When it comes to selecting an operating system for cloud servers, many users find themselves confused at the time of their initial purchase. This article introduces the advantages and disadvantages of eight different operating systems, providing a reference for users preparing to buy a cloud server.

Windows Server

As is well-known, Windows, developed by Microsoft, is the world's most popular desktop operating system, and Windows Server is the server version of this operating system.

Advantages:

• The most renowned product of Microsoft.
• Features a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI).
• Regularly maintained with updates ranging from a few days to several months.
• Offers over 10 years of technical support.
• Excellent software and hardware compatibility.

Disadvantages:

• Requires additional purchase for licensing.
• Consumes more system resources.
• Not open-source software.
• Difficult to fine-tune settings for applications.

Official website:https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/cloud-platform/windows-server

CentOS

CentOS is an open-source version based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Since its release in 2004, CentOS has been widely used in hosting and server domains.

Advantages:

• User-friendly for beginners.
• Offers over 10 years of technical support.
• Provides easy-to-use package managers: yum and dnf.
• Compatible with hosting management software like cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin.
• Supported by the industry-leading Red Hat company.

Disadvantages:

• Irregular release cycle, typically a major version every 3 to 5 years.
• Long support time can make it difficult to install some of the latest software versions.

Official Website:https://www.centos.org/

Debian

Debian is a Linux distribution known for its extensive compatibility and long-term official support. Often considered the most stable Linux distribution, many other operating systems, such as Ubuntu, are developed based on Debian.

Advantages:

• Supports various architectures, including x86, x64, ARM.
• The latest Linux kernel.
• A vast software repository.

Disadvantages:

• Software configuration can be complex.

Official Website:https://ubuntu.com/

Ubuntu

Ubuntu, based on the Debian operating system, comes in both desktop and server editions. It is renowned for its high stability and powerful features, always integrating the latest technological advancements.

Advantages:

• Better software support.
• Easy-to-use package manager: apt.
• Fixed update cycle.
• Up to 5 years of technical support.

Disadvantages:

• More disk space consumption due to extensive software support.
• Shorter technical support duration compared to CentOS.

Official Website:https://ubuntu.com/

Fedora

Fedora is a Linux distribution integrating various cutting-edge technologies, part of the RedHat and CentOS family. It releases a new version approximately every six months.

Advantages:

• The latest Linux kernel.
• Up-to-date software package versions.

Disadvantages:

• Shorter life cycle, typically 13 months.

Official Website:https://getfedora.org/

FreeBSD

FreeBSD, an important branch of the BSD operating system, is currently popular for its version developed by the University of California, Berkeley. A Unix-like operating system, it has been favored in the industry for over 20 years for its reliability and security.

Advantages:

• Long support duration.
• Extremely lightweight.
• Provides a package manager.

Disadvantages:

• Lengthy installation time for Ports.
• Outdated design of the file system.

Official Website:https://www.freebsd.org/

OpenBSD

OpenBSD, another Unix-like operating system, excels in security and encryption, releasing a new version approximately every six months.

Advantages:

• Lightweight Unix operating system.
• Security features not available in other operating systems.

Disadvantages:

• Complex system management due to heightened security.
• Lower popularity, resulting in less public documentation.

Official Website:https://www.openbsd.org/

CoreOS

CoreOS, also known as Container Linux, is an operating system suitable for container environments. Launched in December 2013, CoreOS is a modern operating system for the cloud computing and container era.

Advantages:

• Excellent support for containers, comes with a default container management system.
• Seamless system upgrades.

Disadvantages:

• High complexity, not ideal for beginners.
• Lacks a package manager.

Official Website:https://coreos.com/

The above are introductions to eight operating systems for cloud servers, with Windows, CentOS, and Ubuntu being the most common on cloud servers.