In September 2024, LiteSpeed Technologies introduced LiteSpeed Containers, a groundbreaking solution tailored for cPanel and Plesk web hosts seeking to optimise resource management. This system empowers hosting providers by isolating each user into distinct containers, leveraging Linux namespaces and cgroups. As a result, the hosting environment becomes significantly more efficient, scalable, and secure.
Key Features and Benefits
1. Resource Isolation with Linux Namespaces and Cgroups
LiteSpeed Containers ensure that each user operates within their own virtual environment. By harnessing Linux namespaces and control groups (cgroups), it provides individual containers that offer distinct resource limits and protection. This means that CPU, memory, and I/O resources are carefully managed per user, preventing any one account from overwhelming the server or slowing down others.
2. Ideal for Shared Hosting
Traditionally, shared hosting has faced challenges with resource allocation, as one user can easily consume too many server resources, causing performance degradation for others. LiteSpeed Containers address this by enforcing strict resource controls for each user, ensuring a balanced and predictable hosting environment for all customers.
3. Seamless Integration with Control Panels
LiteSpeed Containers work out-of-the-box with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk. Additionally, for custom or unsupported control panels, LiteSpeed Containers can be managed via API, allowing flexible implementation across various hosting platforms.
4. Tiered Resource Allocation
With support for tiered hosting plans, LiteSpeed Containers enable web hosts to define different levels of resource usage based on customer needs. This gives businesses the opportunity to create diverse hosting plans, from basic to premium, without worrying about resource strain on their servers.
5. Performance Monitoring
LiteSpeed has also integrated powerful monitoring tools, such as Prometheus, enabling hosts to track container-specific resource usage in real-time. This gives administrators deeper insights into how resources are being utilised, helping to pre-emptively address potential issues.
Why LiteSpeed Containers Are Useful
For web hosting companies utilising cPanel and Plesk, the introduction of LiteSpeed Containers marks a significant improvement in managing server resources, and negates the need for CloudLinux licensing if LiteSpeed web server is already in use. The isolation of users within containers leads to increased security, reduced server load, and better overall performance. It is particularly beneficial for high-density environments, where managing multiple users on shared hardware often leads to bottlenecks or slowdowns.
For more details, visit the official LiteSpeed blog post here.