Linux is a popular platform that is continuously evolving and growing thanks to its open-source nature and the number of developers who contribute to it on a consistent basis.
While many people choose Linux because they read reviews about its benefits or feel it offers a better user experience than Windows, others will look at technical details when making their decision.
One such detail many look at is the Linux distributions available. While some do not have to make this decision as everything will be supplied by a hosting company, some will want to do their own investigations into which server distributions are best for their Linux platform. We have looked at the top five options.
Debian
Debian is popular among Linux users as it is well known for its stability, which means those using Linux hosting love it. There are over 35,000 different packages available within Debian, making it the most versatile distribution platform available with the exception of Gentoo.
The idea behind Debian has also inspired numerous other Linux distributions, including Kali, although none of these are able to deliver the same user experience.
Debian is best suited to administrators or experienced Linux users; try something else if you are new to Linux and distribution. One downside of Debian is that they do not actually have in-house product support; you need to connect with “consultants” through their website to solve your problems.
Red Hat
Red Hat is one of the most powerful and secure Linux distributions available, allowing you to purchase a range of options so you can have the settings and functions you require.
Red Hat is famous for making websites more efficient, from your perspective it will even reduce the power your server uses, saving you money, and is particularly popular among ecommerce sites that use Linux hosting.
SUSE
SUSE is popular as it is available as a full-scale paid solution from Novell but also as OpenSUSE, which is free to use if you have a personal website, but not for commercial platforms. Although you will pay more for the premium SUSE package, the service and support provided by Novell is the best in the business, so you can be sure that any issues will be dealt with immediately when they arise.
Ubuntu
This is another Linux distribution that is based on Debian, and probably the one that comes closest to beating it. Whereas Debian is recommended only for advanced users, Ubuntu is more intuitive and easier to simply pick up and get on with, while they also have a dedicated support team in place.
Ubuntu loses ground to Debian purely on the number of packages available, although for what it is it still provides great value.
CentOS
CentOS is built using free source software from Red Hat. If you are working to a budget and don’t necessarily want or need huge power or guaranteed support 24/7, CentOS is definitely worth considering. This is another distribution known for its stability and ease of use.
These Linux server distributions all have the potential to make your life easier and improve the user experience of your website for your customers, and can be implemented if you have hosting from the JaguarPC website or a wide number of other hosting companies. Choose the one that best fits your needs and you are ready to go!
Author Adrian owns a number of websites that all use Linux hosting with JaguarPC. Adrian is currently conducting an individual piece of research through a number of LinkedIn groups in order to try and discover which Linux distribution is most popular, and why, from a user perspective.
