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Debian VS Photon OS

Compare Debian VS Photon OS and see what are their differences

Debian logo Debian

Debian is a free distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system.

Photon OS logo Photon OS

Photon OS™ is an open source, minimal Linux container host that is optimized for cloud-native...
  • Debian Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-12
  • Photon OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-07

Debian features and specs

  • Stability
    Debian is known for its rock-solid stability, making it a preferred choice for servers and critical systems that require long-term reliability.
  • Package Availability
    Debian offers a vast repository of packages, ensuring that you have access to a wide range of software and tools without needing third-party sources.
  • Security
    Debian has a strong focus on security with timely updates and a dedicated security team, providing a secure environment for users.
  • Community Support
    Debian has a large and active community, providing extensive support through forums, mailing lists, and comprehensive documentation.
  • Flexibility
    Debian is highly configurable and supports multiple architectures, allowing it to be used on various hardware platforms and for diverse use cases.
  • Free and Open Source
    Debian adheres strictly to the principles of free software, ensuring that users have freedom to use, modify, and distribute the software.
  • Long-Term Support (LTS)
    Debian provides long-term support for its stable releases, making it a suitable option for systems that require extended maintenance.

Possible disadvantages of Debian

  • Older Software Versions
    Due to its focus on stability, Debian tends to use older, well-tested versions of software, which may lack some of the latest features and updates.
  • Complex Installation Process
    The installation process for Debian can be complex and intimidating for new users compared to more user-friendly distributions like Ubuntu.
  • Slower Release Cycle
    Debian has a slower release cycle which may result in longer wait times for new features, updates, and support for newer hardware.
  • Resource-Intensive Configuration
    Setting up and configuring Debian can be resource-intensive and time-consuming, particularly for users who are not familiar with its system.
  • Less Focus on Desktop Experience
    Debian's strong focus on stability and server use means that desktop users might find it less polished and user-friendly compared to distributions specifically tailored for desktop environments.

Photon OS features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Photon OS is designed to be a minimal Linux container host, making it lightweight with small footprint ideal for containerized environments.
  • Performance
    The streamlined design of Photon OS offers high performance and fast boot times, which is crucial for supporting cloud-native applications and workloads.
  • VMware Integration
    Being a VMware product, Photon OS offers seamless integration with VMware tools and platforms, providing enhanced management and monitoring capabilities within VMware environments.
  • Security
    Photon OS focuses heavily on security by implementing features like no root user login by default and offering frequent updates and security patches.
  • Optimized for Containers
    Photon OS is optimized for running containers on VMware infrastructure, offering support for container orchestration tools like Kubernetes, Docker, and others.

Possible disadvantages of Photon OS

  • Limited Software Packages
    Due to its minimalist design, Photon OS may lack some out-of-the-box software packages, which could require additional setup and configuration for certain applications.
  • Specific Use Case
    Photon OS is specifically designed for container operations and may not be suitable for other types of workloads, limiting its use to specific scenarios.
  • Community and Support
    While backed by VMware, Photon OS may not have as large a community or as extensive third-party support compared to other popular Linux distributions, potentially impacting troubleshooting and community-driven solutions.
  • Learning Curve
    Users not familiar with VMware products or container-focused operating systems may face a learning curve when adopting Photon OS.

Debian videos

Debian 10 "Buster" Full Review and My Thoughts

More videos:

  • Review - Debian 10 Review (GNOME)
  • Review - Debian 10 "Buster" Review! Excited for THIS

Photon OS videos

How to Install Photon OS 1.0 + Review on VMware Workstation [HD]

More videos:

  • Review - Установка VMware Photon OS 3.0 в VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Debian and Photon OS)
Operating Systems
91 91%
9% 9
Linux
90 90%
10% 10
Linux Distribution
93 93%
7% 7
Distributions
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Debian and Photon OS

Debian Reviews

10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
Currently, Debian runs the FreeBSD kernel or Linux kernel. Debian was developed by many volunteers who are managing this operating system amazingly. The significant advantage of Debian is its vast software support. Learn – Install Debian 12 Bullseye on VirtualBox
Top 5 Secure Operating Systems for Privacy and Anonymity
The Debian Project adheres to a rigorous set of principles, the Debian Social Contract. It outlines its relationship with the community and underlines its dedication to delivering a free and secure high-quality operating system. This contract and the Debian Free Software Guidelines ensure that the software within Debian's repositories respects your privacy and freedom.
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Debian has a Testing branch, similar to a beta version, it is an intermediary stage between Debian's unstable and stable branches. The Testing branch is intended for users who want a balance between access to newer software and a relatively stable system. Debian Testing gets new features and fixes before the stable Debian release, allowing users who are comfortable...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Debian is what Ubuntu is based on, making it one of the oldest Linux distributions. It was released and developed in 1993. For a long time, the abundance of software packages for Debian was unsurpassed and it is still notable. Commercial programs are easy to install. Installation, maintenance and usage are intuitive and not particularly difficult for both Windows and Mac...
Source: www.ionos.com
6 Best Free Alternatives to Windows for Advanced Users
Debian OS also offers a different variant for users to choose from and made the rolling release option available.
Source: techcult.com

Photon OS Reviews

The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
The minimalistic Photon OS is designed for working with containers. The operating system forgoes superfluous packages and focuses on the essentials. It is the perfect solution for a reliable server environment without unnecessary features.
Source: www.ionos.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Debian seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 66 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Debian mentions (66)

  • Coding on a Chromebook
    The terminal is actually a Debian terminal. Debian is a version (distribution) of Linux, so if you've used it or Ubuntu before, you'll be very familiar with the commands. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Can I contribute to a redesign of the Debian website?
    Can't figure out debian.org? Then you probably won't figure out the distribution either. The website is perfectly fine, if you know how to read and think. They have mainly been focusing on making Debian stable, so it's more about reading manuals than expecting user-friendliness from it. There's loads of userfriendly-focused linux distributions out there. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Your guide to Debian iso downloads
    Https://debian.org/ has a huge DOWNLOAD button. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • where all the isos are? (broken links)
    Links on the debian.org doesn't work. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Debian 12 froze. How to diagnose ?
    Https://debian.org/ download the iso, dd to a pendrive and reinstall... Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Photon OS mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Photon OS yet. Tracking of Photon OS recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Debian and Photon OS, you can also consider the following products

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Puppy Linux - Home, overview and getting started with Puppy Linux, amazingly fast, fascinatingly complete and delightfully small Linux.‎Wiki · ‎Download latest Puppy Linux .

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

DistroWatch - 9 hours ago - It does include a proprietary software set optimized for business users, students, researchers and developers." A list of features and further details can be found in the company's release announcement.

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

Fuduntu - Fuduntu is an open-source appropriation of Linux, a remix of the Fedora working framework, which thusly depends on the honor winning Red Hat Enterprise Linux OS.