Overview
Arcustech managed VPS deployments are built on long-term supported Ubuntu LTS Server releases. We standardize around Ubuntu’s supported package ecosystem and official repository versions to provide predictable stability, security maintenance, and long-term upgrade paths for hosted applications.
All managed VPS deployments include Ubuntu Pro with Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM) coverage provided by Arcustech at no additional cost. This extends security patch availability for supported Ubuntu LTS releases for up to 10 years, including many packages that would otherwise fall out of standard maintenance coverage.
Unlike many unmanaged VPS environments, clients do not need to separately purchase Ubuntu Pro or manage ESM enrollment themselves.
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Server
Released April 2026 / Ubuntu Pro Security patching through April 2036
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS provides the newest currently supported long-term deployment environment available through Arcustech managed VPS services. This deployment is recommended for newly developed applications, modern frameworks, and environments requiring the latest supported PHP and database ecosystems.
Core Stack Versions
- Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Server
- Nginx 1.28.x
- Apache 2.4.x
- PHP 8.4.x
- MySQL 8.4.x
- PostgreSQL 18.x
- Redis 8.x
- ImageMagick 7.x (with integrated webp and avif support)
- Composer 2.8.x
Deployment Notes
- Managed deployments on this platform standardize on PHP 8.4.x.
- Nginx is used as a managed frontend proxy for gzip compression, SSL termination, and HTTP/2 support. (we are evaluating HTTP/3 support in nginx)
- Apache remains the primary backend application server for compatibility with common PHP applications and .htaccess-driven environments.
- Redis is available for managed caching, queue, session, and in-memory workloads.
- SQLite is preinstalled by default on all managed VPS deployments.
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Server
Released April 2024 / Ubuntu Pro Security patching through April 2034
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS remains a widely compatible deployment platform for applications that may not yet be validated against newer PHP or database ecosystems while still maintaining a modern software stack.
Core Stack Versions
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Server
- Nginx 1.24.x
- Apache 2.4.x
- PHP 8.3.x
- MySQL 8.0.x
- PostgreSQL 16.x
- Redis 7.x
- ImageMagick 6.x / 7.x
- Composer 2.7.x
Deployment Notes
- Managed deployments on this platform standardize on PHP 8.3.x.
- Provides broad compatibility with most actively maintained PHP applications and CMS platforms.
- Suitable for environments transitioning from Ubuntu 22.04 LTS while maintaining newer package support.
- Includes the same managed Nginx frontend proxy architecture used across all managed VPS environments.
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Server
Released April 2022 / Ubuntu Pro Security patching through April 2032
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS remains available for applications requiring older PHP compatibility or environments not yet validated for newer platform versions.
Core Stack Versions
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Server
- Nginx 1.18.x
- Apache 2.4.x
- PHP 8.1.x
- MySQL 8.0.x
- PostgreSQL 14.x
- Redis 6.x
- ImageMagick 6.x
- Composer 2.1.x
Deployment Notes
- Managed deployments on this platform standardize on PHP 8.1.x.
- Intended primarily for compatibility-focused deployments.
- Suitable for applications requiring older PHP libraries, plugins, or frameworks.
- Ubuntu Pro with ESM coverage extends the supported lifecycle of this deployment well beyond standard Ubuntu maintenance windows.
Choosing the Appropriate Deployment Version
When selecting an Ubuntu LTS deployment version, customers should review the documented compatibility requirements and preferred platform recommendations for their applications, CMS platforms, frameworks, plugins, and dependencies.
While older deployment versions remain available for compatibility purposes, newer Ubuntu LTS environments generally provide:
- Newer PHP runtimes and language features
- Longer remaining support lifecycles
- Improved database and caching platform support
- Better performance optimizations
- Access to newer libraries and package ecosystems
Customers deploying applications such as WordPress, Laravel, Magento, Drupal, Symfony, Node.js platforms, or other frameworks should review both:
- Minimum supported platform requirements
- Recommended or preferred platform versions
Many applications will continue operating on older PHP or database versions while still officially recommending newer environments for security, stability, and performance reasons.
For most new deployments, Arcustech recommends selecting the newest supported Ubuntu LTS environment compatible with your application stack.
Ubuntu Pro and Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM)
All Arcustech managed VPS deployments include Ubuntu Pro licensing with Expanded Security Maintenance coverage.
This provides:
- Extended security patching for supported Ubuntu LTS releases
- Security updates for many packages outside standard Ubuntu maintenance coverage
- Up to 10 years of supported lifecycle coverage for eligible Ubuntu LTS environments
- Managed enrollment and maintenance handled directly by Arcustech
Many hosting providers either do not provide Ubuntu Pro coverage or require customers to purchase and manage Ubuntu Pro subscriptions independently. Arcustech includes Ubuntu Pro and ESM coverage as part of our managed VPS deployment platform.
This helps customers maintain longer-lived production environments while continuing to receive critical security updates and maintenance coverage across supported Ubuntu LTS releases.
