When talking about an OS that can be relied upon in terms of performance and security, the name CloudLinux will always appear. Mainly, for server needs. In fact, CloudLinux claims to be the best OS for web hosting services.
Intrigued by CloudLinux? Want to know about the features and advantages? Please read this article to the end, we will explain it in full.
What is CloudLinux?
CloudLinux is a Linux-based operating system made specifically for server needs. The goal is to make server work more optimal with increased performance and security.
Until now, CloudLinux has been widely used by big names like Dell and IBM. In fact, no less than 20 million websites around the world use servers that use this operating system.
In general, what makes CloudLinux special is its ability to manage server resources well. Each user can be set to use resources according to conditions.
So, if one user suddenly experiences a spike in traffic and uses up a lot of resources, it won’t burden the entire server. However, it will only overload the specific Virtual Environment it is associated with.
That is, there is no risk of causing the server to go down which will disturb other users. With these conditions, it’s no wonder CloudLinux is trusted as the operating system for hosting services.
Well, that’s the initial description of CloudLinux. Then, why is this operating system so much recommended for servers?
3 Advantages of CloudLinux
CloudLinux has many advantages that other operating systems don’t have. Anything?
1. Server Becomes More Stable
If the server gets down, the consequences are quite large. The website becomes inaccessible. The repair process also requires time and money.
With the various features that CloudLinux has, server stability can be further optimized.
This is done by ensuring that the distribution of resources to users is appropriate, and ensuring that abuse of usage (bandwidth usage violations) can be detected early.
2. Servers Become More Secure
User security in using the server must also be maintained. The first step, ensuring all security holes that can be used for intrusion can be driven out.
This is the reason CloudLinux maximizes PHPHardened to provide patches for all versions that are no longer supported.
Not only that, prevention of hacking attempts using file symbolic links needs attention. The SecureLink feature from CloudLinux has been able to work effectively.
It doesn’t stop there, CageFS ensures that no user peeps on important information from other users on the server.
With all these protections, CloudLinux is able to become an operating system that maintains server security properly.
3. Server Has Good Performance
With good server resource monitoring and continuous security improvement efforts, the results are clear: excellent server performance.
This is coupled with the use of mod_lsapi which makes serving PHP page requests faster.
If every process on the server is running well and the use of the server remains reasonable, there is no need to doubt server performance for smoother online activities.
7 CloudLinux Features
Several CloudLinux features that are very important in managing servers properly, include:
1. Lightweight Virtual Environment
This is one of the main features of CloudLinux which plays a role in more effective resource management.
Lightweight Virtual Environment (LVE) can be used to limit CPU usage, IO, memory resources up to the number of processes running for each user.
LVE is a kernel-level technology created by the CloudLinux developers. This technology allows CloudLinux to be integrated with servers, Pluggable Authentication Module (PAM) and databases. The goal is to prevent the server from going down easily due to abuse of usage.
So that resource restrictions can be done easily, CloudLinux provides it with LVE Manager. With an intuitive dashboard display, settings and detection of resource abuse can be done quickly.
2. MySQL Governor
The principle is almost the same as LVE. The difference is, MySQL Governor ensures that resource management on the database runs well.
MySQL Governor monitors MySQL usage and ensures that there is no unusual usage on the server. So, it can prevent overload conditions that destabilize the server.
One of the advantages of MySQL Governor is its ability to throttle usage in real time. That is, it can be a quick way to prevent disruptions due to spikes in resource usage, before it affects other users.
In practice, MySQL Governor works in an integrated manner with the limitations that have been imposed on each user in LVE.
MySQL Governor is also compatible with the latest versions of MySQL and MariaDB. So, there will be no problems in its use.
3. CageFS
As the name implies, CageFS aims to protect users, especially when it comes to information security.
CageFS is a virtual file system that isolates individual users from accessing important information from other users.
Things like this are certainly familiar to Linux-based operating systems which have proven to be more reliable in warding off hacker attacks.
With the use of CageFS on CloudLinux, here are some of the benefits:
– users can only view safe files
– user can’t know other user’s information
– user can’t view server configuration file
– users can only see processes on their own system files.
4. HardenedPHP
The risk of using a PHP version that is not supported (not updated) is vulnerable to attack (vulnerable). HardenedPHP ensures that all versions of PHP, especially older versions that are still widely used, can be properly protected.
This feature will provide a patch on all PHP versions to close the security holes found. So, servers can be safer and users also get optimal performance.
In addition, with HardenedPHP users are not forced to use the latest PHP version right away. Although, using the latest version is certainly highly recommended, especially to ensure server security.
5. SecureLinks
Another CloudLinux feature is SecureLink. This feature is a kernel-level technology that prevents symbolic link attacks (symlinks).
Why is this important? This is because server security can be improved better and prevent one of the users from trying to carry out an attack using a file symbolic link. Usually the step taken is to trick the Apache Web Server into reading the desired PHP config file.
6. PHP, Ruby and Python selectors
Flexibility isn’t overlooked by CloudLinux. Therefore, they complement the selector feature that can be used to select the PHP, Ruby, and Python version that you are using.
Of course, this makes it easier for you to stick with the version that suits your needs.
The PHP version that you can choose from version 4.4 to 7.2. Meanwhile, for Ruby, the choices are from version 1.8 to 2.1. And for Python, you can choose from alt-python27 2.7.9 to alt-python35 3.5.4.
7. Mod_lsapi
Mod_lsapi is the fastest way to serve PHP pages on Apache. Not only that, mod_lsapi also supports PHP directives in the .htaccess file.
As a substitute for SuPHP, FCGID and ITK, mod_lsapi is quite reliable because it rarely experiences problems in process management like PHP FHM and mod_fcgid.
Mod_lsapi is also compatible with PHP selectors. So, giving you the flexibility to stick with the PHP version you need.
Conclusion and Closing
You have just learned about CloudLinux, an operating system specifically made for servers to support increased online activity.
Many features are offered. Starting from the Lightweight Virtual Environment for properly managing resources per user to mod_lsapi, which is the fastest way to serve PHP page requests.
These various features are able to guarantee servers that are stable, safe and have high performance.
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