Software Alternatives & Startups

Absolute VS CloudLinux

Compare Absolute VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Absolute

Absolute Software creates computer theft recovery, data protection and secure asset tracking solutions.

Rating
0 reviews
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Absolute seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 1 time since March 2021.

social mentions
1 vs 0
Monitoring Tools popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Absolute
CloudLinux
Website absolute.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Absolute 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Comprehensive Endpoint Security
    Absolute provides a robust endpoint security solution that ensures the protection and compliance of devices across an organization, reducing the risk of data breaches.
  • Persistence Technology
    The platform offers unique persistence technology that is embedded in the firmware of devices, allowing for continuous visibility and control, even if the device is reimaged or the OS is reinstalled.
  • Self-Healing Capabilities
    Absolute’s self-healing capabilities allow critical applications and security tools to be automatically repaired or reinstalled if they are tampered with or corrupted, ensuring continuous protection.
  • Real-Time Alerts
    The platform provides real-time alerts and insights on potential threats and security policy breaches, enabling IT teams to respond promptly to incidents.
  • Detailed Reporting
    Absolute offers comprehensive reporting features that provide extensive data on device status, security posture, and compliance, which are essential for audits and risk management.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    Absolute's services can be relatively expensive, which might be a significant consideration for small to medium-sized businesses with limited budgets.
  • Complexity
    Due to its extensive feature set, the platform can be complex to deploy and manage, requiring specialized knowledge and possibly additional training for IT staff.
  • Performance Impact
    Some users have reported that the software can have an impact on device performance, potentially slowing down operations on older or less powerful machines.
  • Limited Integration
    While Absolute integrates with several third-party security tools, it may not support all the applications and systems used by an organization, potentially limiting its effectiveness.
  • Dependence on Internet Connectivity
    The effectiveness of Absolute’s real-time monitoring and updates relies heavily on constant internet connectivity, which can be a limitation in environments with variable or restricted internet access.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Absolute
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Absolute is generally considered a strong solution for organizations that need robust endpoint security and asset management. Its persistence technology and adaptability make it a reliable choice for ensuring device security, especially in environments where device loss or theft is a concern.

Why this product is good

  • Absolute is known for its specialized endpoint security and management solutions. It focuses on providing resilience and visibility across a wide range of devices, securing them and ensuring compliance. It is particularly praised for its persistence feature, which allows IT administrators to maintain contact with devices even if they are off-network or if the software has been tampered with.

Recommended for

    Absolute is especially recommended for businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies that require a comprehensive endpoint security solution capable of managing and securing a large number of devices effectively. It is ideal for organizations that place a high priority on data protection and compliance.

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Absolute 2 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Introduction to Absolute Software | the Industry Benchmark for Endpoint Resilience

More videos

  • - One Canada stock to buy during stock crash (Absolute software stock analysis)

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Absolute
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Absolute no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet

We have no reviews of CloudLinux yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Absolute 1 mention
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • Laptop stolen, any advice?
    Did you sign up with https://absolute.com for Computrace? Source: over 4 years ago

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Absolute and CloudLinux

When comparing Absolute and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.