Software Alternatives & Startups

neon VS CloudLinux

Compare neon VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

neon

Neon - Showreel 2016-17. Info. Shopping. Tap to unmute. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

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.

neon
CloudLinux
Website notroj.github.io cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

neon 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Feature-Rich
    Neon offers a comprehensive set of features that support HTTP and WebDAV client functionalities, making it suitable for a wide variety of use cases.
  • Cross-Platform
    The library is designed to be portable and works on multiple operating systems, which makes it versatile and adaptable for different development environments.
  • Active Community
    There is an active community and a repository of resources and tools available for developers, offering robust support and continuous improvements.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, neon is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute, which encourages innovation and adaptation.
  • Security Features
    Neon includes various security features like SSL/TLS support which are crucial for safe web communications.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    Due to its extensive set of features, neon can be complex to set up and use, especially for beginners or those with limited experience in HTTP/WebDAV APIs.
  • Performance Overhead
    The comprehensive features come with a performance overhead, which might not be suitable for applications where low latency is critical.
  • Limited Documentation
    Although there is an active community, the official documentation can be lacking at times in terms of detailed examples and extensive HOW-TO guides.
  • Maintenance Burden
    As an open-source project, the maintenance and updates largely depend on community contributions, which can lead to delays in critical updates or fixes.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies for neon and ensuring compatibility with other libraries or services can be a challenging task.
  • 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.

neon
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Good

Why this product is good

  • Neon (webdav.org) is a WebDAV client library, which is beneficial for those looking to implement WebDAV functionality in their applications. It provides an easy way to interact with WebDAV servers and supports features like HTTP/1.1, SSL/TLS, and proxy servers. Users value it for being a reliable, open-source tool that simplifies WebDAV integration.

Recommended for

  • Developers building applications that need to communicate with WebDAV servers
  • Projects where WebDAV is required for file sharing and management
  • Users seeking an open-source solution for WebDAV client side implementation

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.

neon 3 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Neon White Review

More videos

  • - Is Neon Broken or Garbage?
  • - 1998 Dodge Neon Highline: Regular Car Reviews

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
neon
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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