Linux Distros: Take Your Pick

Canonicals Ubuntu is a fairly young distribution, but it has a strong foundation-both in terms of its code and in its community of users-which is most evident in Ubuntus excellent software management tools and wide catalog of prepackaged software. Its s

OpenSUSE contains GUI-friendly features such as the Yast suite of configuration tools and ships with high-end elements-such as AppArmor security and Xen virtualization support-that Ubuntu does not offer right out of the box.

In its sixth release, Red Hat’s Fedora Core maintains its position in the vanguard of Linux technology. Fedora Core 6 impressed eWEEK Labs with the progress it has made toward making Security-Enhanced Linux more palatable. We also liked the look of Fedora

Mandriva’s Corporate Server 4 is longer on ambition than it is on execution. While it is unique in its support for three different virtualization frameworks (Xen, OpenVZ and VMware), CS4 fails to advance the state of these frameworks on Linux. Sites with

On the strength of its broad platform support, approachable configuration tools, estimable set of vendor certifications and solid support options, Novells SUSE Linux Enterprise Server has earned a reputation as a safe choice for Linux at enterprise sites

Novells SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is a sharp-looking and complete client operating system thats chock-full of creature comforts for potential Windows migrants. SLED is the most polished Linux client operating system weve yet tested, earning our Ana

Novells OpenSUSE 10.1 continues in the tradition of solid SUSE Linux distributions with a broad range of included open-source software and a raft of well-made management tools to draw it all together. More than once, though, we were pleased by new manage

Gentoo succeeds in striking a balance between fine-grained configurability and ongoing manageability. Users build the software that makes up their Gentoo systems from source, preserving for administrators a broader range of software configuration options.

Software in the Public Interests Debian 3.1 is a well-built and popular Linux distribution that boasts the best software management tools of any operating system weve tested. While roughness around its edges might limit its effectiveness in desktop role

Debian GNU/Linx is a popular Linux-based operating system with excellent software management tools and a development pace that is, depending on your perspective, saner or more plodding than those of its Linux distribution rivals.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 has a strong focus on virtualization, but companies in search of an out-of-the-box virtualization solution wont find it here.

Linspire is a desktop Linux distribution that until now has been most famous for its former Windows-like name (Lindows) and look and feel, and the ire they inspired in Microsoft. Times have certainly changed, as Microsoft and Linspire have entered into a