Start with the offered images
OffVPS lists Debian 13, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and AlmaLinux 9. These are clean operating-system choices, not preinstalled app stacks.
Check compatibility before familiarity
Read the runtime vendor’s supported distributions, package source, required libc or extension versions, and upgrade path. Then choose the package ecosystem the operator can maintain.
Example decision
If an application guide targets Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and the team already tests that release, choosing it reduces translation work. If a vendor supports an RPM path and the team maintains it, AlmaLinux may fit instead.
Verify the delivered image
After verified provisioning, record the actual release, repository configuration and pending updates before installing the runtime.