I'm looking to repurpose a spare laptop to learn about using Linux in a headless setup. Ideally, I want to remotely install any Linux distribution that you guys recommend. I've never used 'wake on lan' before, but I'm eager to learn how it works. I plan to start on my local network for now, but I dream of being able to turn this laptop on from a different country and use it to download and stream files, all while keeping my home network secure. What Linux distribution works best for a setup like this (considering 4GB of RAM and a 1TB HDD)? Additionally, what skills should I focus on learning, and are there other cool functionalities I should explore for remote use? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
If you're looking for something simple and reliable, I suggest starting with Debian minimal. It might take some time to get familiar with, but it's great for a set-and-forget scenario. You don't necessarily have to go headless; you could install a lightweight desktop environment like LXQt initially and then remove it once you're all set. For something more robust, you might want to consider Rocky Linux as it offers long-term support and is quite similar to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Just a heads up to disconnect the battery if it's plugged in all the time to avoid bloating!
It seems like you have a lot to explore! Check the resources page for a ton of helpful information on learning Linux. And just a little pointer: always back up your data, and try new things in a virtual machine first to avoid issues! I learned the hard way to double-check commands before hitting Enter. 😉
Basic Debian is definitely a solid choice. You should also check out Linux Journey for some learning paths and the Explaining Computers channel on YouTube for in-depth tutorials. About wake on lan, I've found it can be a hassle; sometimes I just leave my devices on all the time. Also, consider Tailscale for secure remote access—it makes that whole process smoother!
Since you're coming from Mint and Fedora, diving into Arch could be a fun challenge! Just keep in mind that Arch has its own set of rules, so make sure you're prepared to explore its documentation. If you're unsure, maybe sticking with Debian or Ubuntu initially could be a better fit while you get used to the idea of remote installs.
Thanks for the advice! I appreciate the heads-up on the learning curve with Arch. I might start with Debian to ease myself in.
Rocky sounds interesting, I might give that a shot too. Good call on the battery—I'll definitely remove it since it's already dead. Thanks for the tip!