CloudLinux is commonly used on shared and managed hosting platforms to improve stability, resource isolation, and application flexibility. This guide explains how to determine whether your hosting account is running on a CloudLinux-based server.
What CloudLinux Provides
CloudLinux is a Linux distribution designed for multi-tenant hosting environments. It adds features that are not available in standard operating systems.
Common CloudLinux features include:
- Python application selector
- Node.js application selector
- Easy PHP version switching and configuration
- Resource isolation between hosting accounts
These features are widely available on cPanel hosting environments, where CloudLinux is used to improve performance and security.
[Screenshot placeholder: cPanel interface showing CloudLinux-related features]
When CloudLinux Is Installed
CloudLinux availability depends on the type of hosting service and the activation date.
- All shared, reseller, and high-performance web hosting accounts run on CloudLinux
- Managed VPS and managed dedicated servers activated from May 2023 onward include CloudLinux
- Managed VPS and dedicated servers activated before May 2023 do not include CloudLinux by default
Custom infrastructure deployed on cloud server platforms or self-managed dedicated server platforms may or may not use CloudLinux, depending on the operating system installed.
Method 1: Checking via cPanel
If your hosting account includes access to cPanel, CloudLinux can be identified directly from the interface.
Steps
- Log in to cPanel
- Open the Server Information section
[Screenshot placeholder: cPanel Tools page with Server Information highlighted]
- Locate the Kernel Version field
[Screenshot placeholder: cPanel Server Information page showing kernel version]
If the kernel version contains lve, the server is running CloudLinux.
Alternative Indicators in cPanel
CloudLinux-specific tools are also visible in the cPanel interface.
Look for the following icons:
- Setup Node.js App
- Setup Python App
- Select PHP Version
[Screenshot placeholder: cPanel Software section showing CloudLinux tools]
If any of these options are present, CloudLinux is active on the server.
Method 2: Checking via WebHost Manager
For users with WHM access, the operating system information is displayed directly in the interface.
Steps
- Log in to WebHost Manager
- Check the operating system shown in the top banner or statistics sidebar
[Screenshot placeholder: WHM dashboard showing operating system details]
If CloudLinux is installed, it will be clearly indicated in the operating system description.
Method 3: Checking via Command Line
If SSH access is available, CloudLinux can be detected using the kernel version.
Steps
- Connect to the server using SSH
- Run the following command
uname -r
[Screenshot placeholder: SSH session running uname -r]
If the output includes lve, the system is running CloudLinux. A typical CloudLinux kernel string looks like this:
3.10.0-962.3.2.lve1.5.73.el7.x86_64
Interpreting the Results
If CloudLinux is detected, features such as resource limits, PHP selectors, and application isolation are available. If it is not detected, the server is running a standard Linux distribution without CloudLinux-specific tooling.
Understanding whether CloudLinux is in use helps determine which features and configuration options are available on your hosting account.