Skiff 2
$ 6.65 /month
$19.95 total · Save 5%
- vCPU
- 1 × shared
- RAM
- 2 GB
- Storage
- 40 GB NVMe SSD
- Transfer
- 3 TB
- IPv4 / IPv6
- 1 / /64 routed
Operating system
AlmaLinux on a VPS with KVM virtualization
10 · 9Min 768 MBRecommended 2 GBAlmaLinux OS Foundation
Short answer
AlmaLinux is a free, binary-compatible rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and the standard choice when software is certified for RHEL — control panels, most commercial hosting stacks, and enterprise agents. Ten years of support per major release makes it the longest-lived option we offer.
Strengths
- RHEL binary compatibility
- Ten-year support lifecycle
- Required by many control panels
- SELinux enabled by default
Trade-offs
- Smaller default repository than Debian
- SELinux is a learning curve
Best suited to
cPanel and DirectAdminEnterprise softwareLong-lifecycle servers
AlmaLinux on a KVM virtual server
AlmaLinux's long lifecycle makes it a sound default, but not for every job. Its RHEL compatibility and SELinux suit long-lived servers. Before you commit, note the smaller repository than Debian and the SELinux learning curve. If your stack is certified for RHEL, it's the right call; otherwise, weigh the maintenance overhead against the support horizon.
Customers run AlmaLinux for cPanel and DirectAdmin control panels, enterprise software that is certified for RHEL, and long-lifecycle servers. SELinux is enabled by default, which matters for security-sensitive deployments. The smaller default repository than Debian is acceptable because most software is installed via the control panel or vendor repositories.
How much machine AlmaLinux actually needs
A 768 MB instance boots AlmaLinux, but the OS itself consumes much of that. For a control panel or any real workload, choose at least 2 GB. Starting small and scaling up is wise; moving down a tier requires a rebuild, so plan for your likely peak needs.
Plans that suit AlmaLinux
Skiff 4
$ 11.4 /month
$34.20 total · Save 5%
- vCPU
- 2 × shared
- RAM
- 4 GB
- Storage
- 60 GB NVMe SSD
- Transfer
- 4 TB
- IPv4 / IPv6
- 1 / /64 routed
Cutter 4
$ 18.05 /month
$54.15 total · Save 5%
- vCPU
- 2 × dedicated
- RAM
- 4 GB
- Storage
- 80 GB NVMe SSD
- Transfer
- 6 TB
- IPv4 / IPv6
- 1 / /64 routed
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM does AlmaLinux need?
AlmaLinux boots in 768 MB and is comfortable with 2 GB. Add whatever your application needs on top of that — the operating system baseline is a floor, not a budget.
Can I run AlmaLinux on a VPS?
Yes, on true KVM virtualisation, which is what every OnionVPS instance runs. It is available as a ready template and can also be installed from your own ISO.
How long is AlmaLinux supported?
2032 (AlmaLinux 9)
Does AlmaLinux work with cPanel or DirectAdmin?
Yes. AlmaLinux is a binary-compatible rebuild of RHEL, which cPanel and DirectAdmin certify. The control panel installs its own repository and packages, and SELinux can be tuned as the panel recommends. Expect a smoother experience than with Debian-based systems.
What is the learning curve for SELinux?
SELinux enforces mandatory access control, which can block services that would run fine on other distributions. You will need to understand contexts and booleans, or disable it if your threat model allows. It is a real curve, but the default-enforcing posture is a strength for security-focused deployments.