If you want to experiment with new software, host a home service, or try a new operating system without risking your main PC, running Linux in a virtual machine is the safest way to do it. It gives you a sandbox where you can break things without worrying about the repercussions, or lets you isolate whatever is running on that VM from your other services.
The potential snag is that VMs are always a bit less performant than running “bare metal,” which means a full desktop environment can be a problem. Instead, you’re better off picking a distro that is suited to your specific needs rather than just installing the latest version of Ubuntu desktop on everything.
Ubuntu Server is a great headless server
It is a safe starting point with a ton of support
Whenever I fire up a new Linux server, my go-to choice is Ubuntu Server. Ubuntu Server is essentially the standard edition of Ubuntu with its desktop environment removed.
The primary advantage here is the support. Because Ubuntu is so popular, you’ll find a huge number of tutorials and community answers for almost any problem you encounter.
It isn’t as lightweight as other Linux server distros, but that also has some benefits. You usually don’t need to install a ton of prerequisites every time you run something new, you just need to pick up a few application-specific dependencies. Additionally, the long term support (LTS) releases are pretty much perfect for servers because you don’t typically need the latest and greatest bells and whistles. You can set it up and run it for years without a problem as long as you keep on top of periodic security updates.
If you are a beginner or someone hosting common services without the patience for manual tinkering, Ubuntu Server is a great first choice.
Debian is lightweight but stable
It is like Ubuntu’s more minimalist big brother
If you want something even leaner than Ubuntu, you should look at Debian, which is the distro that Ubuntu is actually built on. Debian is famous for its stability and small size.
It is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a stable headless host without any extras out of the box or telemetry concerns found in other distros. Because updates are limited, a Debian VM can often run for years without needing a reboot or crashing.
The consequence—and potential down-side—of the slower release cadence is that you’re usually working with older packages. If you need the latest and greatest the moment they’re available, Debian’s update cycle might feel a little slow.
For a server, a slower, more deliberate release cycle is generally a good thing. If you’re using it as a desktop environment, it can be annoying.
Alpine Linux is the ultra-minimal option
When you need to squeeze every last megabyte
If you need to maximize the amount of performance you can get out of old hardware or limited storage, Alpine Linux is n interesting option. It is designed to be secure, and the minimalist installation only uses up 130 megabytes.
If you’re running a ton of containers on tight resources—which can happen if you give every service its own container—then Alpine is a great option. It boots almost instantly, has next to no overhead, and comes with no unwanted frills.
On the other hand, you will have to put in a bit extra work to get some software running, since Alpine uses several libraries (like musl libc) in place of bigger, more popular options.
Fedora is constantly getting the latest and greatest
Current packages without jumping to a rolling release
Whether you’re running a desktop or a server and want faster updates, Fedora is a solid choice. It tends to be fairly easy to run, and has several variants that make use of lighter desktops than the default distribution.
It tends to receive new updates, reliable updates on a pretty regular schedule, and critically, it doesn’t normally have any significant stability issues.
The main downside is the shorter support window compared to an LTS release; you’ll find yourself performing more frequent upgrades and maintenance.
Lubuntu is the light GUI sandbox
A full desktop that stays usable on modest VM resources
There are times when you actually need a screen—perhaps to test a GUI application or browse the web within a contained environment. In those cases, Lubuntu is an excellent choice. It is an official Ubuntu variant that uses the LXQt desktop environment.
You get a real graphical interface without the hefty RAM and CPU demands of GNOME or KDE. While it lacks some of the fancier features and has a more utilitarian style, that is usually worth the performance gain. I’d start by allocating at least two gigabytes of RAM, though you may be able to get by with less. Make sure to install guest additions for proper display scaling if you’re using VirtualBox.
5 more lightweight Linux distros that go easy on your old Windows PC
Your old Windows machine is ready for its second act.
Linux Mint XFCE a great lightweight desktop
An approachable GUI for Linux newcomers
If you are new to Linux and want a visual experience that feels familia, you should try the XFCE edition of Linux Mint. It provides a straightforward desktop without bogging down the limited resources available to most virtual machines.
It is a great way to try out Linux without sacrificing usability or an inordinate amount of performance, especially if you used older versions of Windows. You’ll probably find it quite intuitive.
On the other hand, even a lightweight desktop OS is a total waste if you don’t need it, so stay clear if you’re only going to be using your Linux VM to host servers.
There is no one-size-fits-all Linux distro
Ultimately, your choice depends on how much work you’re willing to put in and the job the VM is doing. If you are hosting services, stick to headless distros; if you’re exploring the OS, go with a light GUI.
Because virtual machines are low-risk, you don’t have to commit to one right away. You can spin up Ubuntu Server or Debian to start, try Alpine when you need absolute minimalism, and use a light desktop only when you actually need a screen. The key is to match the distro to the workload.
If you want to try a Linux OS out as a replacement for Windows, you can try it out in a VM, but it may not give you the real experience. Whatever performance you get in a VM will most certainly be better when you run it bare metal. It is probably better to boot off a UB drive if you’re evaluating a full-time regular desktop OS.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
