There are thousands of Linux distribution variants, some of them incredibly obscure and niche-y, while others are enterprise-ready. Some are desktop only, while others are server-only.

If you’re new to the game, you might not know where to start.

This TechRepublic Premium PDF download offers a helping hand so that you might have a better idea of which Linux server distribution is best suited for your needs, especially if your business is in the market for a new server operating system. You cannot go wrong with any one of these five.

From the download:

Some Linux distributions are geared specifically to serve a purpose. With Linux server platforms, you might find more security mechanisms involved or an OS-created specifically for containers. And for desktops, you can get away with selecting any flavor of Linux, so long as the combination of package manager and desktop environment suits your needs.

The world of servers is a bit different. There’s the choice of package manager, GUI or command line, security mechanisms, support, ease of use, and a whole spectrum of options that might cause you to lean one way or another. And if you’re new to the game, you might not know where to start.