Software Alternatives & Startups

Basilisk II VS CloudLinux

Compare Basilisk II VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Basilisk II

Basilisk II is an Open Source 68k Macintosh emulator.

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, Basilisk II seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 9 times since March 2021.

social mentions
9 vs 0
Group Chat & Notifications popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

Basilisk II
CloudLinux
Website basilisk.cebix.net cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Basilisk II 4 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Open Source
    Basilisk II is an open-source emulator, allowing developers and users to contribute to its improvement and customization without any licensing costs.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    It supports various operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering users flexibility in choosing their preferred OS for running the emulator.
  • Classic Mac OS Experience
    Basilisk II provides the opportunity to run legacy applications and games from the era of Apple's 68k Macintosh computers, preserving software that may otherwise be inaccessible.
  • Active Community
    There is an active community of users and developers who contribute to forums and documentation, helping new users get started and troubleshoot issues.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complex Setup
    The initial setup can be challenging for new users, as it requires obtaining a legally compatible Mac ROM image and configuring system settings properly.
  • Performance Limitations
    While capable of running many old applications, Basilisk II does not perfectly replicate the performance of original hardware, which can result in bugs or slowdowns.
  • Limited Hardware Emulation
    It focuses mainly on software emulation and lacks support for certain hardware peripherals, which can limit use scenarios for specific applications.
  • Legal Issues
    Using Basilisk II legally requires access to a Macintosh ROM and OS, which can be a legal gray area if users do not own an original Macintosh machine.
  • 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.

Basilisk II
CloudLinux

No analysis of Basilisk II yet.

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.

Basilisk II 0 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

No Basilisk II videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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
Basilisk II
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Basilisk II and CloudLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Basilisk II 9 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • Software Applications Incorporated
    Https://infinitemac.org, which is https://basilisk.cebix.net compiled for the web using https://emscripten.org. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • How to Get and Run Rolypolys 2
    Basilisk II, at least for me, had issues when it came to loading game saves. It also had an issue where sound cut out entirely about an hour into the game, so I cannot personally recommend it for this particular game. I was recommended... Source: over 3 years ago
  • [Mac/PC] [90s?] Top down 2D action/arcade game
    ShadowWraith would have run best on a Mac with a 68040 processor, at least 10 MB RAM, running System 7.1, 7.5, or 7.6.1. You could try setting up Basilisk II to run it. MAME’s Mac emulation has also come along quite a bit in the last... Source: almost 4 years ago

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Basilisk II and CloudLinux

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