What is Linode (now Akamai Cloud)?
Linode was a cloud infrastructure company founded in 2003, offering affordable virtual private servers and cloud computing services. In 2022, Linode was acquired by Akamai Technologies and rebranded as Akamai Cloud Compute.
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Linode built its reputation by offering straightforward, developer-friendly cloud servers at competitive prices. It competed directly with Amazon Web Services and DigitalOcean, positioning itself as a more approachable alternative for developers and small businesses.
Linode servers run Linux and are unmanaged by default, meaning you are responsible for the operating system, security patches, and software configuration. This makes Linode best suited to developers and system administrators who are comfortable working with Linux servers.
Linode is used for a wide range of workloads: web applications, databases, development environments, game servers, private VPN servers, and more. It is not a traditional shared hosting platform and is not intended for beginners who want a website without technical setup.
Since the Akamai acquisition, Linode's products have been integrated into Akamai's broader cloud and content delivery network (CDN) platform. Existing customers continue to use the Linode platform under the Akamai Cloud Compute branding.
Common questions
What is Linode used for?
Linode is used for cloud server workloads: web applications, databases, development environments, game servers, and custom software deployments. It requires Linux knowledge to manage.
Is Linode beginner-friendly?
Linode is not ideal for complete beginners. It requires comfort with Linux and server management. For a simple website, shared hosting from SiteGround, Hostinger, or Bluehost is much easier to use.
Is Linode the same as Akamai?
Since 2022, Linode is owned by Akamai. The cloud compute infrastructure is now marketed as Akamai Cloud Compute. Linode.com redirects to the Akamai Cloud platform.