How to Choose the Best Operating System for a Vultr Cloud Server

Updated on October 21, 2022

Vultr offers different operating systems (OS) as templates, and some are better suited than others for specific purposes. A feature that is advantageous for one user can be a disadvantage for another. This guide describes several popular OSs to help you decide on the best OS for your use.

alma-linux">Alma Linux

Alma Linux is an open-source Linux based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). In 2020, Red Hat stopped supporting CentOS as a downstream fork of RHEL. The CloudLinux company created Alma Linux as a CentOS alternative. The first stable release was published in 2021. Alma Linux is 1:1 binary compatible with the latest RHEL, and it's maintained by a non-profit entity funded by CloudLinux and other companies.

Pros

Viable alternative for CentOS
Many useful features for enterprise use-cases
Lean operating system with no bloatware
Works well for high-availability clusters
Native packages for Distributed Replicated Block Device (DRBD) storage systems
Focus on stability

Cons

Sometimes ships with outdated packages
Not suited to be used as a desktop OS
Not suitable for novice users
Lacks robust driver support for niche hardware devices (this is not a concern while installing from a Vultr template)
Configuring network interfaces can be cumbersome
New OS with a smaller userbase

arch-linux">Arch Linux

Arch Linux is an independently built Linux distribution. It allows configuring and customizing every part of the OS.

Pros

Allows building a completely customized OS
Zero bloatware
Continuous updates with rolling release model
Complete control over every part of the system
Excellent hardware support for different devices and interfaces
Secure configuration by default
Learning opportunity to know the inner workings of the OS

Cons

Bad choice for a novice
No graphical installer bundled with the system
Elaborate installation procedure, requiring specialist knowledge in choosing and configuring necessary packages
Works only on x86_64 architecture
Rolling updates mean that some updates can break the system
Upgrades often need manual intervention to get it right

centos">CentOS

CentOS is (was) a downstream rebuild of RHEL.

Note: The RHEL ecosystem has a few different distributions. Fedora is the upstream. New changes are first made in Fedora, which has the latest software. From Fedora, changes come to CentOS Stream. After CentOS Stream, changes are reflected in RHEL. CentOS is (was) downstream from RHEL, and hence the most stable. In 2020, Red Hat stopped its support of CentOS. Successors to CentOS include Alma Linux and Rocky Linux.

Pros

Many useful features for enterprise use-cases
Strong track record as a server OS
Lean system with no bloatware
Works well for high-availability clusters
Native packages for Distributed Replicated Block Device (DRBD) storage systems
Focus on stability

Cons

Sometimes ships with outdated packages
Not the best choice for a desktop operating system
Not suitable for novice users
Lacks robust driver support for niche hardware devices (this is not a concern while installing from a Vultr template)
Configuring network interfaces can be cumbersome
Project is no longer active

debian">Debian

Debian is a stable and mature Linux with a large ecosystem. It is the base system for many popular distributions like Ubuntu, Kali Linux, Knoppix, Element OS, Linux Mint, etc.

Pros

Stable and reliable
Packages with reasonable default configurations
Regular security updates to packages
Extensive hardware support, including proprietary drivers where necessary
Works on most desktop and server hardware
Supports different CPU architectures (e.g., x64, i386, ARM and MIPS, POWER7, POWER8, IBM System z, and RISC-V)
Runs on a wide variety of devices
Flexible installer suitable for both new users as well as experts
A large number of available packages (55000+)
Long Term Support (LTS) version with at least five years of support and upgrades

Cons

Because of the focus on stability, it sometimes ships with outdated packages. This can be problematic if your application needs the latest software. You might be able to compile newer packages from their source code.
While it is suited for desktop use (owing to stability and hardware support), the default interface feels dated. This can be solved by installing a modern GUI.

fedora">Fedora

Fedora (sponsored by Red Hat) is the upstream distribution of RHEL.

Pros

Speed of new updates, access to the latest software
Different editions for different uses (Fedora IoT for IoT devices, Fedora WorkStation for developers, Fedora Silverblue for the desktop)
Pre-packaged configuration options (Fedora Spins allows you to choose a different desktop environment like KDE or XFCE, while Fedora Labs has curated collections of domain-specific software packages)
Suitable for casual desktop use

Cons

Rapid integration of new software can sometimes lead to instability
Not the best choice for network-intensive tasks
Not the best environment for sysadmin tasks

fedora-coreos">Fedora CoreOS

Fedora CoreOS is a minimal OS designed for running (hosting) containers at scale. It was designed to be spun up as needed by new Kubernetes instances. Fedora CoreOS was created when Red Hat acquired Container Linux.

Pros

Lightweight
Suitable for use as a container host
Automatic upgrades over multiple machines
Atomic updates which can be rolled back
Security: minimal OS implies a narrow surface of attack

Cons

Not the right choice for general-purpose workloads
Not suitable to run as a guest OS inside a container
Does not come with a package manager
New OS with a smaller community (the first public preview was released in 2020)
Breaking changes during the transition from Container Linux to CoreOS

freebsd">FreeBSD

FreeBSD is an advanced Unix-like OS for servers. It is a monolithic OS. The kernel, device drivers, and userland applications (system software) are all delivered by the same project. It forms the basis of much of the codebase of Darwin, and hence the Apple family of operating systems (macOS, iOS, etc.).

Pros

Predictable and stable system
Strong network stack, leading to better performance for networking applications
Monolithic system leading to better integration of userland tools
Well-documented and clean code
Single repository for kernel and userland code
Comes with sensible defaults
Includes DTrace - to collect real-time system statistics with negligible overhead
Includes ZFS - an advanced file system focused on data integrity and large-scale storage

Cons

Smaller userbase compared to Linux
Limited (though active and high-quality) online forums for seeking support
Some features may be overkill for new sysadmins
Limited hardware and driver support for desktop use

openbsd">OpenBSD

OpenBSD is another BSD variant with a focus on security and stability. It is the upstream source of many well-known packages like OpenSSH, LibreSSL, PF, etc.

Pros

Predictable and stable operating system
Suitable for high-security environments
Strong network stack, leading to better performance for networking applications, e.g., router, firewall, DNS server, etc.
Monolithic system leading to better integration of userland tools
Well-documented and clean code
Single repository for kernel and userland code

Cons

Small userbase and online community
Not suitable for inexperienced users
Used for specific niche applications
Userland tools are often outdated
Not the best for general-purpose server use

rocky-linux">Rocky Linux

Rocky Linux is an open-source Linux designed to be 100% compatible (including bugs) with RHEL. It was started by one of the founders of CentOS after Red Hat discontinued its support of CentOS. Rocky Linux is supported and sponsored by Google Cloud.

Pros

Viable alternative for CentOS
Many useful features for enterprises
Lean operating system with no bloatware
Works well for high-availability clusters
Native packages for Distributed Replicated Block Device (DRBD) storage systems
Focus on stability

Cons

Sometimes ships with outdated packages
Not suited to be used as a desktop operating system
Not suitable for novice users
Lacks robust driver support for niche hardware devices (this is not a concern while installing from a Vultr template)
Configuring network interfaces can be cumbersome
New OS with a smaller userbase

ubuntu">Ubuntu

Ubuntu is the most popular Linux, both for desktops and servers.

Pros

Large online community (makes it easy to get support)
Possibility of getting commercial support from Canonical
Used at large companies like Google
Better than many other Linuxes for day-to-day desktop use
A large number of packages for different applications
Easier to find sysadmins with Ubuntu experience
Desktop experience with the OS can be helpful while working on the server

Cons

Less stable than Debian
Breaking changes are sometimes introduced in the upgrade process
Larger attack surface because of the greater number of preinstalled applications
Not all packages are actively maintained

vzlinux">VzLinux

VzLinux is based on the RHEL source code. It is maintained by Virtuozzo, a Swiss company specializing in virtualization software.

Pros

Aims to be 1:1 compatible with RHEL
Stability is a key goal
20+ years track record as the base OS of virtualization products from Virtuozzo
Optimized to run in containers and virtual machines
Includes tools to convert from CentOS and to do dry runs before converting

Cons

Smaller user base compared to other distros
Some packages are outdated
Uses a dated GUI

windows-server">Windows Server

Windows Server is made by Microsoft. It does not include consumer features like Cortana. It includes many server-side applications and is configured with tight security settings. Windows Server can handle heavier hardware than Windows. By default, it runs on the command line; installing the Windows GUI is optional.

Pros

Wide range of software choices
Easier to deal with different versions
Possible to add on the Windows GUI and get a similar user experience as the Windows desktop
Easier for casual users to run and manage owing to familiar Windows GUI
Compatible with most kinds of hardware
Cheaper and easier to find sysadmins
Easier to get support online because of the ubiquity of Windows
Excellent domain management tools make it easy to manage a large number of PCs centrally
Long-term support by Microsoft

Cons

Windows Server licenses are expensive and restrictive
Needs more hardware (compared to Linux and Unix-based systems) to run the OS
A large number of preinstalled applications which may not be necessary
Privacy concerns
Security: larger surface area of attack due to the larger number of preinstalled applications
Not the best choice for running scalable web servers
Not possible to customize the (closed source) OS
Subpar developer experience compared to Linux and Unix-based systems

windows-core">Windows Core

Windows Core is a bare-bones operating system. It does not include any proprietary binary blobs or software. Because of this, the platform could be made open-source. It is not designed for consumers. Windows Core is a "modular" platform. Device manufacturers and developers can build custom Windows operating systems for their devices.

Pros

Smaller and less resource hungry than a normal Windows Server
Only has the core OS elements which are necessary to run server-side applications
Suitable for running in Docker environments
Fewer default applications (this makes it more secure due to a reduced attack surface)
PowerShell scripts are compatible across Windows Server and Windows Core

Cons

Doesn't run all the processes necessary for a normal Windows installation
Not possible to use as a regular desktop OS
No Support for printing, plug-and-play hardware, sound, graphics, etc.
Command line only (this can be challenging for new users)
Not as popular as Windows Server