If you have made up your mind to buy a Linux VPS Hosting plan, then we have some good news for you – the Linux operating system host offers a wide range of options to help you customize your hosting environment. In this article, we will talk about some common Linux distros and their benefits to help you make an informed decision before buying a hosting plan from a VPS Hosting provider.
The Linux distros that we will be comparing today are – CentOS, Debian, Fedora, and Ubuntu.
What is a Linux Distro?
A Linux distro (short for distribution) is a Linux operating system made from a collection of software based on the Linux kernel. In order to use Linux, you need to choose the distribution first. Let’s look at the four commonly used distros:
CentOS
CentOS is a free Linux Distro and has an active community of developers offering support. It is centred on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. A virtual private server based on CentOS offers enterprise software free of charge which enables you to use high-quality VPS at low costs. This is a 100% fee distribution with an amazing community to offer support.
Debian
Debian is also a free and open-source platform which has been designed by the GNU Project. Debian is one of the most flexible distros and is very easy to set up as well as configure. Additionally, Debian empowers your site to handle high volumes of traffic without compromising on its performance. You can host multiple sites on your VPS and carry out several simultaneous tasks without having to think about the load times. Debian also has good support from the developers.
Fedora
Fedora is a powerful and free Linux distro and is very popular among developers. It is highly flexible and offers a comprehensive set of tools allowing developers to create their own version of the OS and distribute it. It is also very secure and has an amazing firewall.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is also a free and open-source platform which is popular among developers since it is easy to use and configure. It is probably the most popular Linux distros and information and support are available easily. However, when it comes to a VPS, using Ubuntu as the OS offers one disadvantage – it does not have in-built security features (firewall, etc.). Therefore, you will need to install and configure these features yourself. Many users use Ubuntu as a Desktop OS and hence think about opting for it for their VPS too. Before you do so, ensure that you check with a technical professional.
Summing Up
Remember, choosing the right Linux distro is important to ensure that you don’t compromise on the performance of your website later. Further, ensure that the VPS provider offers a control panel like cPanel or Plesk to help you configure and manage your VPS efficiently. These control panels make a lot of tasks easy and shorten the learning curve. Use the information mentioned above and research well before finalizing the Linux OS that you would want to use for your VPS.
