Linux vs Ubuntu: Choosing a Linux Distribution for a Web Server

The question "Linux vs Ubuntu" mixes two different things. Linux is the kernel, the core of the operating system, and the name is also used for the whole family of operating systems built around it. Ubuntu is one of those operating systems, called a Linux distribution, alongside others such as Debian, AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux.

So the real choice for a web server is not Linux or Ubuntu, but which Linux distribution to run. For most websites and online stores, the decision comes down to three practical factors: how long each release receives security updates, which versions of PHP, databases and other software are easy to install, and which tools your host and team already know.

This article replaces our original 2022 piece with a practical comparison for anyone choosing a server for a business website, a Magento store or a custom application.

Linux, distributions and Ubuntu explained

The Linux kernel manages hardware, memory and processes. On its own it is not something you can install and use as a server. A distribution packages the kernel with everything else needed: system tools, a package manager, libraries, security updates and a release schedule.

Distributions fall into families. Ubuntu and Debian use the apt package manager and .deb packages. AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and Red Hat Enterprise Linux use dnf and .rpm packages. Skills and scripts usually transfer easily within a family and less easily between them.

Configuration file locations and service names also differ slightly between families. The web server, PHP and database work the same way, but paths, default users and package names vary, which is one reason teams usually standardise on one family for all their servers.

What matters in a server Linux distribution

Desktop users choose distributions for their look and features. For servers, different qualities matter. A server usually runs for years with the same release, handling customer data and payments, so predictability and security updates count for far more than the newest features.

1. Support lifecycle: how many years a release receives security updates.
2. Stability: how carefully updates are tested so they do not break running services.
3. Software availability: whether the PHP, database, web server and other versions you need are available, from the distribution or trusted repositories.
4. Host and control panel support: whether your hosting provider and any control panel support the distribution.
5. Team familiarity: the distribution your administrators know best is often the safest choice.
6. Documentation and community: how easily you can find answers when something unusual happens at two in the morning.

Ubuntu LTS

Ubuntu publishes long-term support (LTS) releases every two years, and Canonical's release cycle page sets out how long each one is maintained. LTS releases receive standard security maintenance for five years, with longer coverage available through Canonical's Ubuntu Pro subscription. Interim releases between LTS versions have short support periods and are not suitable for production servers.

• Strengths: very widely used, extensive documentation, good support from cloud providers and many third-party packages.
• Things to watch: choose the LTS release, not interim versions, and plan upgrades to the next LTS well before support ends.
• Good fit: most web applications, Magento stores and cloud servers.

Ubuntu's popularity is a practical advantage in itself. Most tutorials, deployment tools and cloud marketplaces assume it, so problems are usually solved quickly, and new team members are likely to know it already.

Debian stable

Debian is the community distribution Ubuntu is built on. Its stable releases are known for careful testing and conservative updates. The Debian project lists current and past versions on its releases page, with security support for each stable release followed by a longer-term support period maintained by volunteers and sponsors.

• Strengths: stability, a strong security team, no commercial owner and minimal default installation.
• Things to watch: default package versions can be older, so newer PHP versions often come from well-known third-party repositories.
• Good fit: teams that value stability and prefer a purely community-run system.

Because Ubuntu is based on Debian, moving between the two is usually straightforward. Commands, package names and configuration layouts are largely the same, so teams comfortable with one can work with the other.

AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux

After CentOS Linux was discontinued, AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux emerged as free distributions compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Each major version is supported for many years, which suits servers that should run unchanged for a long time. AlmaLinux publishes details for each version in its release notes.

• Strengths: long support periods, compatibility with enterprise software and wide support in traditional hosting control panels.
• Things to watch: newer PHP and database versions often come from additional repositories or modules.
• Good fit: hosting environments built around control panels, and organisations with Red Hat experience.

The long lifecycle is attractive, but it is not a reason to leave servers untouched for a decade. Applications such as PHP and databases move faster than the operating system, so plan to update them during the lifetime of each major version.

If a server still runs CentOS 7 or CentOS 8, it no longer receives regular security updates and should be migrated as a priority. Migration tools exist for moving to AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux in place, but a fresh server with the application moved across is often cleaner and easier to test.

Choosing a Linux distribution for an online store

For e-commerce, the distribution matters less than whether it supports the stack your platform requires, at supported versions, for the life of the server. Magento 2, for example, has specific requirements for PHP, the database, OpenSearch, Valkey and Varnish. Our guide to Magento hosting and server requirements lists the current versions.

• Confirm the distribution offers, or reliably supports, the PHP version your platform needs.
• Check that your database version and search engine are available and supported for the whole release.
• Prefer a release with several years of support remaining, so you are not forced into an upgrade soon after launch.
• Use the distribution your host supports best; good support matters more than small technical differences.

Our step-by-step guide to installing Magento 2 shows what the server must provide.

Upgrades, security and maintenance

Whichever distribution you choose, the server needs regular care. Most security problems on Linux servers come from missing updates and weak access controls, not from the choice of distribution.

• Apply security updates regularly, with automatic security updates where appropriate for your setup.
• Use SSH keys rather than passwords, and limit who can log in and from where.
• Run a firewall that allows only the ports your services actually need.
• Monitor disk space, memory, running services and logs, with alerts that reach a person.
• Plan major version upgrades on a staging copy first, and schedule them away from busy periods.
• Keep a written record of how each server is configured, so it can be rebuilt quickly if needed.

Our e-commerce security checklist and guide to uptime monitoring cover the wider routine.

Containers and cloud images

Modern deployments often add a layer between the distribution and the application. Containers package an application with the libraries it needs, and cloud providers offer ready-made images of popular distributions. Both change how the choice of distribution plays out.

• Host and container can differ: a server running Ubuntu can run containers based on Debian or Alpine Linux, and vice versa.
• Base images still need updates: containers built on an outdated base image inherit its security problems, so rebuild them regularly.
• Official cloud images from the distribution or the cloud provider are a safer starting point than unknown community images.
• Infrastructure as code tools can rebuild a server from scratch, which makes moving to a newer release far less stressful.

For a small business website or a single Magento store, a well-maintained virtual server running an LTS or stable release is still simple and effective. Containers become more valuable as teams grow, environments multiply and deployments become frequent.

Control panels and managed hosting

Many businesses use a hosting control panel or a managed host rather than administering servers directly. In that case, the panel or host often decides which distributions are available. Check that the panel supports current PHP versions and the services your platform needs, and that it does not lag far behind the distribution's own updates.

Some panels add their own update mechanisms on top of the distribution's, which is convenient but can delay security fixes or conflict with manual changes. Agree who is responsible for each layer before the server goes live.

Managed hosting can be the right choice for teams without server administrators, as long as responsibilities are clear: who applies updates, who monitors the server and who responds when something fails. Our e-commerce hosting guide covers the questions to ask.

Frequently asked questions

Need a server set up or upgraded for your website or store? Talk to our team about hosting, security and maintenance.