Linux distributions and release cycles
You get to know Debian, Ubuntu, the Red Hat family, Arch and Alpine, and learn about support lifetimes, package formats and choosing well for a server.
Level 101 · 13 lessons · 12 practice labs
Lessons
The families
- What a distribution is: kernel, tools and packages together
- The Debian and Ubuntu family
- The Red Hat family: RHEL, Fedora, AlmaLinux and Rocky
- Arch, Alpine, SUSE and the rest
- Short task: identify an unknown server's distribution and version
Releases and support
- Fixed releases and rolling releases
- Long-term support and end of life: why it matters
- /etc/os-release, lsb_release and hostnamectl
- Short task: list the servers past their end of life
Differences and choosing
- Package formats and managers: deb, rpm, apk, pacman
- Paths and service names that differ by distribution
- Choosing a server distribution: support, security and the team
- Capstone: do the same job on three distributions and report the differences
Practice labs
- Identify an unknown server's distribution: Read /etc/os-release on the target server and submit its distribution and version.
- Identify a server with no os-release: Work out the family of a server whose os-release file was deleted from its package manager, paths and kernel info.
- Build an ID table for three servers: Write a single table with the distribution, version, kernel and package manager of the three target servers.
- List servers past end of life: Compare the inventory's server versions with the given support calendar and list the ones past end of life.
- Tell the rolling-release server apart: Work out which target runs a rolling release from its version info and repository settings.
- Prepare an upgrade priority list: Rank the inventory's servers by end-of-support date and role and write the first three to upgrade with a reason.
- Find which package owns a file: On three different distributions, find which package owns the same config file using each one's package tool.
- Find a differently named service on each distro: Find the names and config paths of the web server and SSH services on Debian, Rocky and Alpine and tabulate them.
- Install the same package on three distros: Install the same tool on the Debian, Rocky and Alpine targets with their own package managers and summarise the differences.
- Identify the distro and its support end date: Find the distribution and release of three inherited servers from /etc/os-release and submit the name of the one that is out of support.
- Find why a script fails on Alpine: Find the bash and GNU tool dependencies that make a script fail on Alpine but work on Debian, and fix it.
- Recommend a server distribution for a team: Compare the three target distributions on support length and package availability against the needs list and write a reasoned recommendation.
About this course
You get to know Debian, Ubuntu, the Red Hat family, Arch and Alpine, and learn about support lifetimes, package formats and choosing well for a server.
What you will learn
- The families
- Releases and support
- Differences and choosing
Prerequisites
No prior knowledge is needed; the course starts from zero.
Lab environment
Lessons run in your own Kali Linux terminal in the browser, connected to a private lab network. Nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this course right for my level?
- The course is at beginner level; every term is explained where it first appears.
- Is there anything to install?
- No. Every lesson runs in your own lab environment that opens in the browser.
- How do lessons work?
- Each lesson has 8 to 10 steps and a short quiz. Early steps show the command to type, later steps give less help; if two attempts fail, the solution opens.
- Can I try it for free?
- Yes. The first three lessons of every course are free.