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Linux
Linux distribution
What are the best Linux distributions for sysadmins?
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Jan 30, 2024
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Options
Considered
Best Linux distributions for sysadmins
Price
Based On
Default Desktop Environment
--
Debian GNU/Linux
Free
NONE
GNOME
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--
Debian GNU/Linux
My Rec
ommendation
for
Debian GNU/Linux
My Recommendation for
Debian GNU/Linux
All
28
Pros
27
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Debian Fast Track for stable
Stable gets backported software from: https://fasttrack.debian.net
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Specs
Based On:
NONE
Default Desktop Environment:
GNOME
Init-System:
Systemd
Package Manager:
dpkg with apt, aptitude or apt-build
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Top
Pro
•••
Standard archives
Debs are normal ar and tar archives with shell scripting and additional gz, bz, lzma or xz compression.
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Top
Pro
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Unique release cycle
The most Linux distros have one or two stages before a release, but Debian has five before a new stable version is released (experimental > unstable > testing > code-freeze/bug hunting > stable).
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Top
Pro
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Wise release model
Debian stable does not update a lot and instead provides stability and well tested softwares. You don't get distracted by every shiny new stuff that comes out, and focus on what matters: productivity and reliability of your system.
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Top
Pro
•••
Great choice for returning Linux users
If you haven't used Linux for a long time, say 5-10 years, it's a great distro in which you can quickly get in the boat again. You don't have to worry about falling back. Everything is in its place.
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Top
Pro
•••
Has small amount of today's bugs (e.g. no duplicate web cameras in Skype - likely not Skype's fault)
But has quite a few bugs from 2016-2017, apparently for long term.
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Top
Pro
•••
Live install images for CDs, DVDs and USB thumb drives
Debian releases live install images for CDs, DVDs and USB thumb drives, for the i386 and amd64 architectures, and with a choice of desktop environments. These Debian Live images allow the user to boot from a removable media and run Debian without affecting the contents of their computer.
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Top
Pro
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TUI installer
The Debian installer can still be launched as text/curses-like installer which is more compatible and keyboard-friendly than the graphical version.
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Top
Pro
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Big open-source project
The Debian project is one of the biggest open source projects with over 5000 active contributors.
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Top
Pro
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Great for gaming
As Debian is the base for SteamOS and because Ubuntu is based on it, it's almost certain that all Linux games will run properly and require no hacks like creating symbolic links because of some hardcoded paths.
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Top
Pro
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Debconf
Depending how it is configured debconf does the most of the hard work for you and only asks you with configuration /file conflicts.
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Top
Pro
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Apt-build
It is possible to rebuild the entire system and optimize it for your hardware (of course, it is not as detailed as Gentoo's USE flags).
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Top
Pro
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Widely supported
Almost any software that is available for Linux provides a Debian package.
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Top
Pro
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Supports SecureBoot
You don't have to disable SecureBoot if you use it, which is useful for LiveUSB or dualboot setups.
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Top
Pro
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Well-working team
The developer works very well so the the code is one of the best written out there.
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Top
Pro
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Rolling or Release based
Every Debian Release can either use a Rolling or Release based model.
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Top
Pro
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Highly secure system
Known for being consistent in maintaining a highly secure system. Several other popular distros use Debian as a base or core for their own Linux OS, the security being one of the main factors why it's so commonly used.
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Top
Pro
•••
Easy to find help with any problem
Debian is one of the oldest and most popular distros out there. Debian's popularity means that you will always be able to find a solution for your problem just by searching on Google, or if by chance nobody has had the problem you are having it's very easy to ask the community and quickly get a solution.
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Top
Pro
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Very stable
Debian has a Stable branch, where packages are thoroughly tested before release. Furthermore Debian is know to be the definition of stable when it comes to production systems.
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Top
Pro
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Install and forget
Once installed you can almost forget about it and start to use your desktop for your daily tasks.
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Top
Pro
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Wide choice of hardware platforms
Debian has the widest choice of hardware platforms, including: amd64, armel, armhf, i386, ia64, kfreebsd-i386, kfreebsd-amd64, mips, mipsel, powerpc, sparc, s390, s390x, source, multi-arch.
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Top
Pro
•••
Standard vanilla Linux desktop
Debian runs standard Gnome, XFCE, KDE - it doesn't use its own special desktop environment or debian specific modifications or customisations, which means that users benefit from the work of the whole Linux community, Debian developers can focus on the distribution itself, and any support for your desktop environment on other distributions should work on Debian as well.
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Top
Pro
•••
Wide choice in desktop environments
Debian offers stable and testing CD images specifically built for GNOME (the default), KDE Plasma Workspaces, Xfce and LXDE. Less common window managers such as Enlightenment, Openbox, Fluxbox, GNUstep, IceWM, Window Maker and others can also be installed.
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Top
Pro
•••
Many ports
Debian supports almost any Kernel maintained CPU instructions set. It has also a few non Linux Ports.
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Top
Pro
•••
A real installer
Unlike other distributions that just extract their Live image, Debian offers a real traditional and modular installer to customize the installation.
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Top
Pro
•••
A lot of ways to install software
You can either use aptitude, apt or apt-build to install software from the Debian package archives.
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Top
Pro
•••
Comes with over 55.500 packages
Because of its popularity, Debian has a lot of applications available which range from productivity programs to business software, games and development tools. It comes with over 55.500 packages (software that is precompiled and ready to be installed on a local machine) -- all of them for free.
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