Software Alternatives & Startups

Enlightenment VS CloudLinux

Compare Enlightenment VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Enlightenment

Enlightenment is not just a window manager for Linux/X11 and others, but also a whole suite of...

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, Enlightenment seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 4 times since March 2021.

social mentions
4 vs 0
Linux popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

Enlightenment
CloudLinux
Website enlightenment.org cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Enlightenment 4 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Lightweight
    Enlightenment is known for being a lightweight window manager, which means it consumes fewer resources compared to other desktop environments, making it suitable for older or less powerful hardware.
  • Highly Customizable
    The environment offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor their user interface and experience according to their personal preferences.
  • Efficient
    Due to its focus on performance and efficiency, Enlightenment can be particularly fast and responsive, which enhances the user experience.
  • Aesthetic Design
    Enlightenment provides a modern and visually appealing design, giving users a unique and attractive desktop experience.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Software Ecosystem
    Compared to more mainstream desktop environments, Enlightenment has a smaller ecosystem, which might result in less software being readily available or supported.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its unique features and customization options, new users might face a steep learning curve when setting up and using Enlightenment.
  • Stability Concerns
    While generally stable, some users may encounter bugs or issues, particularly with certain configurations or updates.
  • Less Community Support
    As a less common desktop environment, Enlightenment may have a smaller community, which could impact the availability of tutorials, forums, and user support resources.
  • 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.

Enlightenment
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Enlightenment is a highly respected and efficient window manager and desktop environment.

Why this product is good

  • Enlightenment (enlightenment.org) is known for its modular architecture and rich features. It provides a lightweight, fast, and visually appealing desktop environment with advanced graphical effects and customization options. Its performance and low resource usage make it suitable for older hardware or systems with limited resources.

Recommended for

    Enlightenment is ideal for users who appreciate high customizability and want a visually appealing and resource-efficient desktop environment. It's particularly recommended for those with older machines or anyone interested in a unique alternative to mainstream desktop environments.

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.

Enlightenment 4 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

The Enlightenment [AP World History Review] Unit 5, Topic 1

More videos

  • - APUSH Review: The Enlightenment
  • - Enlightenment Review
  • - Enlightenment Desktop Environment Demo

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
Enlightenment
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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

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Reviews and articles

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

Enlightenment no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet
  • 9 Best Linux Desktop Environments to Use in 2023
    geekflare.com · Jan 2023

    This Linux desktop environment acts as a rendering engine that can launch apps, manage the user interface, and even change system settings. The Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL) are used to build an...

  • Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020
    www.journaldev.com · Jan 2021

    Though you won’t see this desktop environment a lot, people who use it, don’t want to give it away for anything else. Enlightenment allows for very high configurability making it loved by the original Linux lovers.

  • The 12 Best Linux Desktop Environments
    linuxhint.com · Nov 2020

    Enlightenment has grown so much, and now it includes a full desktop environment, wearable, TV, and mobile user interface platforms. This Linux desktop environment was started over a decade ago, and initially, it...

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.

Enlightenment 4 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • Enlightenment Desktop 0.25.0 released
    As for modern and sleek - isn't the default flat theme that's there now just that. It's what everyone wants? Flat? Sleek? Minimal shadows where needed for some borders/depth. Is the problem that it's dark? You can just select one of the... Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Enlightenment Desktop 0.25.0 released
    Don't give up too fast - it may be the thing you want exists and it just isn't where you expect it or there's a feature you just don't know is there. It may be it does something differently and it's odd at the start but then you get used... Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Enlightenment Desktop 0.25.0 released
    Hmmm... Not really. e uses about half the memory. I just updated the the about-enlightenment page on enlightenment.org with some numbers I took from an actual installed vm comparing e, xfce, gnome, kde, lxd, and lxqt. e is about 1/4 the... Source: almost 5 years ago

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Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Enlightenment and CloudLinux

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