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What is a Fedora VPS?
Fedora is a well-known name in the Linux world, but how does it perform as a VPS? If you’ve come across Fedora as a hosting option, you might be wondering what sets it apart—and whether it’s the right choice for your needs. Before you decide, it’s worth taking a closer look at what a Fedora VPS offers, where it excels, and where it might fall short.
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What is a Fedora VPS?
A Fedora VPS is a virtual private server that runs on the Fedora Linux distribution, which is known for its frequent updates and focus on open-source innovation. It provides users with dedicated resources in a virtualized environment, allowing for greater control compared to shared hosting.
Fedora’s update cycle prioritizes the latest software and security enhancements, but its shorter support lifespan and rapid changes may require more frequent maintenance. This makes it a distinct option among Linux-based VPS solutions, depending on the user’s needs and technical preferences.
Key features and benefits
Fedora brings several distinct features to a VPS environment, which may appeal to certain users depending on their needs:
- Frequent updates: Fedora follows a rapid release cycle, typically issuing a new version every six months. This ensures access to the latest software, security patches, and performance improvements but also requires regular updates to maintain compatibility.
- Cutting-edge software: As a distribution closely tied to upstream development, Fedora often includes the latest versions of system libraries, kernel updates, and application software. This can be useful for developers who want to work with the newest tools but may introduce instability compared to long-term support (LTS) distributions.
- Strong security focus: Fedora integrates security features such as SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) by default, providing mandatory access controls that help protect against unauthorized access and system exploits.
- Open-source ecosystem: Backed by the Fedora Project and the wider Linux community, Fedora emphasizes open-source principles, meaning that all software included is freely available and regularly audited for security and performance.
- DNF package manager: Fedora uses DNF (Dandified Yum) for package management, offering dependency resolution, rollback capabilities, and efficient updates, though it may differ from package managers found in other popular distributions like Debian or Ubuntu.
- Wayland support: For users running graphical applications on a VPS, Fedora is one of the leading distributions supporting the Wayland display server protocol, though its relevance in server environments may be limited.
Use cases
A Fedora VPS can be useful in several scenarios, depending on the user’s needs and technical requirements:
- Development and testing environments: Fedora’s frequent updates and access to the latest software make it a good choice for developers who need a cutting-edge environment to test applications, especially those that rely on the newest Linux features.
- Security-focused applications: With built-in security mechanisms like SELinux, a Fedora VPS can be a suitable option for users who prioritize security hardening and access control in their server setup.
- Containerized workloads: Fedora’s close ties to Red Hat and its strong support for container technologies, such as Podman and Docker, make it a viable option for running containerized applications in a VPS environment.
- Edge computing and experimental projects: Organizations or individuals experimenting with emerging technologies may find Fedora useful due to its rapid adoption of new features and compatibility with the latest hardware and software advancements.
- Custom server configurations: Users who prefer to build and fine-tune their server setup with the latest software versions can benefit from Fedora’s flexibility and rolling package updates.
Fedora vs Ubuntu for VPS
Fedora and Ubuntu are both popular Linux distributions, but they differ in key ways that can impact their suitability for a VPS. Here’s an objective comparison of their strengths and trade-offs in a VPS environment:
Stability and support
- Fedora: Releases a new version every six months, with each version supported for approximately 13 months. This means frequent upgrades are necessary to stay on a supported release, which may not be ideal for long-term stability.
- Ubuntu: Offers both short-term support (STS) versions (released every six months, supported for nine months) and long-term support (LTS) versions (released every two years, supported for five years). LTS versions provide a more stable and predictable environment for production servers.
Software and updates
- Fedora: Prioritizes the latest software and kernel updates, often adopting new technologies before other distributions. While this ensures access to cutting-edge features, it can introduce occasional compatibility or stability issues.
- Ubuntu: More conservative in adopting new features, especially in LTS releases, prioritizing tested and stable software. This approach makes it a more predictable choice for long-term server deployments.
Security
- Fedora: Implements strong security policies by default, including Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux), which provides mandatory access controls to limit potential vulnerabilities.
- Ubuntu: Uses AppArmor for security, which is generally considered easier to configure than SELinux while still providing effective access control. Security patches are regularly maintained, especially for LTS versions.
Package management
- Fedora: Uses the DNF package manager, which provides efficient dependency resolution and rollback capabilities but has a smaller repository compared to Ubuntu.
- Ubuntu: Uses the APT package manager, known for its extensive repository and compatibility with Debian-based packages, making it easier to find and install software.
Community and enterprise support
- Fedora: Backed by the Fedora Project and Red Hat, but primarily a community-driven distribution without enterprise support options. Fedora is often used as a testing ground for features that may later appear in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
- Ubuntu: Developed by Canonical, offering both free community support and paid enterprise support options. Its widespread adoption in the VPS hosting space means more documentation and commercial backing are available.
Performance and resource usage
- Fedora: Often optimized for performance with the latest kernel and software, but its rapid development cycle means configurations may change frequently.
- Ubuntu: Generally more resource-efficient in LTS versions due to its stability-focused approach, making it a solid choice for VPS hosting where long-term consistency is needed.
| Feature | Fedora VPS | Ubuntu VPS |
|---|
| Release cycle | Every 6 months | Every 6 months (STS), every 2 years (LTS) |
| Support duration | 13 months per release | 9 months (STS), 5+ years (LTS) |
| Software updates | Latest software, frequent updates | More conservative, stable updates |
| Security | SELinux (mandatory access control) | AppArmor (easier to configure than SELinux) |
| Package manager | DNF (smaller repository) | APT (larger repository, Debian-based) |
| Enterprise support | Community-driven, no official enterprise support | Canonical-backed, enterprise support available |
| Performance & resources | Optimized for latest features but may change frequently | Stable, resource-efficient, predictable for production use |
| Best suited for | Developers, security-conscious users, and those needing cutting-edge software | Long-term production environments, enterprise applications, and general web hosting |
How to install Fedora on a VPS
Installing Fedora on a VPS typically involves selecting Fedora as the operating system during VPS setup or manually installing it if the hosting provider does not offer a pre-configured Fedora option. Here’s how to install Fedora on a VPS:
- Choose a VPS provider: Select a provider that offers Fedora as an OS option, or plan to install it manually if needed.
- Deploy Fedora (if available): If your provider offers Fedora, simply select it during setup and proceed with the installation.
- Manual installation (if required): If Fedora isn’t available, upload the Fedora Server ISO to your VPS, boot from it, and follow the installation prompts.
- Complete the installation: Set up partitions (automatic works for most users), create a root/admin user, configure the network, and finish the installation.
- Reboot the VPS: Unmount the ISO and restart the server to boot into Fedora.
- Perform initial setup: Update the system (sudo dnf update -y), enable SSH (sudo systemctl enable –now sshd), and configure firewall rules if necessary.
Getting started with VPS hosting
Fedora is a decent VPS solution for developers, security-conscious users, or those who want access to the latest Linux features and don’t mind frequent updates. At Liquid Web, we prefer Ubuntu for VPS servers. It’s a more stable and widely used option, particularly for long-term production environments, enterprise applications, and general web hosting.
When you’re ready to upgrade your hosting to a high-quality Ubuntu VPS, Liquid Web can help. We’ve been leading the industry for decades, because our VPS servers are fast, cloud-based for easy scalability, and unbeatably reliable. Choose Ubuntu when you set up your server, and we’ll install it for you.
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Additional resources
VPS: A beginner’s guide →
A complete beginner’s guide to virtual private servers
The first 5 tasks for a new Ubuntu server →
Make sure your Ubuntu VPS is set up for security and performance
How manage users on Ubuntu →
Add users, grant root privileges, and more