Operating Systems

Linux & Tools

Linux

Linux is the world's most widely used operating system kernel and forms the foundation for a wide range of operating systems. As the backbone of modern data centers, cloud platforms, and internet services, Linux stands for stability, security, and scalability – from individual servers to global infrastructures.

AlmaLinux is a free, community-maintained Linux distribution and binary-compatible alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It was created in 2021 in response to the discontinuation of CentOS Linux and provides organizations with a stable, long-term supported platform without commercial licensing costs.

CentOS

For over 15 years, CentOS was one of the most widely used Linux distributions in the server sector – as a free, binary-compatible alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Following the discontinuation of CentOS Linux 7 and 8, Red Hat has taken a different direction with CentOS Stream. For production environments, community distributions like AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux are now recommended as direct successors.

Debian is a Linux distribution based entirely on free software and developed by a global community of volunteers. Known for its exceptional stability and sophisticated package management system, Debian is the foundation for numerous other distributions and a proven platform for servers and data centers.

GRML is a Debian-based live system that can be booted from various media, such as USB sticks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, or via a network, and is ideal for use as a rescue system or for offline administration.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is the leading commercial Linux distribution for business-critical environments. With long support cycles, extensive security certifications, and a broad ecosystem of certified hardware and software solutions, RHEL is the preferred platform in regulated industries and hybrid cloud infrastructures.

Rocky Linux is an open-source, binary-compatible alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux—founded by one of the original CentOS co-founders. The community-controlled project provides a robust, enterprise-grade platform with a ten-year support period and a clear focus on transparency and reproducibility.

SUSE Linux Enterprise is one of the leading commercial Linux platforms in the European enterprise environment—known for long support cycles, mature administration tools, and extensive certifications. With openSUSE, a powerful community variant is also available for developers and technically proficient users.

Ubuntu is one of the most widely used Linux distributions worldwide and the most used platform in public cloud environments. With semi-annual releases, long-term supported LTS versions, and an active community, Ubuntu offers an accessible, well-documented basis for servers, cloud infrastructures, and container deployments.

FreeBSD

FreeBSD is a unixoid operating system that is based on the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) developed at the University of California in Berkeley.

Operating Systems - credativ®