Images & Templates
Choose from 18+ operating systems with version selection and LTS/EOL tracking.
Images & Templates
HUC provides 18+ pre-built operating system images optimized for cloud deployment. Every image is a QEMU template that deploys in under 10 seconds, pre-configured with cloud-init support, SSH key injection, and security hardening.
Available Operating Systems
Ubuntu
| Version | Release | LTS | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 | April 2024 | Yes (until Apr 2029) | April 2034 (ESM) | Recommended |
| Ubuntu 22.04 | April 2022 | Yes (until Apr 2027) | April 2032 (ESM) | Supported |
Ubuntu LTS releases receive 5 years of standard support and up to 10 years with Extended Security Maintenance (ESM). We recommend using the latest LTS for new deployments.
Debian
| Version | Release | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 13 (Trixie) | 2025 | ~2028 | Supported |
| Debian 12 (Bookworm) | June 2023 | ~2026 | Recommended |
| Debian 11 (Bullseye) | August 2021 | June 2026 (LTS) | Supported |
Fedora
| Version | Release | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fedora 43 | 2025 | ~2026 | Supported |
| Fedora 42 | 2025 | ~2026 | Supported |
Fedora releases have a short support window (~13 months). They are ideal for development and testing, but for production workloads consider a longer-supported distribution like Ubuntu LTS, Debian, Rocky Linux, or AlmaLinux.
CentOS Stream
| Version | Release | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CentOS Stream 10 | 2024 | ~2030 | Supported |
| CentOS Stream 9 | 2021 | May 2027 | Recommended |
Rocky Linux
| Version | Release | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 10 | 2025 | ~2032 | Supported |
| Rocky Linux 9 | July 2022 | May 2032 | Recommended |
| Rocky Linux 8 | June 2021 | May 2029 | Supported |
AlmaLinux
| Version | Release | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 10 | 2025 | ~2032 | Supported |
| AlmaLinux 9 | May 2022 | May 2032 | Recommended |
| AlmaLinux 8 | March 2021 | March 2029 | Supported |
Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux are binary-compatible replacements for CentOS Linux, built from RHEL sources. They offer 10-year support cycles and are excellent choices for production workloads.
openSUSE
| Version | Release | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | June 2024 | December 2025 | Supported |
Arch Linux
| Version | Release | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arch Linux (rolling) | Rolling release | N/A | Supported |
Arch Linux is a rolling release distribution. While always up-to-date, updates can occasionally introduce breaking changes. Best suited for developers and advanced users who want the latest packages.
FreeBSD
| Version | Release | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD 14.2 | December 2024 | ~2029 | Supported |
Windows Server
| Version | Release | Channel | EOL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Server 2019 | October 2018 | LTSC | January 2029 | Supported |
| Windows Server 2022 | August 2021 | LTSC | October 2031 | Recommended |
| Windows Server 2025 | November 2024 | LTSC | October 2034 | Supported |
Windows Server images ship with Desktop Experience, VirtIO drivers, QEMU guest agent, and Cloudbase-Init for automatic first-boot configuration (hostname, password, volume expansion, SSH key injection). Licensing is included in the instance price. Minimum plan: 32 GB disk / 2 GB RAM. See the Windows Server guide for deployment, RDP access, and common tasks.
Version Selection
When creating an instance, you select an operating system using a two-step dropdown:
- Select the distribution (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky Linux)
- Select the version from the version dropdown
Each version shows:
- Version number and codename
- LTS badge for long-term support releases
- Recommended badge for the suggested version
- EOL date so you can plan ahead
LTS vs Regular Releases
| Feature | LTS Releases | Regular Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Support duration | 5-10 years | 6-18 months |
| Security patches | Guaranteed for full support period | Until next release |
| Best for | Production, stability | Development, latest features |
| Examples | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, Debian 12, Rocky 9 | Fedora 43, Arch Linux |
For production workloads, always choose an LTS release. LTS distributions receive security patches for years, giving you a stable foundation without frequent OS upgrades.
EOL Dates and Warnings
End-of-life (EOL) dates indicate when a distribution version will stop receiving security updates. Running an EOL operating system exposes your instance to unpatched vulnerabilities.
- Active — Receiving regular updates and security patches
- Approaching EOL — Displayed with a warning badge in the image selector. Plan your migration.
- EOL — No longer receiving security updates. Removed from the image selector.
If your instance is running an operating system that is approaching or past its EOL date, plan a migration to a supported version. Create a snapshot of your current instance, deploy a new instance with a supported OS, and migrate your data.
QEMU Templates
All images are stored as QEMU templates on the hypervisor infrastructure. This enables:
- Sub-10-second deployment — Templates are cloned, not copied. Instance creation is near-instant.
- Thin provisioning — Only data written to the instance consumes physical storage.
- Consistency — Every instance of the same image starts from an identical base.
- Cloud-init ready — All templates include cloud-init for automated first-boot configuration (hostname, SSH keys, network).
Custom Images
Need an operating system or configuration that is not in the standard library? Contact support to discuss custom image options:
- Custom OS — Request a specific distribution or version
- Pre-configured images — Images with your software stack pre-installed
- Hardened images — Security-hardened base images for compliance requirements
# Contact support for custom image requests
# Open a ticket at https://hostupcloud.helpImage Summary
| Distribution | Versions | Type | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu | 22.04, 24.04 | LTS | General purpose, web apps, containers |
| Debian | 11, 12, 13 | Stable | Servers, stability-focused workloads |
| Fedora | 42, 43 | Rolling | Development, testing latest features |
| CentOS Stream | 9, 10 | Stream | RHEL compatibility, enterprise workloads |
| Rocky Linux | 8, 9, 10 | LTS | RHEL replacement, production servers |
| AlmaLinux | 8, 9, 10 | LTS | RHEL replacement, production servers |
| openSUSE | 15.6 | Leap | Enterprise workloads, SUSE ecosystem |
| Arch Linux | Rolling | Rolling | Developers, bleeding-edge packages |
| FreeBSD | 14.2 | Release | Networking, storage, ZFS workloads |
| Windows Server | 2019, 2022, 2025 | LTSC | Windows workloads — see Windows Server |
Next Steps
- Deploy a Cloud Compute instance with your chosen image
- Upload SSH Keys for secure access to your instance
- Configure Networking for firewalls and private networks
- Learn about Storage for volumes, snapshots, and backups