Select your Linux version

My friends have been learning Linux recently, but I heard that their versions are different and varied, so I also learned about various Linux versions. I have learned some knowledge about Linux, and I will share with you the appropriate Linux version.

It is much more complicated to select a correct Linux version. Now you can find hundreds of Linux versions that run well and are updated on a regular basis, many of which are prepared to meet specific requirements.

So how should we choose? The fact is that you don't need to know each of them in detail. The best solution is to first clarify your needs and interests, and then select one of three or four appropriate Linux versions.

We do not need to list all Linux versions, which may scare you. Here we have selected about 20 most popular and efficient Linux versions, they are divided into groups based on common user requirements. If you find that the following questions are exactly what you want to ask, you may find the Linux version you need in the subsequent descriptions.

"I am a newbie, just want to start using Linux"

For new users who have switched from Windows, the answer to this question is obvious: Ubuntu Linux is almost the best choice and is very easy to use. Users can automatically port user settings in Windows, such as their documents and personal settings, including Internet bookmarks. Users can even try a variety of installation methods without changing hardware resources, such as starting from the disc directly, starting with Windows at the same time, or directly installing Ubuntu in the Windows partition. The Ubuntu design and its powerful community support make it the best choice for Linux quick start.

Ubuntu is by no means the only new version available, although it has the largest reputation and most users. Other Derivative versions such as Linux MintUbuntu), PCLinuxOS, SimplyMEPIS, and Mandriva all follow the concept of "getting it out of the box" and "it shoshould just work, improve availability, data packet management, and port data from Windows using different methods.

Another thing to mention is Novell's openSUSE 11.1, which is also recognized as a good entry-level version of Linux. The free openSUSE comes from Novell's commercial version SUSE Linux and has a large number of advanced features, such as the comfortable and searchable home directory in Windows Vista, in addition, you can add a self-running test experience disk Live Disc ).

"I have used Linux and want to go deeper"

If you are familiar with Linux or have confidence in your learning ability, you can learn a few complex versions.

Red Hat for servers and underlying architectures) Linux is a tough option, And the ora version supported by the Community has the same powerful features. It is not updated as often as Ubuntu, but it is also very easy to install and has the same attractive desktop features. Linus Torvalds, the father of Linux, recently mentioned that he is a very enthusiastic Fedora user. Fedora 10 is the latest version. The more powerful Fedora 11 beta version has also been released.

Next is Debian, which is probably the so-called ur-distro, which is based on so many other releases, including Ubuntu. Many people do not like it for a long development cycle, but it is commendable that it is stable and can be used for a long time. The latest version of Debian is 4.0, and version 5.0 is under development. When will it be released? It is estimated that the development cycle will still be too long.

"I just want to give my old machine the simplest decoration"

Most of the time, you only need some basic requirements. Linux can certainly meet your needs. You can find the Linux version that can be run on USB disks, CDs, or even completely in the memory. It should also be pointed out that running Linux in memory or removable memory is a good security protection measure-if you are suspicious or just cautious, you can use a USB flash drive with a big thumb to keep your computer confidential.

Puppy Linux is a favorite of many people. Although it is small and light, it has excellent functions. In version 4.1.2, it uses only MB to encapsulate almost all required functions and provides additional independent software. For some older laptops, Puppy Linux provides an almost perfect method because it only requires a small amount of space or system resources and can run well.

Similar to Puppy Linux, there are TinyMe, PCLinuxOS, lite Ubuntu, Xubuntu, and Moblin, which are still under promotion. Among them, Xubuntu may be the most mature and has undergone extensive tests, but Moblin has lightning speed and has huge market potential.

"I want to run Linux on the server"

From the very beginning, Linux and servers are inseparable. Linux proves itself in the world of servers, and will continue to prove itself. Various versions of Linux have made great achievements on the server stage.

Red Hat Linux Enterprise Edition, the famous RHEL, is still the most common and widely supported choice on the server side, but note that it is not free of charge, A 30-day trial is provided for the Red Hat contracted customer Fedora community only ).

However, RHEL has an interesting variant, CentOS, which is directly built on the RHEL source code and is free of charge but lacks official support ). Therefore, some companies with powerful Linux technical teams have chosen CentOS to save costs and made a lot of modifications as needed. In short, if you have rich experience on RHEL, CentOS will be a good choice.

Another Server version, Linux, has received a lot of attention recently. It is a Server version from Ubuntu, and its name is straightforward, Ubuntu Server Edition. Unlike RHEL, Ubuntu Server Edition is free of charge, but does not provide support contracts.

"I am in trouble"

What's the problem? Can't the system start up, or is the virus infected with the hard disk? No problem! In this case, the Linux version with the rescue and recovery feature enables us to directly read the hard disk, copy important data, and repair without starting the machine.

Most Linux versions started from Live CD can be used as rescue discs, such as the small and lightweight version mentioned above. My personal favorite is Puppy Linux, which is fast to start and provides a variety of tools with a separate and clear menu. From a technical point of view, the dedicated systemrescumcm will do better. It provides a variety of advanced tools to repair systems and data.

It is worth mentioning that Clonezilla is equivalent to Norton Ghost of Linux. It can mirror your partition or the entire system. You can use it to back up the system, or clone it to multiple machines.

Last thought

A staggering number of Linux versions are often controversial. People think that too many Linux versions are too difficult to choose, which hinders the development of Linux. Yes, in this sense, there has never been an authoritative Linux version, which inevitably leads to repeated efforts in different Linux camps.

However, from another perspective, things are not that complicated. Due to the open-source concept, breakthroughs and innovations made by each Linux version will be quickly absorbed by other versions. In terms of users, because the Linux version is highly targeted, users generally need to select no more than two or three versions. In the future, Linux may eventually be unified on a larger basis than the Linux core, but now it will still be available in a hundred flowers, waiting for you to choose. I hope you can select the appropriate Linux version from this article.

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