I found the best Linux server distros for your home lab

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• A home lab setup is all the rage these days.
• Using Linux as your lab OS makes perfect sense.
• Four distributions stand out as best for this purpose.

I've had several incarnations of the self-hosted home lab for decades. At one point, I had a small server farm of various machines that were either too old to serve as desktops or that people simply no longer wanted. I'd grab those machines, install Linux on them, and use them for various server purposes.

Here are two questions you should ask yourself:

• Do you want to use actual PCs for your servers, or would you prefer virtual machines?
• Which Linux distribution would be best for your needs?

Also: I wanted to self-host without paying, and this user-friendly server OS delivered

I no longer use extra hardware -- aka, "bare metal" -- for servers; instead, I go with virtual machines because they take up less space and are more cost-effective. 

Whether you go with bare metal or virtual machines, you still have to decide on a distribution for your server.

Let's see if I can help you make that choice.

1. Ubuntu Server

Ubuntu Server has been my go-to for years. There are several reasons why I choose Ubuntu Server, and at the top of the list is that it's just easy to use. Even without a desktop GUI, Ubuntu Server makes working within a server environment so simple. Yes, if you go without a GUI, you have to learn commands, or you could install Cockpit and take care of everything via a web-based GUI.

Here are more reasons why I always default to Ubuntu Server:

• It's one of the most widely used Linux distributions, so finding help is not even remotely hard.
• It's lightweight enough to be used on lower-powered hardware.
• It's ideal for containerized workloads, such as those managed by Docker or Kubernetes.
• It closely mimics cloud-based production environments.
• It allows you to run a variety of services, from home automation and media streaming to databases and web servers, to containers and productivity apps, without the constraints of a specific appliance OS.
• It includes the Snap package for easy software installation.
• Its default repositories contain a massive amount of software for installation.
• It uses Uncomplicated Firewall as a user-friendly firewall.

If you don't like the idea of working without a GUI, you can install one to make your life a bit easier.

Also: Why the latest Ubuntu update put a smile on my face

Ubuntu Server is free, open-source, and dependable. Download an ISO of Ubuntu Server now.

2. Debian

Debian is on this list because it's one of the most stable and reliable operating systems available. Debian is also known as the "Mother of all distributions" because so many distributions (including Ubuntu) are based on it. That should give you a clear indication as to how good this OS is.

One of the things I like about Debian is its flexibility -- there's only one version to download, and it can be used as either a desktop or a server. During installation, you can configure Debian for desktop or server use, or for both (although I wouldn't recommend using your server as your desktop).

All of the features that Ubuntu Server has -- Debian has them as well.

Also: How Debian 13's little improvements add up to the distro's surprisingly big leap forward

The primary reason I would recommend Debian as your server OS is its legendary stability. There simply is not a more stable OS on the planet. Some people might argue that Slackware is more stable because of its Unix-like nature. I say this call is too close to make, but either OS is solid. However, Debian is easier to use.

Download an ISO for Debian from the official site.

3. Rocky Linux

Remember CentOS? Yeah, those were good times. CentOS was used around the world for several reasons: It was a free, 1:1 clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux; it included a GUI desktop environment by default; it was rock solid and performed well; and it was secure.

However, once Red Hat/IBM got their hands on CentOS, things went downhill fast. CentOS became CentOS Stream, a rolling-release distribution. No one wants to use a rolling release Linux distribution as a server. That's just asking for disaster.

Fortunately, Gregory Kurtzer (one of the founders of CentOS) stepped in and created Rocky Linux.

Also: This Linux distro makes openSUSE accessible to all - even newbies should take a look

Rocky Linux is very similar to what CentOS once was: It's a 1:1 clone of RHEL, offers enterprise-grade stability and compatibility, includes built-in tools like SELinux and FIPS 140-3 validation, and is backed by a strong community.

Rocky Linux is free and open source, and it can be downloaded from the official site.

4. Fedora Server

You may not know this, but there is a server-specific version of Fedora. I like this distribution for several reasons. First, it's very container-centric (thanks to Podman), so deploying containerized apps is easy. Second, it includes the web-based Cockpit GUI for easy administration. Third, it defaults to Btrfs for improved performance and system state rollbacks.

Fedora uses a six-month release cycle, so you'll have quick access to the latest software packages. Some might see that as problematic, but if you don't mind frequent updates, this is the way to go.

Also: The first 5 Linux commands every new user should learn

You can use Fedora Server with or without a GUI. It also includes the powerful SELinux security system, and there's plenty of documentation to get you started.

Fedora Server is free, open source, and available from the official download site.