Switching a server from CentOS to CloudLinux OS is surprisingly easy. Because CloudLinux OS is similar to CentOS, the process takes only a few minutes. It replaces only a few RPMs, and requires just one reboot.

How do you convert a server from CentOS to CloudLinux OS? Just follow the directions below. 

Preparation

1. Get an activation key.
   
   You do this through signing up for a trial subscription, or by purchasing a full subscription.
   
   
2. Download the conversion script.
   
   Just click this link to download the script that converts a server from CentOS to CloudLinux OS.
   
   The script automatically detects and supports cPanel with EA4 (not EA3), Plesk, DirectAdmin, and InterWorx. 

Conversion

1. Run the conversion script.
   
   If you have an activation key, run the following commands:
   $ wget https://repo.cloudlinux.com/cloudlinux/sources/cln/cldeploy

$ sh cldeploy -k <activation_key>
   
   If you have an IP-based license, run this command:
   
   $ sh cldeploy -i
   
   
2. Reboot the server.
   
   Reboot by running this command:
   
   $ reboot

We also provide a video guide on how to convert a cPanel-based server from CentOS to CloudLinux OS. 

Packages

Once you reboot the server, it will be running the CloudLinux kernel with LVE enabled.

The conversion script will install the Apache module, PAM module, and command-line tools, as well as LVE Manager.

On a server with the InterWorx control panel, the conversion script installs mod_hostinglimits, lve-utils, and lve-stats. LVE Manager is not installed.

Notes

• In its initial release, CloudLinux 8 supports only DirectAdmin. Support for cPanel and Plesk will be added later in 2020.
• To deploy CloudLinux on a server with ISPmanager 5, you need to purchase a CloudLinux license directly from ISPSystems, and follow ISPmanager's deployment guide.
• Starting from cldeploy script version 1.61, in conversions from CentOS 7.x to CloudLinux 7, the conversion script converts CloudLinux 7 to CloudLinux 7 Hybrid. That’s because CloudLinux 7 Hybrid has a newer kernel designed for machines with newer hardware.
• To convert a server back to CentOS, just follow these instructions.
• To learn more about the conversion process, you can consult our detailed documentation.