Software Alternatives & Startups

MASSCAN VS CloudLinux

Compare MASSCAN VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

MASSCAN

This is the fastest Internet port scanner.

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, MASSCAN seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 31 times since March 2021.

social mentions
31 vs 0
Monitoring Tools popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

MASSCAN
CloudLinux
Website github.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

MASSCAN 4 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Speed
    MASSCAN is known for its incredibly fast scanning capabilities, capable of scanning the entire Internet in under 6 minutes. It achieves this speed by sending packets asynchronously and using highly efficient network code.
  • Scalability
    The tool is highly scalable and can be used to scan large network ranges. It supports a range of port scanning methods, which makes it a versatile choice for different network environments.
  • Customizability
    MASSCAN allows users to customize their scanning tasks through extensive configuration options, including the ability to define specific ports, IP ranges, and rate limits, which can be tailored to meet specific project needs.
  • Cross-Platform
    MASSCAN is cross-platform and can be compiled and run on various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users.

Possible disadvantages

  • Lack of Detail
    While MASSCAN is excellent for fast scans and identifying open ports, it doesn't offer detailed service information or insights that more in-depth tools like Nmap provide, requiring supplementary tools for comprehensive scans.
  • Risk of Network Disruption
    Due to its high-speed scanning capabilities, MASSCAN can potentially overwhelm network devices or trigger firewalls and intrusion detection systems, posing a risk of network disruption if not managed carefully.
  • Requires Advanced Networking Knowledge
    The tool is designed for users with advanced networking knowledge, as improper configuration or use can result in inaccurate results or unintended network issues.
  • Legal and Ethical Concerns
    MASSCAN's ability to rapidly scan large network ranges can lead to legal and ethical concerns if used without proper authorization, making it essential for users to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
  • 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.

MASSCAN
CloudLinux

No analysis of MASSCAN 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.

MASSCAN 2 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Tool Review - Masscan (Scan the whole internet)

More videos

  • - SCANNING AT SCALE (masscan, nmap, axiom, recon.dev)

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
MASSCAN
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using MASSCAN 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.

MASSCAN no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet

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.

MASSCAN 31 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • Love C, Hate C: Web Framework Memory Problems
    Agree re: no need for heap allocation - for others: I recommend reading thru whole masscan source (https://github.com/robertdavidgraham/masscan), it's a pleasure btw - iirc rather few/sparse malloc()s which are part of regular I/O... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • I Use Tailscale
    Battleship sounds like a good analogy, but is very different because you don't have other options to "secure your ship" besides obscurity. If you had other options, let's say a sonar or moving your ship, they would definitely be used... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Scanners Beware: Welcome to the Network from Hell
    It's a nice dream of "owning" the attackers but it doesn't have a real security value. [1] https://github.com/robertdavidgraham/masscan. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to MASSCAN and CloudLinux

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