Software Alternatives & Startups

FortiGate SD-WAN VS CloudLinux

Compare FortiGate SD-WAN VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

FortiGate SD-WAN

SD-WAN

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.

Base details

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

FGS
FortiGate SD-WAN
CloudLinux
Website training.fortinet.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

FGS
FortiGate SD-WAN 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Integrated Security
    FortiGate SD-WAN combines security and networking capabilities in a single device, enhancing protection while streamlining operations.
  • Traffic Optimization
    The solution offers intelligent path control and traffic steering for optimal application performance and user experience.
  • Centralized Management
    FortiGate SD-WAN allows for centralized control and management, facilitating easier configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
  • Scalability
    The platform supports expansion and integration with existing infrastructure, enabling businesses to scale their networks efficiently.
  • Cost Efficiency
    By optimizing internet connections and reducing dependency on costly MPLS, organizations can lower their overall WAN costs.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    Integrating SD-WAN with existing network infrastructure may be complex and require significant planning and expertise.
  • Initial Investment
    The initial setup and deployment of FortiGate SD-WAN may involve significant costs in terms of hardware and training.
  • Learning Curve
    Organizations may need to invest time and resources for staff training and to develop expertise in managing and optimizing SD-WAN solutions.
  • Vendor Dependence
    Relying on a single vendor for both security and networking solutions may lead to potential risks in terms of vendor lock-in.
  • Potential Downtime
    Any misconfiguration or faults in the central management system might lead to network downtimes, affecting multiple sites simultaneously.
  • 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.

FGS
FortiGate SD-WAN
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Overall, FortiGate SD-WAN is a strong choice for organizations looking to enhance their network infrastructure with advanced security and performance features. It is especially valuable for those already familiar with Fortinet's ecosystem.

Why this product is good

  • FortiGate SD-WAN is considered good due to its robust security features, integrated with Fortinet's established firewall technologies. It provides efficient traffic management, improved application performance, and reduced operational costs through centralized management. The solution is known for its ease of deployment and scalability, which are crucial for businesses of various sizes.

Recommended for

  • Businesses seeking seamless integration of security and SD-WAN capabilities
  • Organizations with a distributed network looking to manage multiple locations efficiently
  • Companies needing enhanced application performance and reliable connectivity

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.

FGS
FortiGate SD-WAN 1 video + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Fortinet Secure SD-WAN 7.2 Demo | SD-WAN

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
FGS
FortiGate SD-WAN
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 FortiGate SD-WAN and CloudLinux

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