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Operating system

Run Debian 12 or 13 on KVM VPS hosting

13 (Trixie) · 12 (Bookworm)Min 256 MBRecommended 1 GBDebian Project
Short answer

Debian is the minimal, conservative sibling of Ubuntu: same package format, no vendor telemetry, no Snap, and a base install that idles in around 120 MB of RAM. It is the correct default when you want a server that changes only when you decide it should. Debian 13 ships kernel 6.12 and is supported into 2030.

Strengths

  • Extremely stable
  • Tiny base footprint
  • No vendor telemetry or Snap
  • Long support windows

Trade-offs

  • Older package versions by design
  • Fewer hand-holding tutorials than Ubuntu

Best suited to

Minimal serversLong-lived infrastructureLow-RAM instancesAnything you want to leave alone

Debian on a KVM virtual server

When you buy a Debian VPS here, you are buying a kernel you control. True KVM virtualisation means the instance runs its own kernel, its own /proc, and can boot a custom ISO. A container-based VPS shares the host kernel, so a custom kernel or a non-Linux OS simply will not work. Know that Debian's stable branch ships older packages by design: you get predictability, not novelty. If you need the newest toolchain, the trade-off is yours to make.

People run Debian here for long-lived infrastructure: mail servers, nameservers, monitoring, and low-traffic web services that must stay up. Its tiny base footprint and lack of vendor telemetry mean you can leave a box alone for years and it will not phone home or surprise you. The older packages are a feature when stability matters more than the latest release.

How much machine Debian actually needs

Debian itself needs little: a base install idles around 120 MB, and the system boots from 256 MB. For a single service, 1 GB is comfortable and leaves room for the OS plus your application. Disk: start with the base plan's storage, you can add extra NVMe later. Begin small, because moving down a tier requires a rebuild.

Plans that suit Debian

Skiff

Skiff 1

$ 4 /month
vCPU
1 × shared
RAM
1 GB
Storage
20 GB NVMe SSD
Transfer
2 TB
IPv4 / IPv6
1 / /64 routed
Configure
Skiff

Skiff 2

$ 7 /month
vCPU
1 × shared
RAM
2 GB
Storage
40 GB NVMe SSD
Transfer
3 TB
IPv4 / IPv6
1 / /64 routed
Configure
Skiff

Skiff 4

$ 12 /month
vCPU
2 × shared
RAM
4 GB
Storage
60 GB NVMe SSD
Transfer
4 TB
IPv4 / IPv6
1 / /64 routed
Configure

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM does Debian need?

Debian boots in 256 MB and is comfortable with 1 GB. Add whatever your application needs on top of that — the operating system baseline is a floor, not a budget.

Can I run Debian on a VPS?

Yes, on true KVM virtualisation, which is what every OnionVPS instance runs. It is available as a ready template and can also be installed from your own ISO.

How long is Debian supported?

2028 (Debian 12 LTS)

Can I run a custom kernel on this Debian VPS?

Yes. Because every instance is true KVM, not a container, you get your own kernel. You can compile your own, load modules, or boot a custom ISO. This is what you cannot do on OpenVZ or LXC hosts.

Why are Debian's packages older than other distros?

Debian values stability over freshness. Its stable releases freeze package versions, so you get security patches but not the latest features. That is intentional: long-lived servers are better served by software that does not change until you decide to upgrade.