Software Alternatives & Startups

CenturyLink Cloud VS CloudLinux

Compare CenturyLink Cloud VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

CenturyLink Cloud

CenturyLink Cloud offers the secure and reliable enterprise cloud services.

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
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Base details

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

CenturyLink Cloud
CloudLinux
Website ctl.io cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

CenturyLink Cloud 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Scalability
    CenturyLink Cloud offers scalable cloud infrastructure, allowing businesses to adjust their computing resources according to their needs, ensuring flexibility and efficiency.
  • Global Reach
    With data centers located worldwide, CenturyLink Cloud enables users to access and deploy resources globally, which can improve performance and regional compliance.
  • Security Features
    CenturyLink provides robust security measures, including data encryption, firewalls, and compliance with various international standards, which helps protect critical data.
  • Managed Services
    The platform offers managed services which aid in the smooth operation of cloud services with less in-house effort, making it easier for organizations to focus on their core business activities.
  • Performance
    CenturyLink Cloud delivers high performance computing power with low latency, which supports demanding applications and workloads effectively.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost Structure
    The pricing model can be complex, potentially leading to unexpected costs if not managed correctly, which can be a concern for budget-conscious organizations.
  • Complexity of Usage
    The platform might have a steep learning curve, particularly for users who are not familiar with cloud technology, which can be a barrier to efficient utilization.
  • Customer Support
    Some users have reported that customer support can be less responsive or not as helpful as expected, which could impact issue resolution times.
  • Less Popularity
    Compared to other giants in the cloud industry, CenturyLink Cloud is less well-known, which might lead to fewer community resources and third-party integrations.
  • Limited Ecosystem
    The breadth of third-party applications and services might be limited compared to larger cloud providers, potentially restricting some capabilities for integration and development.
  • 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.

CenturyLink Cloud
CloudLinux

No analysis of CenturyLink Cloud 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.

CenturyLink Cloud 3 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

CenturyLink Cloud Overview

More videos

  • - The CenturyLink Cloud Culture & Careers
  • - CenturyLink at VMworld 2019: CenturyLink Cloud Connect Dynamic Connections

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
CenturyLink Cloud
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Alternatives to CenturyLink Cloud and CloudLinux

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