Over 90% of the world's servers run some Linux distribution. From the data centres of the major public clouds (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) to the dedicated servers of a European provider like EasyDataHost, Linux is the dominant operating system in server infrastructure. The reasons are clear: it is open source, extremely stable, highly configurable, secure and backed by an unrivalled ecosystem of tools and community.
But Linux is not a single thing. There are hundreds of distributions, each with its own philosophy, update cycle, package manager and support model. In the context of servers, the choice of the right distribution directly impacts system stability, ease of maintenance, duration of security support and compatibility with the software you need to run.
In this article we analyse the most widely used Linux distributions on production servers, compare their key features and offer concrete criteria to help you choose the best option for your use case.
Ubuntu Server: The Most Popular
Ubuntu Server is by far the most widely deployed Linux distribution on servers worldwide. Developed by Canonical, it combines the stability of its Debian base with a predictable release cycle and a well-structured commercial support offering. LTS (Long Term Support) versions are published every two years and receive security updates for 5 years (extendable to 10 with Ubuntu Pro).
Its APT package manager provides access to one of the most extensive repositories in the Linux ecosystem. Additionally, Canonical promotes Snap as a universal package format, making it easy to install updated software without breaking system dependencies. Ubuntu Server includes out-of-the-box cloud-init integration, making it the preferred choice for automated deployments in cloud and infrastructure-as-code environments.
Ubuntu's community is enormous: documentation is abundant, forums are active and most software tutorials and guides assume Ubuntu as the default platform. For teams new to Linux server administration or seeking maximum compatibility with third-party software, Ubuntu Server is the safest choice.
Debian: The Rock of Stability
Debian is the community project on which Ubuntu was built, and in the server world it enjoys an unmatched reputation for stability. Debian's stable branch only includes packages that have been exhaustively tested, which means that a properly updated Debian server rarely presents compatibility issues or regressions.
Stable releases are published approximately every two years, with 5 years of security support (3 years from the official security team plus 2 additional years from the Debian LTS project). This conservative update policy is precisely what system administrators look for when they need servers that simply work without surprises.
Debian is the foundation on which numerous infrastructure projects are built: Proxmox VE uses Debian as its base operating system, as do many network appliances, firewalls and storage systems. If you are looking for a minimalist distribution without unnecessary software and with complete control over what you install, Debian is the benchmark.
Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux: The CentOS Successors
When Red Hat announced the end of CentOS as a binary clone of RHEL in 2020, the community responded with two alternatives: Rocky Linux (founded by Gregory Kurtzer, original co-creator of CentOS) and AlmaLinux (backed by CloudLinux). Both distributions are 1:1 binary-compatible with RHEL, meaning any software certified for RHEL works without modifications.
The lifecycle of both distributions mirrors that of RHEL: 10 years of support for each major version, including security updates, bug fixes and critical patches. This makes them ideal options for enterprise environments that need long-term stability without paying for RHEL licences.
Both use DNF/YUM as their package manager, SELinux enabled by default and systemd as the init system. Migration from CentOS 7 or 8 is straightforward, with official tools that allow converting an existing CentOS system to Rocky or Alma without reinstalling. For businesses that relied on CentOS, these two distributions are the natural continuation.
RHEL: Enterprise Linux with Commercial Support
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is the reference distribution for enterprise environments that require commercial support, software certifications and strict regulatory compliance. RHEL is not free: it requires a subscription that includes access to patches, 24/7 technical support and access to Red Hat's knowledge base.
What sets RHEL apart is not just the support, but the certifications. Most enterprise software vendors (Oracle, SAP, IBM, VMware, Microsoft SQL Server) officially certify their products on RHEL. For regulated industries such as banking, healthcare or government, where regulatory compliance requires certified software, RHEL is often a requirement, not a preference.
RHEL includes SELinux in enforcing mode by default, providing a mandatory security layer that limits the impact of vulnerabilities. Additionally, Red Hat offers Red Hat Insights for proactive problem analysis, Ansible Automation Platform for management at scale and OpenShift as an enterprise container platform. The 10-year lifecycle per major version guarantees long-term stability.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) is the European-origin enterprise Linux distribution with the largest presence in corporate environments, especially those running SAP. In fact, SLES is the Linux platform recommended by SAP for most of its products, including SAP HANA, SAP S/4HANA and SAP NetWeaver.
SLES uses Zypper as its package manager and YaST (Yet another Setup Tool) as a centralised administration tool. YaST allows you to configure networking, firewall, storage, users and services from a single interface, in both graphical and text mode. This tool is especially valued by administrators who manage multiple servers and need a consistent way to apply configurations.
With support for 13 years per major version (general support + extended support), SLES offers one of the longest lifecycles on the market. For European organisations that value data sovereignty and the provenance of their software, SLES represents a solid alternative to RHEL with European roots and a strong presence in the SAP ecosystem.
Distribution Comparison Table
The following table summarises the key features of each distribution for easy side-by-side comparison:
| Distribution | LTS Cycle | Package Manager | Security | Commercial Support | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Server | 5 years (10 with Pro) | APT + Snap | AppArmor | Canonical (Ubuntu Pro) | Cloud, DevOps, new teams |
| Debian | 5 years | APT | AppArmor | Community | Stable production, Proxmox |
| Rocky / Alma | 10 years | DNF / YUM | SELinux | Community / CIQ / TuxCare | CentOS migration, enterprise |
| RHEL | 10 years | DNF / YUM | SELinux (enforcing) | Red Hat (24/7) | Regulated industries, SAP |
| SLES | 13 years | Zypper | AppArmor | SUSE (24/7) | SAP, European environments |
Specialised Distributions
Beyond general-purpose distributions, there are Linux distributions designed for specific infrastructure tasks that deserve a separate mention:
- dns Proxmox VE: based on Debian, it is a complete hypervisor with support for KVM, LXC and integrated Ceph storage. It is the virtualisation platform that EasyDataHost uses in its cloud infrastructure. For a detailed comparison, read our article on Proxmox vs VMware.
- storage TrueNAS: available in CORE (FreeBSD) and SCALE (Linux/Debian) versions, it is designed exclusively for NAS/SAN storage with ZFS as the file system. Ideal for dedicated storage servers with advanced snapshot, replication and deduplication features.
- deployed_code Alpine Linux: an ultra-lightweight distribution (~5 MB base image) that uses musl libc instead of glibc and BusyBox instead of GNU coreutils. It is the most popular distribution as a base for Docker images thanks to its minimal size and reduced attack surface.
Key concept:
There is no perfect distribution for everything. General-purpose distributions (Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky) cover most scenarios, but for virtualisation, storage or containers, specialised distributions offer significant advantages in performance, security and ease of management.
Criteria for Choosing a Distribution
Choosing the right distribution depends on factors that go beyond personal preference. These are the most important criteria to evaluate:
- school Team expertise: if your team is familiar with the Debian/APT ecosystem, Ubuntu or Debian will be the natural choice. If they come from CentOS/RHEL, Rocky or Alma will maintain continuity. Switching distribution families involves a learning curve that should not be underestimated.
- work Workload type: for web applications and microservices, Ubuntu is the most compatible option. For enterprise databases (Oracle, SAP HANA), RHEL or SLES are preferable due to certifications. For virtualisation with Proxmox, Debian is the native base.
- support_agent Support needs: if you need commercial support with a guaranteed SLA, RHEL and SLES are the primary options. Ubuntu Pro offers a middle ground. Debian, Rocky and Alma rely on community or third-party support.
- gavel Compliance requirements: in regulated environments (banking, healthcare, government), software certification on the distribution is a legal requirement. RHEL dominates this segment, followed by SLES.
- cloud_sync Cloud and container ecosystem: if your infrastructure is oriented towards containers, Kubernetes and CI/CD, Ubuntu and Debian have the highest adoption in these environments. Most official Docker Hub images are available first for Debian and Ubuntu.
Linux in Containers
The rise of containers and microservices has changed the way Linux is consumed on servers. Inside a Docker or Kubernetes container, the Linux distribution that matters is the one serving as the container's base image, not the host's. This has given rise to its own ecosystem of container-optimised distributions:
- inventory_2 Alpine Linux: with only ~5 MB as a base image, it is the most popular choice for containers where size matters. Its use of musl libc can cause incompatibilities with some libraries compiled for glibc, but for most Go, Node.js or Python applications it works without issues.
- inventory_2 Debian slim: a reduced variant of Debian (~30 MB) that maintains full glibc compatibility. It is the preferred choice when Alpine causes compatibility problems and a more standard environment is needed.
- inventory_2 Ubuntu minimal: a reduced version of Ubuntu for containers (~29 MB). It offers access to the full Ubuntu repository and Canonical support, making it ideal for teams that already use Ubuntu on their host servers.
- inventory_2 Distroless (Google): images that contain only the application and its runtime dependencies, with no shell, no package manager, nothing else. They maximise security by minimising the attack surface, but make debugging more difficult.
EasyDataHost and Linux
EasyDataHost offers all major Linux distributions pre-installed as templates across its infrastructure services. Whether you need a VPS with Ubuntu Server, a dedicated server with Debian or Rocky Linux, or a cloud virtual machine with AlmaLinux, you can deploy any distribution in minutes.
For environments requiring advanced management, our managed services team handles hardening, security updates, monitoring and operating system maintenance, regardless of the chosen distribution. We also offer enterprise servers with high-performance hardware for demanding workloads.
- check_circle All distros available: Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky, Alma, RHEL, SLES and more on Cloud, VPS and dedicated servers.
- check_circle Deploy in minutes: pre-configured templates with cloud-init for automated provisioning.
- check_circle Expert support: managed OS administration, security hardening and updates.
- check_circle Data in Spain: Tier III+ data centre in Madrid with guaranteed data sovereignty.
Conclusion
Choosing the Linux distribution for your servers is not trivial: it impacts stability, security, ease of maintenance and total cost of ownership over the long term. There is no universal answer, but there are clear criteria for making the right decision based on your context.
- arrow_right Ubuntu Server is the most popular option, with the largest community and third-party software compatibility.
- arrow_right Debian is the benchmark for pure stability, the base for Proxmox and a trusted distribution for production.
- arrow_right Rocky and AlmaLinux offer RHEL compatibility with 10 years of free support, ideal post-CentOS.
- arrow_right RHEL and SLES dominate in regulated environments with commercial support and software certifications.
- arrow_right Alpine, Debian slim and distroless are the optimal choices for containers and microservices.
If you need help choosing the right Linux distribution for your infrastructure or want to deploy servers with the distro that best fits your project, contact our team. All distributions are available on our dedicated servers and cloud.