Software Alternatives & Startups

KStars VS CloudLinux

Compare KStars VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

KStars

KStars is a Desktop Planetarium for KDE.

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, KStars seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 3 times since March 2021.

social mentions
3 vs 0
Space Simulator popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

KStars
CloudLinux
Website apps.kde.org cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

KStars 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Open Source
    KStars is open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This allows for community collaboration and transparency in development.
  • Cross-Platform
    KStars is available on multiple operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Comprehensive Features
    The application offers a wide variety of features, including sky map visualization, real-time simulation, telescope control, and data on astronomical objects, which cater to both amateur and professional astronomers.
  • Educational Tool
    KStars provides educational content and tools that make it useful for teaching astronomy concepts in schools or informal settings.
  • Community Support
    There is an active community of users and developers who contribute to forums and provide support, making it easier to find help and share experiences.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity for Beginners
    The wide range of features and technical details can be overwhelming for beginners who may find it challenging to navigate and fully utilize the application.
  • Performance Issues
    On some systems, users may experience performance slowdowns or bugs, especially when handling large databases or running on older hardware.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    While KStars is available on desktops, its functionality and support on mobile devices are limited, which may be inconvenient for users who prefer using tablets or smartphones.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its comprehensive set of features and options, there is a steep learning curve, and users may need to spend time exploring and learning the software to make the most of it.
  • Dependency on KDE Frameworks
    KStars relies on KDE frameworks, which might require additional installations or configurations for users not already using KDE, potentially complicating setup on some systems.
  • 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.

KStars
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • KStars is a highly regarded application for those interested in astronomy, delivering a rich set of features suitable for both beginners and more experienced users.

Why this product is good

  • KStars is considered a good application because it provides a comprehensive and user-friendly interface for amateur astronomers and educators. It offers detailed sky maps, supports a wide range of telescopes, and includes features like an extensive catalog of stars, planets, and deep-sky objects, time-lapse simulation, and educational tools.

Recommended for

    KStars is recommended for amateur astronomers, educators, and students who wish to explore and learn about the night sky. It is also suitable for anyone interested in using their computer to control telescopes and view real-time astronomical data.

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.

KStars 2 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Astrophotography: stellarmate kstars and Ekos review

More videos

  • - Part 1: Introduction to KStars

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
KStars
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using KStars 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.

KStars 3 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • Is there a utility that will read my FITS files and map the image size and locations on a sky map?
    KStars can do this. It can either use the World Coordinate System data from the FITS file or plate-solve to derive the location from the image data. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Best FOSS Astronomy Software
    Kstars is a powerful, flexible astronomy application that you will find useful. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Maps of the stars
    Printed sky atlases are pretty obsolete, now that we have technology. https://edu.kde.org/kstars/. Source: about 4 years ago

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to KStars and CloudLinux

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