Software Alternatives & Startups

xNormal VS CloudLinux

Compare xNormal VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

xNormal

xNormal is an application to generate normal / ambient occlusion / displacement maps.

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, xNormal seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 2 times since March 2021.

social mentions
2 vs 0
3D popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

xNormal
CloudLinux
Website xnormal.net cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

xNormal 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Wide range of maps
    xNormal supports baking various types of maps including normal, ambient occlusion, and displacement maps, which are essential for realistic texturing.
  • Performance
    The application can handle high-poly models with impressive performance, making it suitable for complex projects.
  • Free to use
    xNormal is available for free, making it accessible to hobbyists and small studios who may not have the budget for more expensive software.
  • Plugin Support
    xNormal offers plugin support, allowing users to extend its functionality and customize their workflow.
  • Cross-platform
    xNormal is compatible with both Windows and MacOS, providing flexibility across different operating systems.

Possible disadvantages

  • Outdated User Interface
    The user interface appears outdated compared to modern baking tools, which can hinder ease of use and user experience.
  • Lack of Updates
    xNormal has not seen regular updates, potentially leading to compatibility issues with newer hardware or software updates.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might face a steeper learning curve due to the lack of contemporary tutorials and documentation.
  • Limited Integration
    There is limited direct integration with modern 3D software applications, requiring additional manual steps for importing and exporting.
  • No Support for Linux
    xNormal does not natively support Linux, which could be a disadvantage for developers using this operating system.
  • 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.

xNormal
CloudLinux

No analysis of xNormal 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.

xNormal 2 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Baking de texturas 3D para videojuegos en XNormal

More videos

  • - xnormal on mac via parallels

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
xNormal
CloudLinux
100% 100%
3D
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using xNormal and CloudLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

xNormal 2 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • Tutorial available on how to make this? Thank you 🫡
    Xnormal.net provides a utility that can bake normal or height maps. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Maya running slow cause of high poly model
    To bake high poly maps onto lowpoly - best way is using baking program like Substance Painter that also allows you to paint the textures. If you want only maps you can use free app xnormal.net that allows you to bake you high poly maps... Source: over 4 years ago

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to xNormal and CloudLinux

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