Software Alternatives & Startups

SOASTA VS CloudLinux

Compare SOASTA VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

SOASTA

Load Testing of Web Sites, Mobile Applications, Web Services, and Web Sockets.

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.

SOASTA
CloudLinux
Website soasta.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SOASTA 4 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Comprehensive Monitoring
    SOASTA provides real-time performance monitoring of cloud-based applications, offering insights into user experience and application performance metrics.
  • Scalability
    The platform can scale to simulate millions of users globally, which is beneficial for testing applications with large user bases.
  • Real User Monitoring
    SOASTA’s ability to monitor real user interactions provides more accurate data and insights for optimizing application performance.
  • Integrated Testing Tools
    SOASTA offers a suite of integrated tools for performance testing, including load and stress testing, which helps ensure application reliability.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    The services provided by SOASTA can be expensive, which might not be suitable for smaller businesses or individual developers.
  • Complexity
    The platform’s features and capabilities can be complex and may have a steep learning curve for new users.
  • Reliance on Internet Connectivity
    As a cloud-based service, SOASTA’s performance is dependent on stable and fast internet connectivity, which could be a limitation in some regions.
  • 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.

SOASTA
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • SOASTA's platform is widely regarded as a reliable solution for performance testing, especially in high-traffic scenarios. Its integration with Akamai enhances its capabilities, making it a good choice for businesses looking to enhance their web and mobile application performance.

Why this product is good

  • SOASTA, now part of Akamai, is known for its robust cloud-based testing platform designed for performance testing. It offers real-time analytics, which enables users to observe how their websites and applications perform under various conditions. Additionally, it provides tools for load testing and performance monitoring which are essential for ensuring optimal user experience and maintaining high-performance standards.

Recommended for

  • Enterprises seeking a comprehensive cloud-based performance testing solution.
  • Development teams focused on improving user experience through rigorous load and performance testing.
  • Organizations needing real-time performance analytics to maintain high availability and responsiveness of their applications.

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.

SOASTA 1 video + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

CloudTest: Introductory Demo of Load Testing Your Application with Akamai

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
SOASTA
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

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

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