Choosing a Linux Distro for Self-Hosting

Which Linux Distro for Self-Hosting?

Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS. That’s the recommendation for most self-hosters. Long-term support, massive community, every tutorial defaults to it, and Docker works perfectly out of the box. If you have no preference, use Ubuntu Server LTS.

That said, the distro choice matters less than you think. Docker abstracts away most of the OS — your apps run in containers regardless of the host distro. What matters is stability, Docker compatibility, and available help when things go wrong.

Prerequisites

Decision to self-host (Why Self-Host?)
Hardware selected (Home Server Cost Breakdown)

Quick Recommendation

Situation	Best Choice
New to Linux	Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS
Want maximum stability	Debian 12 (Bookworm)
Enterprise/work experience	Whatever you already know
Raspberry Pi	Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) or Ubuntu Server
Proxmox VMs	Debian 12 (it’s what Proxmox is built on)
Minimalist/advanced	Alpine Linux or Arch (only if you enjoy debugging)

The Contenders

Ubuntu Server LTS (Recommended)

Latest LTS: 24.04 (supported until 2029, extended to 2034)

Pros	Cons
Most tutorials and guides target Ubuntu	Snap packages for some tools (divisive)
Largest community — easy to find help	Slightly larger install than Debian
5-year standard support, 10-year extended	Canonical makes some controversial decisions
Docker works perfectly	Point releases can introduce changes
PPAs for newer software versions
Most cloud VPS providers default to Ubuntu

Install Docker on Ubuntu:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Use Ubuntu if: You’re new to Linux, want the most tutorials, or don’t have a strong preference.

Debian Stable

Latest: Debian 12 (Bookworm)

Pros	Cons
Rock-solid stability	Older packages (by design)
Minimal install — no bloat	Smaller community than Ubuntu (but still huge)
No snap, no corporate controversies	Some hardware drivers need non-free repos
Proxmox is based on Debian	Fewer beginner-friendly tutorials
Longest track record for servers	Slower release cycle

Install Docker on Debian:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Use Debian if: You want maximum stability, prefer minimal installs, or run Proxmox.

Fedora Server

Latest: Fedora 41

Pros	Cons
Cutting-edge packages	New release every 6 months
SELinux enabled by default (better security)	Only ~13 months of support per release
Podman (Docker alternative) pre-installed	Docker needs extra setup (conflicts with Podman)
Good for learning RHEL/CentOS patterns	Faster pace of changes = more potential breakage

Use Fedora if: You work with RHEL/CentOS professionally and want a familiar environment.

Raspberry Pi OS (for Pi Hardware)

Based on: Debian

Pros	Cons
Optimized for Pi hardware	ARM-only (limited to Pi)
Best driver support for Pi GPIO	32-bit by default (use 64-bit version)
Debian-based — familiar tools	Not suitable for non-Pi hardware

Use Pi OS if: You’re running a Raspberry Pi. Choose the 64-bit Lite (headless) version.

Alpine Linux

Latest: Alpine 3.20

Pros	Cons
Tiny footprint (~130 MB installed)	Uses musl libc (some compatibility issues)
Fast boot, minimal attack surface	Steep learning curve
Uses OpenRC, not systemd	Fewer pre-built packages
Popular for Docker images	Not for beginners

Use Alpine if: You’re experienced, want the smallest possible attack surface, and enjoy minimalism.

What Doesn’t Matter (Much)

Package Manager

apt (Debian/Ubuntu) vs dnf (Fedora) vs apk (Alpine) — irrelevant for Docker workloads. You install Docker once, then everything runs in containers.

Desktop Environment

Don’t install one. Server distros are headless. You manage them via SSH. A desktop environment wastes RAM and increases attack surface.

Init System

systemd (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora) vs OpenRC (Alpine) — systemd is the standard. It manages Docker’s startup, service monitoring, and logging. Unless you have strong opinions about init systems, use a systemd distro.

What Actually Matters

1. Long-Term Support

Servers need to run for years without reinstalling. Choose an LTS release:

Distro	LTS Duration	Current LTS
Ubuntu	5 years (10 with ESM)	24.04 (until 2029)
Debian	~5 years	12 (until ~2028)
Fedora	~13 months	No LTS
Alpine	~2 years	3.20

2. Docker Compatibility

All major distros support Docker. But Ubuntu and Debian have the smoothest experience — Docker’s official install script targets them primarily.

3. Community Size

When something breaks at 2 AM, you need answers fast. Ubuntu has the largest Linux community. Debian is second. Searching “Ubuntu [error message]” returns more results than any other distro.

4. Security Updates

All major distros provide security updates. Ubuntu and Debian have dedicated security teams. Fedora moves fast enough that updates are part of the normal release flow.

Installation Tips

Regardless of distro:

Use the server/minimal install — no desktop, no GUI
Set up SSH during install — you’ll manage remotely
Set a static IP or configure DHCP reservation (Static IP Guide)
Create a non-root user with sudo access
Enable automatic security updates:

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install unattended-upgrades
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -plow unattended-upgrades

Set up a firewall (UFW Guide):

sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
sudo ufw enable

Install Docker:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

FAQ

Does the distro affect my Docker containers?

No. Docker containers include their own OS libraries. A container built on Alpine runs identically on Ubuntu, Debian, or Fedora hosts. The host distro only affects Docker daemon management and host-level tools.

Should I use the latest distro version or LTS?

LTS. Always. Servers need stability, not bleeding-edge features. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS over 24.10. Debian Stable over Testing.

Can I switch distros later without reinstalling everything?

If your services run in Docker with data in volumes, yes — the migration is: install new OS, install Docker, restore your docker-compose files and data volumes. The containers don’t care what host OS they run on.

What about NixOS / Arch / Gentoo?

Excellent learning platforms, poor choices for a server you depend on. NixOS has a steep learning curve. Arch requires manual maintenance. Gentoo requires compiling everything. Use these on a secondary machine for learning, not for your primary server.

Ubuntu or Debian — which specifically?

If you’re asking this question, use Ubuntu. Debian is marginally more stable, Ubuntu is marginally more convenient. The difference is smaller than most people think. Both are excellent.

Next Steps

Getting Started with Self-Hosting — set up your first server
SSH Setup Guide — configure remote access
Docker Compose Basics — deploy your first service