Distribution reviews, honest pros and cons, and every way to run Linux — from USB boot to virtual machines to containers. Plus CompTIA Linux+ cert prep for those who want to make it official.
You don't have to wipe your machine to try Linux. Here are the three main approaches — from safest to most committed.
Run Linux directly from a USB drive without installing anything. Boot from the USB, use the full OS, shut down, and your main system is untouched.
Run Linux inside a window on your existing OS using software like VirtualBox or VMware. Full install, persistent storage, runs alongside Windows or Mac.
Run a lightweight Linux environment inside a container — no full OS overhead. Used heavily in DevOps, cloud, and cybersecurity workflows.
Install Linux alongside Windows on the same machine. Choose which OS to boot at startup. Full native performance for both.
Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 — run a real Linux terminal inside Windows 11/10. Microsoft-built, surprisingly capable for learning and development.
Honest reviews of the most important Linux distributions — what they're good for, who they're for, and where they fall short.
The most popular Linux desktop distro. Huge community, excellent hardware support, and the most documentation of any distro. The default choice for most new Linux users.
The grandfather of many distros including Ubuntu and Kali. Legendary stability — packages are tested thoroughly before release. The foundation of the LinksOS project.
Possibly the most user-friendly Linux distro available. Familiar Windows-like interface, no Snap packages, and a polished out-of-the-box experience. Excellent for Windows switchers.
Red Hat's community distro — cutting-edge packages, excellent security features, and a clean GNOME experience. What becomes RHEL eventually passes through Fedora first.
The go-to distro for penetration testers and security professionals. Ships with 600+ pre-installed security tools. Not recommended as a daily driver or for beginners — it's a specialist tool.
The DIY distro. Minimal base install — you build everything yourself. The best way to truly understand Linux internals. The AUR (Arch User Repository) is unmatched for package availability.
The CentOS replacements. Free, enterprise-grade RHEL-compatible Linux. What most corporate servers run. Essential knowledge for anyone pursuing a Linux career in enterprise environments.
System76's Ubuntu-based distro, optimized for developers and creative professionals. Excellent GPU support (great for NVIDIA), clean tiling window management, and polished UX.
A solid, professional distro with two flavors: Leap (stable) and Tumbleweed (rolling). YaST management tool makes system administration approachable. Strong in European enterprise environments.
Arch Linux made accessible. Keeps the AUR and rolling release benefits but adds a friendlier installer and hardware detection. A good bridge between beginner distros and Arch.
A Kali alternative — security tools included but lighter and more usable as a daily driver. Good for those who want security tools without sacrificing a functional desktop environment.
Extremely minimal — the default Docker base image for most containers. Security-focused, uses musl libc instead of glibc. Essential knowledge for anyone working in DevOps or containers.
Linux+ (XK0-005) validates your ability to manage, secure, and troubleshoot Linux systems. It's the most vendor-neutral Linux certification available and aligns directly with the link2cyber.com bootcamp.
90 questions · 90 minutes · 720/900 passing score. Performance-based and multiple choice. No prerequisites required but recommend A+ and Network+ first.
Junior sysadmins, security analysts, DevOps engineers, and anyone managing Linux systems in enterprise or cloud environments.
Linux+ satisfies DoD 8570 requirements for IAT Level I and II roles. Valuable for federal contractors and military IT positions.
Link2Linux is the Linux foundation layer connecting to the broader cybersecurity and IT ecosystem.