receive more updates.
- Others will argue that documentation for Ubuntu is much more extensive on the Internet, as it is a very popular distribution that receives many updates, making it the most accessible option.
- There will also be those who argue that, for greater stability and security, the best option is Debian because its packages are robust and stable.
For all these reasons, there is no definitive answer: the best Linux distribution for your cloud server will depend on the software and the main requirements of your project.
With this in mind, we hope we have highlighted the features of the most important Linux distributions to make it easier for you to choose one for your project.
If you have any questions and cannot quite decide, you can email us at soporte@clouding.io to ask which Linux distribution is best for your project. Our Cloud Pros will be happy to listen and advise you so you can choose the Linux distribution that best suits your needs.