{"id":32844,"date":"2019-07-30T20:36:50","date_gmt":"2019-07-30T16:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/?p=32844"},"modified":"2025-08-22T11:43:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T07:43:37","slug":"best-linux-distributions-for-smbs-and-msps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/blog\/best-linux-distributions-for-smbs-and-msps\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Linux Distributions for SMBs and MSPs"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you first jump into the Linux world, you may think of Linux as simply an alternative operating system. In reality, Linux is a collection of hundreds of different operating systems, which are all built on the Linux kernel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each Linux-based operating system is referred to as a <\/span>distribution <\/b>(or <\/span>distro<\/b> for short). Choosing the right distribution requires understanding the difference between each one. Administrator preferences should be considered, as each system offers its own package managers and default desktop interfaces. Your system\u2019s purpose must be considered as well; some distributions make for better servers, while some are better as workstations. The particular hardware that you are installing the operating system on should be considered, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are a few major distributions, such as Red Hat, Debian and SUSE, that predominate in business settings. There are also hundreds of other lesser-known distributions, like Slackware, Gentoo and Arch Linux. These smaller-scale distributions cater to their own use cases. We will cover all of these here, and provide some suggestions on when to use which Linux distribution.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Picking the Right Distribution for Your Business<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Picking<\/p>\n

There are a number of considerations to weigh when determining which Linux distribution is best for you, such as which package manager the system uses, which graphical interfaces (if any) it offers by default and which software can run on it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Package Managers<\/span><\/h3>\n

The default front end package manager for Debian-based Ubuntu is APT (short for Advanced Pack. APT is an easy-to-use package manager, and uses the <\/span>apt-get<\/span><\/i> command to install, update, and remove software packages. Red Hat distributions use YUM (short for Yellowdog Updater Modified) as the default package manager that offers a graphical interface as well. SUSE Linux distributions use YaST (Yet another Setup Tool) as not only a front-end package manager, but as a setup and configuration tool as well. YaST can also be used for managing the network and server functions of your system as well.<\/span>
\n<\/span>All of these front-end package managers are fully capable tools. System administrators that want a simple package management interface will probably lean towards Ubuntu\u2019s APT or the command-line version of Red Hat\u2019s YUM. Administrators who want a point-and-click graphical interface may prefer the YUM graphical interface or SUSE\u2019s YaST.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>Desktop Environments<\/span><\/h3>\n

Each of the major distribution families has a different take on desktop environments. Ubuntu and the Red Hat distributions both use Gnome as their default environments. Unlike Red Hat, Ubuntu also has Canonical\u2019s own Unity Desktop available to administrators. SUSE Linux also makes Gnome available as a default environment, but users can optionally select the KDE environment instead during installation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Like package managers, each of these desktop environments are fully functional. The decision comes down to the preference of the administrator. When deciding on the best Linux system for you, it\u2019s a good idea to test out each desktop environment and get an idea of which one you prefer.<\/p>\n

\"CTA\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

Cost vs. Support<\/span><\/h3>\n

Distributions like Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Enterprise Linux come with a corporate level of support that other distributions don\u2019t offer. Canonical offers support for Ubuntu as well if users pay for it. Many businesses consider the costs associated with the support packages for each of these distributions to be worth the investment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Businesses with less cash available may look to other distributions for cost savings. CentOS and OpenSUSE offer pretty much the same operating systems as RHEL and SUSE Enterprise Linux, without the costs of the associated support package. Each of these latter distributions is free to download and install.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Purpose<\/span><\/h3>\n

Each system has its own purpose or intended use case. Different purposes are better suited by different distributions. The primary use case for SUSE Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS is servers, even though they can be installed on workstations as well. In instances where a desktop environment isn\u2019t needed and a lightweight system is preferred, advanced administrators may consider a distribution like Slackware. In environments where client machines and servers run on the same network, Ubuntu may be a good fit. If the latest and greatest technology is preferred, Fedora may be the best choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

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