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Hej lemmings! (Hoping this is relevant enough for the selfhosted commjnity)

Quick question for you all: do you stick with the same distro across your PC, laptop, and server, or do you pick different ones based on the device and what you're doing?

For me, I've been mixing and matching depending on the use case, but I'm starting to think it'd be nice to just have one distro (or at least one family like Fedora or Debian) running everywhere. That way I wouldn't get confused about default settings or constantly have to look up flags for different package managers.

Right now my setup is:

  • Gaming rig: CachyOS
  • Laptop: AuroraOS
  • NAS: Unraid
  • Various project servers: DietPi, Debian, Alpine etc..

I feel like NixOS might be the only distro that could realistically handle all these use cases, but I'm a bit scared of the learning curve and the maintenance work it'd take to migrate everything over.

Am I the only one who feels like having "one distro to rule them all" would be nice? How do you guys handle your setups? All ears! 😊

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[–] Kalcifer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

My main server runs Ubuntu Server (I'm thinking about switching it to Debian), and my laptop and desktop both run Arch Linux. Generally, I pick whatever I think is best for the given usecase β€” things like stability, package availability, documentation, security, etc. are considered.

[–] pentastarm@piefed.ca 2 points 6 months ago

SteamOS on my steam deck. Bazzite on my laptop. And fedora on my home server that I'm still learning how to set up(I have immich running in a container, but that was just following an online tutorial. Still trying to understand docker better.)

[–] BigDaddySlim@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Yes and no, my main system is EndeavourOS as well as one laptop that stays docked in the bedroom as a media PC. My HTPC is running Mint with KDE, my Steam Deck is stock SteamOS, my MacBook Pro is running Asahi Linux, server running TrueNAS and Raspberry Pi's running stock Raspberry Pi OS. Mainly I just like KDE, and have a preference for Arch based systems.

I prefer EndeavourOS and haven't had issues with it for a couple years now, but Mint on the HTPC was a reason to try Mint and I just left it alone except for swapping Cinnamon for KDE. Asahi is the only option for M1 MacBooks so no choice there. Pi OS I never really use the system as a computer, I just have one running PiHole and another running a digital calander for the wife and I, so I only interact with them through ssh or web portals. My Steam Deck works perfectly fine as is and I mainly just use the Steam launcher anyway so no point changing it. The TrueNAS system I mainly use through a web portal or SMB so it's fine.

[–] blxt@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

For my Gaming PC I ended up with cachyOS. Justs works and still gives me enough flexibility for customization. Server is Proxmox with mostly Debian LXCs but I started to add in some alpine containers. Probably going to throw alpine on my old laptop as well, just for fun. Ah and then there is my MacBook with macOS, which for now I plan to keep…

[–] Pika@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

I'm all some Debian dereritive, whether it's Q4OS or just Debian,

[–] djdarren@piefed.social 2 points 6 months ago

My work PC and gaming PC are Kubuntu, my media server is Debian, and my Home Assistant server is macOS, because it's an M1 mini. So yeah, kinda. I thought about putting the server on Kubuntu, but in the end figured I'd go for as stable as possible.

All my servers are Debian. All my personal machines are Fedora KDE.

[–] Mio@feddit.nu 2 points 6 months ago

Workstation: Fedora plasma Server: Ubuntu Rock64 Libreelec

[–] timmytbt@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

Debian home server, macOS desktop, newer laptops run Arch and Fedora, and the two old MacBooks both run Mint DE. Oh, and OpenWrt on the router.

[–] cevn@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Fedora on laptop. Fedora on desktop. Fedora in the server. Fedora in WSL.

[–] hamsda@feddit.org 2 points 6 months ago

Ha, I wish I could.

I'm not 100% satisfied, so I'm still searching for the "perfect distro for me", if it even exists.

I have been using Arch Linux on my personal PC and company laptop for 4 years, but I couldn't get some things to work. Things that, after installing Fedora, worked out of the box.

My current setup is:

  • EndeavourOS (e.g. arch linux with a GUI-installer) for my PC at home
  • Fedora Workstation 43 for my company laptop
  • Servers are all running Debian, I'll probably never change that
  • Hypervisor for VMs is Proxmox VE, which is Debian too
[–] SpacePirate@feddit.nu 2 points 6 months ago

I use the following

Debian for Laptop Bazzite for Gaming PC HatvesterHCI for Hypervisor Truenas Scale for NAS (VM with disk pass thru) Rocky Linux for Servers (I have created Hardened Images) I use OS-build to create the Rocky Images

Nope. Raspbian, Arch, Ubuntu, Ubuntu MATE (sorta samesies, I guess), Manjaro…I think that’s it.

[–] rem26_art@fedia.io 2 points 6 months ago

Servers are Debian Desktop is Arch Laptop is EndeavorOS

[–] osanna@lemmy.vg 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I was HEAVILY into the apple ecosystem, so I have a lot of macs. I have a macbook, running MacOS, and i have a desktop computer that i was using for my server, but instead bought a ras pi, and now use my desktop AS a desktop (partly because i want to dump apple because of all the bootlicking that Tim Apple is doing towards drumpf), which runs linux mint. My ras pi runs ubuntu server. Aside from that, that's the extent of my home computing. I have an iphone too. But my mac mini goes unused now, and thinking of selling it, but not sure. /rambling

[–] osanna@lemmy.vg 2 points 6 months ago

I usually stick with ubuntu/debian based distros, because it was the first distro system i used when i first used linux. so I stick with what i know. Though I did support a RH server once when i worked in IT.

[–] Ravenmark@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

I normally install Linux based upon what I am doing. Gaming wise is usually popos. (I have eyed up CachyOS). I use Endeavor for a lot of old mac stuff. etc.

[–] MuttMutt@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Desktop - Ubuntu Cinnamon LTS (I game and edit video this is also currently my Frigate host)

Laptop - Ubuntu Budgie (It's basically just a thin client to access my desktop when I want to sit in the livingroom)

Stepson's Desktop - ChimeraOS (Because I don't want to deal with anything in his room)

Server - TrueNAS (Been using it since the FreeNAS 9 Era)

Router - OpnSense (Been using that since before I started using FreeNAS)

Different distro's suit different needs. Could I use a single one for everything, yeah with a lot of extra work I don't want to deal with. I'm much more hardware oriented and can make software work tried switching to Linux for everything in the mid 2000's but couldn't do things reliably with it till lately.

[–] tuckerm@feddit.online 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I've thought about it, but I like having Bazzite for my gaming PC and Debian for my laptop, so I'll probably keep using multiple distros. For me it's:

  • Gaming PC: Bazzite (it's plugged into my TV, like a console, and goes straight to Steam's big picture mode)
  • Laptop: Debian with KDE Plasma
  • Home Server: Debian (a little single board computer, no desktop environment)
[–] justme@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 6 months ago

Due to bazzite,I checked out fedora silver blue for my work laptop. So far I'm happy.

[–] one_knight_scripting@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Thanks to hyprland, I've fallen in love with Arch. Sure it works on other distros, but the AUR is great for easy configuration. I'm running it on my container server, my laptop, my gaming rig, and my OneXPlayer(portable gaming rig). That said, I have been eyeing CachyOS because of the kernel optimization plus it seems easier to install.

[–] d3lta19@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If you already have arch installed, don't worry about how hard it is to install. All done! You can also run the cachyos kennel in arch if you want

[–] one_knight_scripting@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Huh, I didn't realize there was an AUR for it already. It would only take yay -S linux-cachyos.

But I need to fix my btrfs/snapper anyways.

I broke it after reverting by messing up my subvolumes. Swap was not properly setup and somehow reverting also broke my snapshots subvolume.

I also want time to test on my spare laptop first so I can create a script/config for it to deploy to my school laptop and gaming rig. But it's exam week for school and I need to finish transferring a 25TB VM to a hardware server.

I'll mess with it over spring break.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Basically, I do. Kubuntu everywhere. Only exception are the servers that run a UI less version of Ubuntu.

[–] Decronym@lemmy.decronym.xyz 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters More Letters
DNS Domain Name Service/System
Git Popular version control system, primarily for code
LTS Long Term Support software version
LXC Linux Containers
NAS Network-Attached Storage
NUC Next Unit of Computing brand of Intel small computers
PiHole Network-wide ad-blocker (DNS sinkhole)
Plex Brand of media server package
SMB Server Message Block protocol for file and printer sharing; Windows-native
VPN Virtual Private Network
VPS Virtual Private Server (opposed to shared hosting)

10 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 4 acronyms.

[Thread #152 for this comm, first seen 9th Mar 2026, 16:50] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

[–] halyihev@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Currently my primary laptop is on LMDE and my secondary laptop is on GhostBSD just because I wanted to try out BSD. I'm thinking of taking a third laptop and putting EndeavourOS on it. That was my primary OS until an update blew up the EFI partition and I read "yeah, that happens sometimes" and decided my primary system should be a bit more stable than that. But I did really like EndeavourOS other than that. I have an old notebook PC I've thought about putting Haiku-OS on just for fun, if I can figure out what I did with the power cord for it.

[–] JustARegularNerd@aussie.zone 2 points 6 months ago

I used to with LMDE (client) and Debian (server), but Cinnamon was a little bit too stuttery on the rickety old hardware I have (i5-5200U NUC and i5-5250U MBA), so now the NUC runs CachyOS with Xfce and the MBA runs Win10 LTSC because sometimes Windows is needed for my studies or certain voxel game leaks.

[–] titanicx@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 months ago
[–] retry1203@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 months ago

My gaming PC runs Nobara so I started using Fedora on my general use desktop and my laptop for consistency. I have an older laptop that runs Debian. I have two server machines that run Proxmox and Debian, and all my VMs are Debian except one that is Fedora server (I read somewhere Fedora would provide better GPU support out of the box, but I've never confirmed this, it just works)

[–] dil@piefed.zip 1 points 6 months ago

It causes issues, like bazzite has the same profile name, IDK if I missed the option to change it. Cant use the virtual mouse swap across computers because they require different names and it has an error related to that.

[–] sveltecider@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 months ago

I just use Debian

[–] gblues@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 months ago

Usually I keep everything on Debian, but I've been thinking in making some changes, like running mint on my kids laptops. My rock64 is running armbian, due some problems with latest Debian on it and DietPi on an rpi3. Oh yeah, an rpi4 is running has, due to my absolutely laziness πŸ˜‚

[–] shark@lemmy.org 1 points 6 months ago

My laptop was, as of a couple of minutes ago, running Windows 11 (for AutoCAD before anyone says anything), but I just installed Fedora again so I’m free!

My server is running RHEL, which I don’t have an excuse for β€” I thought it’d be fun, but I’m going to switch over to Proxmox (hopefully) later this year.

So as it stands, currently, kinda.

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