Overview

Every ALYPOD CPU Pod is deployed from an operating-system image. The ALYPOD Console offers a range of current Linux distributions and Windows Server, and you can reinstall a different image at any time from the Pod detail page.

Available images

Linux

• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS
• Debian 11 and 12
• AlmaLinux 8 and 9
• Rocky Linux 8 and 9
• Fedora (current release)
• Alpine Linux
• Arch Linux

Windows

• Windows Server 2019 and 2022 (available on Windows Pods)

Application images

Some locations also offer pre-built images such as a LAMP stack or Docker host. These are convenience images; you can achieve the same result by installing packages yourself.

Choosing an image

1. For long-term servers, pick an LTS release (Ubuntu LTS, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky) for a stable, supported base.
2. For the newest kernels and packages, choose Fedora or Arch — but expect more frequent upgrades.
3. For lightweight containers or very small Pods, Alpine uses far less disk and RAM.
4. For .NET, MSSQL or RDP access, choose Windows Server on a Windows Pod.

Reinstalling

1. Open the Pod in the ALYPOD Console.
2. Click Reinstall, choose the new image and your SSH key.
3. Confirm. Reinstalling erases all data on the Pod, so snapshot first.

Troubleshooting

• Problem: Architecture mismatch when installing a package. Solution: Check with uname -m; ARM Pods report aarch64 and need Arm-compatible builds.
• Problem: Windows image not listed. Solution: Windows requires a Windows Pod plan; Linux and Windows images are not interchangeable.

Related articles

• [Deploying your first Pod]
• [Choosing the right CPU Pod for your workload]
• [Understanding your ALYPOD dashboard]