Linux Tutorial / Choosing a Linux Distribution

A Linux distribution is a usable operating system that combines the Linux kernel with system tools, a package manager, an installer, and other software. There are many distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Rocky Linux, and they differ in their goals and management tools. This article introduces representative options before helping you choose one for learning Linux.

What Linux distributions are available?

The following are examples of the many choices available. They are not ranked by quality or number of users.

• Debian: A community-developed operating system that serves as the basis for other distributions and is used on desktops and servers.
• Ubuntu: A Debian-based distribution available in desktop and server editions.
• Linux Mint: A distribution focused on the desktop experience and based on Ubuntu and Debian.
• Fedora: A distribution that adopts newer technologies relatively quickly and offers editions such as Workstation.
• Rocky Linux: A distribution designed for compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
• openSUSE: A project that offers Leap, a regular release, and Tumbleweed, which receives continuous updates.
• Arch Linux: A rolling-release distribution in which users choose the components they need.

This is not an exhaustive list. A single distribution may also offer different desktop or server images and different release models. Its name alone does not tell you everything about the experience of using it.

Which distributions are widely used?

“Widely used” depends on whether you are considering desktops, servers, or enterprise environments. You are likely to encounter Ubuntu and Debian in general-purpose desktop and server materials, Linux Mint and Fedora when exploring desktop options, and RHEL and Rocky Linux in RHEL-family server environments. These are representative examples for different uses, not a worldwide ranking by user count.

Rather than choosing a familiar name automatically, check which distribution your course, workplace documentation, or required software targets. This course compares Ubuntu and Rocky Linux in detail because they illustrate different management approaches. That does not make other distributions worse choices.

Which distribution should you learn with?

If a course or workplace does not require a particular distribution, Ubuntu LTS is a reasonable starting point. If you need to learn how to administer RHEL-family servers, Rocky Linux better matches that goal. After reading lesson 01 on what Linux is, consider these four questions:

1. Learning goal: Do you want to learn basic commands and desktop use, or practice in a specific server environment?
2. Instructions to follow: Does your workplace, course, certification exam, or required application specify a distribution?
3. Practice setup: Must you use your computer's actual hardware, or can you practice in a virtual machine?
4. Maintenance: Will the system run for a long time? If so, have you checked the chosen release's support scope and end date?

The answers to the first two questions matter most. If you need to match an existing server, learning its command and package-management conventions is efficient. If your goal is still open, you can learn the fundamentals on one distribution before comparing it with another.

How do Ubuntu and Rocky Linux differ?

The table focuses on differences a beginner is likely to encounter when choosing a practice system. Both distributions can be used as servers: Ubuntu is not only for desktops, and Rocky Linux is not only for servers.

Both apt and dnf install and update software. Many basic file and directory commands work on both distributions, but package names, repositories, and service configuration are not necessarily identical. See the Ubuntu package-management documentation and Rocky Linux DNF documentation for their respective tools.

When should you choose Ubuntu?

Ubuntu LTS is a reasonable place to start if you want to use a desktop and a terminal together, or if you do not need to match a particular Enterprise Linux environment. Ubuntu offers both desktop and server installation options. If you intend to keep a practice or production system for years, do not confuse an interim release with an LTS release.

According to Canonical's Ubuntu release policy, LTS releases arrive every two years and receive five years of standard security maintenance for packages in the Main repository. Ubuntu Pro's Expanded Security Maintenance has a different scope and conditions. Do not assume that every package in an Ubuntu LTS release receives the same coverage for the same period; check the repository containing software you rely on.

When should you choose Rocky Linux?

Rocky Linux is a natural fit if you need to learn RHEL-family server administration or follow documentation and tools used in that environment. The Rocky Linux project describes it as an open-source enterprise operating system targeting RHEL compatibility. Compatibility does not automatically guarantee that a third-party vendor will certify the system or include it in a support contract. Check the vendor's supported-platform list for commercial software.

Rocky Linux provides a long lifecycle for major releases, but an installation does not remain supported without updates. The official Rocky Linux release guide states that only the latest minor release of each major version is supported. Even for a virtual machine kept for practice, make a habit of updating it and checking its end-of-life date.

How can you decide for a practice system?

• No specific goal yet: Start with Ubuntu LTS and learn the terminal, files, permissions, and package installation.
• Need to work with RHEL-family servers: Choose Rocky Linux and learn dnf and the relevant configuration methods.
• Want to compare both: Create a virtual machine for each and perform the same tasks, but do not try to memorize every command in two forms from day one.
• Workplace, course, or product requirements: Follow the distribution and major version supported by that environment rather than a general recommendation.

Whichever distribution you choose, obtain installation media through its official project. The Ubuntu download page and Rocky Linux download page provide installation images and supported architectures. For older computers or virtualized environments in particular, check the CPU architecture and minimum requirements before downloading.

After installation, see How to Check the Linux Distribution, Version, Kernel, and Architecture to identify what is running on your system. That article explains how to inspect an installed system using /etc/os-release, hostnamectl, and other tools; this lesson focuses on choosing a distribution before installation.