I've installed Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian on VMWare Workstation Pro 17, and I'm considering moving to VirtualBox later. I'm on a quest to find a Linux distro that's best suited for learning and preparing for sysadmin exams, including the Linux+ exam. Unfortunately, RHEL doesn't seem to work on my VM setup. My goal is to try different distros and eventually dual-boot one with Windows 11 since I need Microsoft 365 and Outlook for school. With all three distros using GNOME, it's hard to see the differences. What should I focus on while exploring these distros to determine which one is the best fit for my needs?
3 Answers
Honestly, just go for the distro that has the software and packages you need! If you’re not sure, Debian is a solid choice that tends to meet a lot of requirements. It’s pretty stable for learning purposes, especially if you’re focused on sysadmin tasks.
Most distros can do similar things; the difference is in how much setup you want to do. If you want to customize, go for Arch. If you prefer something ready to go with minimal command line work, stick with Mint, Ubuntu, or Fedora. I’d recommend Mint or Fedora for school—better stability, and you'll have fewer headaches. Just remember to back up your work in case something goes wrong!
Have you thought about flipping your approach? Instead of just picking a distro and hoping it works, look at what you actually need based on your study materials. They often recommend specific distros for sysadmin courses. Check their requirements for any tools or apps you need to run, then choose accordingly.
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