Hi Alex, you are most
to Webhosting UK community.
As you have root access to your Linux VPS you can install all required softwares/applications and scripts. No problem with dist-upgrade. Feel free to contact us via Live chat to get details on supported features and more information of our VPS hosting plans, you can place order for our VPS hosting plans using following link :
http://www.webhosting.uk.com/vps-hosting.php