Favored Linux Distro?

I started using Kali for an ethical hacking class I'm taking at my college. In my Linux classes we used the Fedora and Ubuntu distros to learn Linux sys admin. I eventually want to install a Linux distro on one of my extra laptops to keep up those skills and wanted an opinion as to which is your preferred distro and why.

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Comments

Plantwiz

Pretty certain this topic has been covered a few times at length...try a search.

Here is a search result from a very broad search:
http://www.techexams.net/search.php?searchid=389356

stryder144

I, myself, prefer either vanilla Debian or Slackware. I have never been much of an RPM-based distro fan, though I will start getting comfortable with it soon. There is great value in CentOS, since you can learn all you need to sit for the RHCSA/RHCE exams. I've tried, and kind of dig, Oracle Linux (free to download/use), which is based off of Red Hat. I used to like Ubuntu, until they changed from the Gnome desktop that I love so much.

Cheers

linuxlover

My favorite is CentOS as I've been involved with RedHat under many different names and I'm just used to it, perferably with some lightweight window manager (Openbox, Fluxbox) but at work we use Ubuntu with Unity as desktop OS and I already got used to it. Unless you're into administration you won't really see any difference as you'll be using desktop most of the time and Ubuntu is great for compatibility. The beauty of Linux is variety, there is no one-fit-for-all, so choose what fits your style best.

jibbajabba

CentOS for me ...

MrAgent

I am pretty partial to CentOS and RHEL.

gorebrush

Debian is my OS of choice, but I like CentOS too.

coffeeluvr

RHEL and CentOS.

the_Grinch

Ubuntu. I know most people say baby linux, but we've been using it for testing at work (we have one RHEL box for production) and everything is much smoother when setting things up in Ubuntu.

lsud00d

Plantwiz wrote: »

Pretty certain this topic has been covered a few times at length...try a search.

I feel like there's a running ad nauseam list...like Groundhogs Day!

UnixGuy

I use Ubuntu for deskptops, and CentOS for servers. Solaris (while not quite Linux) is my first love.

Dakinggamer87

RHEL and CentOS are my favorite Linux distros

yzT

Debian, although this weekend I'm going to switch to LMDE. Why? Cinnamon.

jeffgibbs

I am a kubuntu fan. Anyone else every use it?

citrus_sugar

Thanks for the responses everyone. Seems like most everyone who's answered is using one of the more major distros. I was leaning toward Ubuntu, but may do Kali on another laptop as well since I already had to download the iso for this class.

Master Of Puppets

citrus_sugar wrote: »

Thanks for the responses everyone. Seems like most everyone who's answered is using one of the more major distros. I was leaning toward Ubuntu, but may do Kali on another laptop as well since I already had to download the iso for this class.

Or don't. Kali is not supposed to be used as a main OS. Why reduce your security to that of a Windows user? I just don't like the idea of running as root all the time. Use it for pen testing but for a main os, there are a lot of other options that are better. Also, especially when the goal is to learn linux, Kali is again not the optimal choice.

yzT

After some days trying out LMDE, I have to admit is the best by far (for me). Eye-candy, stable and Cinnamon is, IMO, the best desktop for productivity with the combination of panel, expose and scale.

Master Of Puppets

I use Mint but I was wondering - does anyone have experience with OpenSUSE? I haven't used it for more than 15 minutes so I can't really have a stable impression.

yzT

I've tried it a couple of times, but never pass the day... I don't like YaST at all, and I have an ATI card and if I don't recall wrong, it was a pain to make it works

Bryzey

I like Linux mint for home use.

FloOz

Master Of Puppets wrote: »

I use Mint but I was wondering - does anyone have experience with OpenSUSE? I haven't used it for more than 15 minutes so I can't really have a stable impression.

At work we use openSuse on some of our Linux boxes. No issues so far as long as I have been here.

At home I like to use Mint as well.

kristankelsch87

Both are good, But I will go with Centos.

Santa_

I've enjoyed using Linux Mint, but have switched over to using Arch.

While the install can be daunting for some, the online how-to documentation is one of the best there is.

Arch gets my vote.

bermovick

Debian/Sid (and the occasional attempt at getting a working Gentoo), using openbox as my wm.

4_lom

Debian with KDE. I used to be a fan of GNOME, but fell in love with KDE the first time I tried it.

4_lom

Almost forgot, PFSense and DD-WRT are also on my 'favorites' list

bermovick

Gnome was better than KDE back in Gnome 2 / KDE 3 (imho). I used KDE since KDE 4 until I had to halve my RAM into a second box and it started being a bit too sluggish with only 4 gig. (I never thought I'd say that about linux...)

[Deleted User]

Grml is what used to use it was a good distro. I now like to use the Fedora 20 Security Spin distro.

Clem25

If I were wanting to start learning Linux, which of these would be the best to put on an older laptop and start missing around with it? Or should I use virtual box, and then add something? Thanks. Pretty new to this.

4_lom

Ubuntu is probably the best place to start IMO. Easy to install/use. What kind of specs does your laptop have?

Clem25

Core i5, 500gb hdd, 4 gb ram. Would this be ok? What are the min specifications that I could have?