How do Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, and Rocky Linux compare for production web servers?
Ubuntu LTS has the largest set of current server guides. Debian is a conservative base and a normal choice for Plesk. AlmaLinux tracks Enterprise Linux and is the straightforward base for cPanel or Plesk. Rocky Linux remains a compatible rebuild with a long OS life, but panel vendors have dropped some Rocky releases. Pick the distro your panel still installs.
| Distro | Family | Practical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu LTS | Debian packages | Largest guide set, good general VPS |
| Debian stable | Debian | Plesk and conservative servers, not cPanel |
| AlmaLinux | Enterprise Linux | cPanel and Plesk |
| Rocky Linux | Enterprise Linux | Long OS life, narrower panel support |
Which Linux distributions are officially supported by cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin?
Current cPanel builds support AlmaLinux, CloudLinux, and Ubuntu 24.04. They do not support Debian, and Rocky Linux was removed for cPanel 134 and later. Plesk supports AlmaLinux, Debian 12 and 13, Ubuntu 22.04 through 26.04, and Rocky Linux 8 only. The table lists that split. Check the vendor again before you install, because the rows do move.
| Distro | cPanel, late 2026 | Plesk Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu LTS | 24.04 on current builds. 22.04 remains on the 134 LTS tier only, per the September 2026 cPanel table. | 22.04, 24.04, and 26.04 |
| Debian | Not supported | 12 and 13. Debian 11 was dropped after 18.0.81. |
| AlmaLinux | 8, 9, and 10 | 8, 9, and 10 |
| Rocky Linux | Removed for version 134 and later, March 2026 | 8 only. Not 9 or 10. |
| CloudLinux | 8, 9, and 10 | Confirm the current Plesk note before you rely on it |
DirectAdmin publishes its own list and does include Debian and Ubuntu. Confirm the exact release on DirectAdmin's site before you install. That list is not a WebJi® price, and it is not the cPanel list.
How long are LTS security support lifecycles for Ubuntu vs AlmaLinux/Rocky?
Ubuntu gives each LTS five years of standard security updates. Ubuntu 24.04 runs into 2029, and Ubuntu 26.04 LTS runs to May 2031. Ubuntu Pro is extra and paid. AlmaLinux 9 and Rocky Linux 9 publish security fixes through 31 May 2032, and version 8 through 31 May 2029. Those are OS dates. A panel can drop a distro sooner.
| Release | OS security updates |
|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | Standard support into 2027 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | Standard support into 2029 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | Standard support to May 2031 |
| AlmaLinux 8 and Rocky Linux 8 | Through 31 May 2029 |
| AlmaLinux 9 and Rocky Linux 9 | Through 31 May 2032 |
| AlmaLinux 10 and Rocky Linux 10 | Through 31 May 2035 |
Ubuntu Pro is a paid extension and is not the standard window. cPanel stopped taking Rocky Linux at version 134 even though the Rocky project still publishes updates. Do not treat those two dates as the same fact.
Which Linux OS image should you choose when deploying a WebJi KVM VPS?
For a WebJi® KVM VPS, choose Ubuntu LTS when you will not install cPanel, and AlmaLinux when you will. Do not choose Debian for cPanel or Rocky Linux for a new cPanel server. Confirm the image when you order so you do not boot a target the panel has dropped. The Linux VPS page is where that build is quoted.
Shared hosting is a different product. It uses ControlPanel.Systems and does not include cPanel, so it is not where you pick Ubuntu or AlmaLinux.
When Ubuntu is already the decision, order Ubuntu VPS hosting. The quoted KVM build is Linux VPS hosting. If the panel is the product, start at cPanel on a VPS, and use how to install cPanel on a VPS only after the image is one cPanel still supports.