Best Operating Systems for Kasm Workspaces

Debian can be obtained at no cost via the Internet. This webpage provides various methods for installing the Stable version of Debian. If you are curious about the Testing or Unstable versions, be sure to check our releases page. Numerous vendors offer the distribution for a nominal fee, typically under US$5 plus shipping, so it's wise to verify if they offer international shipping on their sites. You have the option to explore Debian by booting a live version from a CD, DVD, or USB drive, allowing you to test it without making any permanent changes to your computer. Once you feel ready, you can initiate the installation process using the user-friendly Calamares Installer, which has been available since Debian 10 Buster. As long as the images align with your size, language, and package preferences, this approach may work well for you. For further details on this option, take a moment to read additional information that can assist you in making your decision. It’s important to weigh your choices carefully to ensure you select the best installation method for your needs.

Enhanced security features, a wider array of packages, and cutting-edge tools are all part of your open-source ecosystem, spanning from cloud to edge. Safeguard your open-source applications by ensuring comprehensive patching from the kernel to libraries and applications for CVE compliance. Both governments and auditors have verified Ubuntu for compliance with FedRAMP, FISMA, and HITECH standards. It's time to reconsider the potential of Linux and open-source technology. Organizations partner with Canonical to reduce costs associated with open-source operating systems. Streamline your processes by automating everything, including multi-cloud operations, bare metal provisioning, edge clusters, and IoT devices. Ubuntu serves as the perfect platform for a wide range of professionals, including mobile app developers, engineering managers, video editors, and financial analysts working with complex models. This operating system is favored by countless development teams globally for its adaptability, stability, continuous updates, and robust libraries for developers. With its strong community support and commitment to innovation, Ubuntu remains a leading choice in the open-source landscape.

Parrot is a global collective of developers and security experts collaborating to create a unified set of tools that enhance their work by making it easier, more standardized, reliable, and secure. At the heart of this initiative is Parrot OS, a leading GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian, specifically designed to prioritize security and privacy. It offers an extensive portable laboratory suitable for various cybersecurity activities, including penetration testing, digital forensics, and reverse engineering. Additionally, it provides all the necessary resources for software development and data protection. Regular updates ensure that it remains robust, with frequent releases that incorporate numerous hardening and sandboxing features. Users have full control over the system, allowing them to download, share, examine the source code, and modify it as desired. This system is committed to honoring your freedom, and that commitment will always remain steadfast. Users are encouraged to engage with the community, contributing to its evolution while upholding the principles of security and privacy for all.

Fedora Workstation stands out as a dependable, robust, and user-friendly operating system tailored for both desktops and laptops. It serves a diverse group of developers, including hobbyists, students, and professionals operating within corporate settings. The GNOME 3 desktop environment allows you to concentrate on your coding tasks without unnecessary interruptions. Built with the developer's needs in mind, GNOME offers a streamlined experience that emphasizes productivity. You can eliminate the frustration of searching for or compiling the necessary tools, as Fedora provides an extensive array of open-source languages, tools, and utilities that are readily accessible with just a click or command. Additionally, Fedora supports collaborative efforts through platforms and repositories like COPR, enabling you to share your projects and provide builds for the broader community to utilize. This makes it an ideal choice for developers looking to enhance their workflow and contribute to open-source initiatives.

Microservice operating system that delivers atomic updates while utilizing a read-only btrfs root filesystem, MicroOS is specifically crafted to support containerized workloads with features for automated maintenance and patch management. By installing openSUSE MicroOS, users can quickly create a compact environment ideal for running containers or other tasks that require transactional updates. As a rolling release distribution, it ensures that all software remains current and up-to-date. Additionally, MicroOS provides an offline image option for easier installation. The key distinction between the offline image and the self-install/raw images lies in the inclusion of an installer in the offline version, while the raw and self-install images allow for greater customization through combustion or manual adjustments after the image has been deployed. Furthermore, MicroOS includes the possibility of utilizing a real-time kernel for enhanced performance. Users can explore MicroOS in virtual machines on platforms such as Xen or KVM, while those with Raspberry Pi or similar system-on-chip devices can take advantage of the preconfigured image combined with combustion for seamless boot integration. This versatility makes MicroOS an appealing choice for a variety of deployment scenarios.

openSUSE has introduced an innovative method for its development, resulting in a new kind of hybrid Linux distribution known as Leap. This version leverages the source code from SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE), which ensures a reliability that few other Linux distributions can match, and merges it with community-driven advancements to offer the best stable experience for users, developers, and system administrators alike. Those currently using openSUSE can easily transition to Leap by booting from a DVD or USB and selecting the upgrade option, or they can perform an ‘Online Upgrade’ with just a few commands. Leap adopts a traditional approach to stability, releasing a new version annually while providing ongoing security updates and bug fixes in between releases. This combination of features makes Leap particularly appealing for server environments, but it is equally suitable for desktop users due to its low maintenance requirements. Furthermore, openSUSE Leap's compatibility with SUSE Linux Enterprise not only enhances its stability but also allows users the flexibility to move to an enterprise solution if needed, ensuring a smooth transition for future growth and support. Overall, Leap stands out as a compelling choice for anyone seeking a robust and reliable Linux operating system.

Fedora CoreOS is a minimal operating system that updates automatically and is designed for securely running containerized workloads at scale. It is accessible on various platforms, with more options anticipated in the near future. There are three distinct update streams for Fedora CoreOS (FCOS): stable, testing, and next. Typically, it is advisable to utilize the stable stream, but running some machines on the testing and next streams is encouraged to contribute feedback. When automating the installation of Fedora CoreOS, you will need to engage with stream metadata. Although Fedora CoreOS performs automatic in-place updates, it is a best practice to provision new machines using the latest available images. Notably, Fedora CoreOS does not provide a separate installation disk; instead, each instance is created from a general disk image that is tailored during the first boot using Ignition. Everything offered within this operating system is open source and free software, meaning not only can you use it without charge, but you also have the freedom to share, modify, and remix it according to your needs. This flexibility makes Fedora CoreOS an appealing option for developers and organizations looking for a robust and adaptable solution.

Oracle Linux provides a comprehensive and open operating environment that combines virtualization, management, and cloud-native computing tools along with the operating system in a unified support package. It maintains full binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, ensuring seamless application performance. You can browse the catalog to locate details about independent software vendors (ISVs) that have validated their applications for use with Oracle Linux and its virtualization capabilities. Certified applications on Oracle Linux are capable of running across various environments, including on-premises, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and other cloud services. Don't miss the opportunity to participate in the Oracle Tux Tech Talk webinar on July 28, where you will learn how to benchmark performance, explore the advantages of the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK), and identify which workloads benefit from its enhancements. This session promises to equip you with valuable insights for optimizing your Linux applications.

Raspberry Pi Imager offers a fast and straightforward method for installing Raspberry Pi OS along with various other operating systems onto a microSD card, making it ready for your Raspberry Pi. To understand the installation process, check out our brief 45-second video tutorial. Begin by downloading and installing Raspberry Pi Imager on a computer equipped with an SD card reader. Insert the microSD card intended for your Raspberry Pi into the reader and launch Raspberry Pi Imager. You can explore a variety of operating systems available from both Raspberry Pi and external providers, allowing you to download and install them manually as needed. This tool streamlines the setup process and enhances your Raspberry Pi experience.

Once your invention evolves into a tangible product, the Raspberry Pi compute module stands out as a robust, industrial-grade system-on-module that serves as the central processing unit for various hardware, from robots to server racks. In today's landscape, open source has become the standard for driving software innovation across multiple domains—whether it’s in the cloud, at the edge, within containers, or in the realm of IoT; encompassing everything from artificial intelligence and machine learning to robotics, self-driving vehicles, and nanosatellites, leading global corporations are leveraging open source to enhance technology further. The Raspberry Pi operates on the ARM instruction set, similar to your Android or iOS devices, as well as the latest Mac computers. While it may resemble Ubuntu running on a traditional PC, the underlying architecture and device integration offer a completely novel approach. This shift not only empowers developers but also fosters a collaborative environment for continuous improvement in technology.

Tailored for diverse environments, this solution encompasses a comprehensive range of essential business applications that enhance employee productivity. The SLE Desktop is built upon the foundation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and incorporates advanced security measures that offer exceptional safeguarding of critical enterprise information. It serves as a versatile and secure desktop operating system, ideal for situations where dependability, simple maintenance, and regular updates are paramount. The system is bundled with a multitude of top-tier applications, including a web browser, email client, and collaboration tools, all essential for fostering employee efficiency. With robust security features such as an application security system, integrated VPN, and antivirus solutions, it ensures formidable protection against viruses and malware threats. Additionally, it comes with enterprise-level support and maintenance services from SUSE, further enhancing its value. Users are also granted a significant level of customization to align with their specific business needs, making it a dynamic choice for any organization. Ultimately, this desktop solution not only prioritizes security but also empowers users with tools that adapt to their workflows seamlessly.

Kali Linux is a Debian-based, open-source distribution designed specifically for a variety of information security activities, including penetration testing, security research, computer forensics, and reverse engineering. While it's possible to take any Linux distribution and manually install penetration testing tools, this requires considerable setup and configuration efforts. Kali Linux is tailored to minimize this workload, enabling professionals to focus on their tasks right away. You can access a version of Kali from virtually anywhere, whether on mobile devices, Docker, ARM architectures, Amazon Web Services, the Windows Subsystem for Linux, virtual machines, or even bare metal installations. Thanks to metapackages that cater to specific security tasks and a user-friendly ISO customization process that is well-documented, creating an optimized version of Kali to suit your particular needs is straightforward. This makes it a versatile choice for both experienced users and newcomers alike, as comprehensive documentation ensures that everyone can find the guidance they require. Additionally, the active community surrounding Kali Linux continuously contributes to its improvement, further enhancing the resources available to users.

CIQ empowers people to do amazing things by providing innovative and stable software infrastructure solutions for all computing needs. From the base operating system, through containers, orchestration, provisioning, computing, and cloud applications, CIQ works with every part of the technology stack to drive solutions for customers and communities with stable, scalable, secure production environments. CIQ is the founding support and services partner of Rocky Linux, and the creator of the next generation federated computing stack.

Alpine Linux stands as a distinctive, non-commercial, general-purpose Linux distribution tailored for advanced users who value security, simplicity, and efficient use of resources. It is constructed using musl libc and busybox, which contributes to its smaller size and enhanced resource efficiency compared to conventional GNU/Linux distributions. The entire container can occupy no more than 8 MB, while a minimal installation requires approximately 130 MB of disk space. Users gain access not only to a complete Linux environment but also to an extensive range of packages from its repositories. The binary packages are streamlined and divided, providing greater control over installations, which helps maintain a compact and efficient system. Alpine Linux prioritizes simplicity, ensuring it remains unobtrusive in its operation. With its specialized package manager known as apk, the OpenRC initialization system, and script-driven configurations, it offers a straightforward, clear Linux experience devoid of unnecessary complexity. Ultimately, this makes Alpine Linux an appealing choice for users looking for a minimalistic yet functional operating system.

CentOS Linux is a community-driven distribution that is built from resources made available to the public through Red Hat or CentOS repositories for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Its primary goal is to maintain functional compatibility with RHEL, while the CentOS Project focuses on modifying packages to eliminate any upstream vendor branding and visual elements. CentOS Linux is available at no cost and can be freely redistributed. Each version of CentOS is supported until the corresponding RHEL version reaches the end of its general support lifecycle. New versions of CentOS are released following the rebuilding of new RHEL versions, typically occurring every 6-12 months for minor updates and spanning several years for major releases. The duration of the rebuild process can range from a few weeks for minor updates to several months for significant version changes. This approach ensures that users benefit from a secure, dependable, and easily maintainable Linux environment that remains predictable and reproducible over time, fostering a strong community around its use.