Setting up a homelab requires a reliable and flexible Linux distribution. This guide covers the best distros tailored for home servers, from beginner-friendly to advanced options, ensuring you have the right tools for your homelab environment.
Critical for a homelab, stability ensures the server runs smoothly without frequent crashes or interruptions.
Allows for customization and scalability, adapting to different tasks and workloads within your homelab.
A strong community can provide valuable resources and assistance for troubleshooting and expanding functionalities.
Optimized performance ensures efficient resource usage, which is vital when running multiple services.
Our top picks for homelab, ranked by overall experience.
Best overall experience
Ubuntu Server is renowned for its ease of use and wide community support, making it an ideal choice for both beginners and advanced users setting up a homelab.
Most stable choice
Debian's stability and reliability make it a fantastic choice for a homelab environment, providing a solid foundation for any server setup.
Enterprise-grade reliability
CentOS Stream offers a rolling release model that provides a preview of the upcoming enterprise features, perfect for those who want cutting-edge capabilities.
Best for virtualization
Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization management platform, offering excellent support for running virtual machines and containers in a homelab setting.
Simple NAS solution
OpenMediaVault is designed for network-attached storage (NAS), offering a simple and effective solution for managing data and media in your homelab.
Ultimate customization
For those seeking total control, Arch Linux provides the ultimate in customization and flexibility, ideal for crafting a homelab tailored to precise needs.
Not sure which to pick? These comparisons might help.
Stability ensures that your homelab runs smoothly without unexpected downtime, which is crucial for maintaining consistent service and reliability.
A strong community offers extensive documentation, forums, and guides, helping users troubleshoot issues and expand their homelab capabilities.
Virtualization allows users to efficiently run multiple operating systems and applications on a single physical server, optimizing resource use.
Yes, while Debian is known for its stability, it also has a wealth of documentation and community support, making it accessible for new users.
Rolling release distros provide the latest features and updates, allowing users to experiment with cutting-edge technologies in their homelab.
Yes, NAS-focused distros like OpenMediaVault can be extended with plugins and additional software to handle various homelab tasks.
Compare any two distros side-by-side.
