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Author | Matt Hartley
Translator | MjSeven ? ? ? Total translation: 27 Contribution time: 77 days
In this article, I will share the top Linux distributions for the enterprise environment. Some of these distributions are used in server and cloud environments as well as desktop tasks. One thing all of these alternative Linux options have in common is that they are all enterprise Linux distributions -- so you can expect a higher degree of functionality and, of course, support.
What is an enterprise-grade Linux distribution?
An enterprise-grade Linux distribution boils down to the following -- stability and support. In an enterprise environment, the version of Linux used must meet these two points. Stability means that the provided packages are stable and usable while still maintaining the expected security.
Enterprise-level support factors mean there is a solid support mechanism. Sometimes this is a single (official) source, such as a company. In other cases, it might be a not-for-profit governance body that provides solid advice to good third-party support providers. Obviously, the former is the best option, but both are acceptable.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat[1] There are a lot of great products out there, all with enterprise-level support guaranteed to be available. Its core focus is as follows:
◈ Red Hat Enterprise Linux Servers: This is a set of server offerings that includes everything from container hosting to SAP services, and other derivatives. ◈ Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktops: These are tightly controlled user environments that run Red Hat Linux and provide basic desktop functionality. These features include access to the latest applications such as web browsers, email, LibreOffice, and more. ◈ Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation: This is basically a Red Hat Enterprise Linux desktop, but optimized for high performance tasks. It's also great for large deployments and ongoing management.Why choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux?
Red Hat is a very successful large company that sells services around Linux. Basically, Red Hat makes money from companies that want to avoid vendor lock-in and other related issues. These companies recognize the value of hiring open source software experts and managing their servers and other computing needs. A company just needs to buy a subscription to let Red Hat do the support work.
Red Hat is also a solid social citizen. They sponsor open source projects and FoSS support sites like OpenSource.com and provide support for the Fedora project. Fedora is not owned by, but sponsored by, Red Hat. This allowed Fedora to grow, and it also benefited Red Hat a lot. Red Hat can take what they want from the Fedora project and use it in their enterprise Linux products. For now, Fedora acts as the upstream channel for Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Edition
SUSE[2] is a great company that provides a solid Linux option for business users. SUSE's products are similar to Red Hat, with both desktops and servers being the company's focus. From my own experience with SUSE, I believe YaST has proven to be a huge advantage for non-Linux administrators looking to use a Linux operating system in the workplace. YaST provides a friendly GUI for tasks that require some basic Linux command line knowledge.
The core focus of SUSE is as follows:
◈ SUSE Linux Enterprise Class Server (SLES): Includes mission-specific solutions, from cloud to SAP, as well as mission-critical computing and software-based data storage. ◈ SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop: SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is a good choice for companies that want to provide their employees with a reliable Linux workstation. Like Red Hat, SUSE supports it through a subscription model. You can choose from three different levels of support.Why choose SUSE Linux Enterprise?
SUSE is a company that sells services around Linux, but they still do this by focusing on simplifying operations. From their website to the Linux distributions they offer, the focus is on ease of use without sacrificing security or reliability. While there is no doubt that Red Hat is the server standard in the US, SUSE does a great job as a contributing member of both the company and the open source community.
I'll also go on to say that SUSE doesn't take it too seriously, which is a great thing when you're networking in the IT world. From their fun music video about Linux to the Gecko used in the SUSE trade booth for fun photo opportunities, SUSE describes itself as easy-to-understand and approachable.
Ubuntu LTS Linux
Ubuntu Long Term Release[3] (LTS) Linux is an easy-to-use enterprise Linux distribution. Ubuntu seems to be updated more frequently (and sometimes less stable) than the other distros mentioned above. But don't get me wrong, Ubuntu LTS releases are considered fairly stable, however, I think some experts may disagree that they are safe and secure.
The core focus of Ubuntu is as follows:
◈ Ubuntu Desktop: Without a doubt, the Ubuntu desktop is very simple to learn and get up and running quickly. Maybe something is missing in the advanced install options, but that makes it more straightforward. As an added bonus, Ubuntu has more packages than any other distribution (except its parent, the Debian distribution). I think the real highlight of Ubuntu is that you can find a lot of vendors online that sell Ubuntu, including servers, desktops, and laptops. ◈ Ubuntu Server Edition: This includes server, cloud and container products. Ubuntu also offers an interesting concept of the Juju cloud "app store". Ubuntu Server makes sense for anyone familiar with Ubuntu or Debian. For these people, it's like a glove, giving you the command-line tools you already know and love. ◈ Ubuntu IoT: Recently, Ubuntu's development team has set its sights on creating solutions for the "Internet of Things" (IoT). Including digital signage, robotics and IoT gateways. My guess is that we will see a lot of growth in IoT users in Ubuntu coming from businesses, not regular home users.Why choose Ubuntu LTS?
Community is Ubuntu's greatest strength. In addition to its huge growth in an already crowded server market, it's also with regular users. Ubuntu's development and user community is rock solid. So, while it may be considered less stable than other enterprise editions, I found locking Ubuntu LTS installations into "security updates only" mode provided a very stable experience.
What about CentOS or Scientific Linux?
First, let's put CentOS[4] As an enterprise distribution, installing CentOS is a great option if you have your own internal support team to maintain it. After all, it is compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and offers the same level of stability as Red Hat products. Unfortunately, it does not completely replace the Red Hat Support Subscription.
Then Scientific Linux[5] Woolen cloth? How about its distribution? Well, it's like CentOS, which is based on Red Hat Linux. But unlike CentOS, it has no affiliation with Red Hat. Scientific Linux has one goal from the beginning - to provide a universal Linux distribution for laboratories around the world. Today, Scientific Linux is basically Red Hat minus the trademarked material it contains.
Neither distribution is truly interchangeable with Red Hat because they lack Red Hat support components.
Which one is the top enterprise distro? I think it depends on many factors that you need to determine for yourself: subscription scope, availability, cost, services and features offered. These are factors that each company must decide for itself. Personally, I think Red Hat wins on servers and SUSE wins handily on desktops, but that's just my opinion - don't you agree? Hit the comments section below and let's talk about it.
via: https://www.datamation.com/open-source/best-linux-distros-for-the-enterprise.html
Author: Matt Hartley[7] Translator: MjSeven Proofreading: wxy
This article is originally compiled by LCTT , and launched by Linux China with honor