Windows is probably the most popular desktop PC operating system in the world, and the most popular Internet web server operating system on the Internet is Linux.
Typically bundled with Apache, MySQL, and PHP (often called a LAMP configuration), a variety of different Linux distributions are used.
Sometimes it depends on personal preference, sometimes it depends on market forces, sometimes because of small advantages, there will be a special distribution in terms of core applications to be used, security issues, or stability issues.
Ultimately, most web users will never notice any difference because the operating system runs so well in the background that only system administrators and IT managers will notice the Linux distribution in use.
Recommended: "Linux Tutorial"
But which one should I use?
In most cases, choice is not the key, but a matter of personal choice.
But, we’ll list some of our favorites below.
1. Debian
Focus on stability
Long established
-Limited Application
Debian is over 20 years old, and part of its longevity is due to its emphasis on producing stable operating systems. This is crucial if you're setting up a server, as updates can sometimes seriously conflict with existing software.
Debian has three branches, namely "unstable", "testing" and "stable". To become part of the current stable release, a package must be reviewed as part of a beta release for several months. This should result in a more reliable system - but don't expect Debian to introduce a lot of "bleeding edge" software as a result.
You can start using Debian with the smallest network boot image (less than 30MB). For faster setup, download the larger web installer, which is less than 300MB and contains more packages.
2. Ubuntu Server
Popular Releases
Long-term Support
Cloud Options
While Ubuntu is best known for bringing desktop Linux to the masses, its Server version is also very competitive. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has developed an LTS (long-term support) version of Ubuntu Server that, like the desktop version, can be updated for five years from the date of release, eliminating the hassle of repeatedly upgrading the server. Canonical also regularly releases Ubuntu Server versions simultaneously with the latest desktop release, namely 18.04.1.
If you plan to build your own cloud platform, you can also download Ubuntu Cloud Server. Canonical claims that more than 55% of OpenStack clouds are already running on Ubuntu. For a fee, Canonical can even set up a managed cloud for you using BootStack.
3. OpenSUSE
Designed specifically for servers
Only install basic software
Easy Installation
OpenSUSE (formerly SUSE Linux) is a Linux distribution designed specifically for developers and system administrators who want to run their own servers. The easy-to-use installer can be configured to use "text mode" instead of installing a desktop environment to get the server up and running.
OpenSUSE will automatically download the minimum required packages for you, meaning only the necessary software is installed. YaST Control Center allows you to configure network settings, such as setting a static IP for your server. You can also use the built-in Zypper package manager to download and install necessary server software, such as postfix.
4. Fedora
Based on Red Hat Enterprise
Authentication credentials
Management Tool Kit
Fedora is a community-developed operating system based on the commercial Linux distribution Red Hat. Fedora Server is a special implementation of the OS that allows you to use Rolekit tools to deploy and manage the server. The operating system also includes a powerful PostgreSQL database server.
Fedora Server also includes FreeIPA, which allows you to manage authentication credentials, access control information and perform auditing from a central location.
You can download the full 2.7GB ISO image of Fedora Server using the link below. The same page contains a link to a minimal 583MB NetInstall image in Fedora's Additional Downloads section to speed up barebone setup.
5. CentOS
Based on Red Hat Enterprise
Popular server distribution
Long-term Support
Like Fedora, CentOS is a community-developed Linux distribution originally based on the commercial OS Red Hat Enterprise Linux. With this in mind, the developers of CentOS 7 have promised to provide a full update for the operating system by the end of 2020, and maintenance updates by the end of June 2024 – which should save you the hassle of performing a full upgrade on your servers. near future.
You can avoid unnecessary packages by installing the "minimal" ISO from the CentOS website, which is 906MB in size and holds a 90-minute CD-R. If you're eager to get started, the site also offers preconfigured AWS instances and Docker images.
More Linux Server Distros to Consider
There are very few Linux distributions for Internet servers, and although we've covered the main contenders above, Depending on your situation, there are a few more that are definitely worth considering:
Red Hat is the big brother to Fedora and CentOS and is designed specifically for commercial deployments in enterprise environments. It is still open source, but requires a proprietary license to use. Red Hat has been around a long time, and while the licensing fee may turn some people off, many businesses equate it with a guarantee of support, reliability, and quality.
Technically, FreeBSD doesn't work on Linux as much as an operating system that runs under Unix, but sometimes hosting companies offer it as a server option that offers LAMP configurations as well as support for various Linux distributions. Although Linux relies on many third-party developed software utilities, FreeBSD is a complete suite known for being particularly secure and stable.
CloudLinux is a distribution built specifically for virtualized cloud operations, supporting shared hosting services by allocating and limiting server resources to each tenant. Additionally, each tenant is partitioned from each other to create a more secure environment. The result is a hosting platform built with redundancy, stability and security in order to provide a better hosting environment.
This article is a translation, the original English address:
https://www.techradar.com/best/best-linux-server-distro
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