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 | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Server 2022 | August 2021 | Coming Soon |
| Windows Server 2025 | 2024 | Coming Soon |
Windows Server images will include an additional licensing fee on top of the compute cost. Pricing will be announced when available. Contact support for early access.
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 | 2022, 2025 | LTS | Windows workloads (coming soon) |
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