Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ubuntu VS RancherOS

Compare Ubuntu VS RancherOS and see what are their differences

Ubuntu logo Ubuntu

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

RancherOS logo RancherOS

A simplified Linux distribution built from containers, for containers. Everything in RancherOS is managed by Docker, with minimum software needed to run Docker.
  • Ubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • RancherOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-23

Ubuntu features and specs

  • Open Source
    Ubuntu is an open-source operating system, meaning it's free to use, distribute, and modify. This allows users to customize their system to their liking and contributes to a large community of developers constantly improving the system.
  • Security
    Ubuntu places significant emphasis on security, providing regular updates and including a built-in firewall and virus protection. Its Unix-based kernel design adds an additional layer of security.
  • User-Friendly
    Ubuntu is designed to be user-friendly with an intuitive interface, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users. The Ubuntu Software Center simplifies the installation of applications.
  • Community Support
    An active and vast community of users and developers helps to solve issues and improve the OS. There are numerous forums, guides, and documentation available.
  • Performance
    Ubuntu tends to have better performance than some other operating systems on older hardware. It is less resource-intensive, leading to faster performance on a range of devices.

Possible disadvantages of Ubuntu

  • Software Compatibility
    Some software and applications, particularly those designed for Windows or macOS, may not be available or fully compatible with Ubuntu. Users might need to find alternatives or use compatibility layers like Wine.
  • Gaming
    While gaming on Linux, including Ubuntu, has improved, it still lags behind Windows in terms of the availability and performance of games. Many popular titles do not have native Linux support.
  • Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, transitioning to Ubuntu from another OS can involve a learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with Linux commands and terminal operations.
  • Driver Support
    Users might face issues with hardware compatibility, as some device manufacturers do not provide Linux drivers. This can affect peripherals like printers, graphics cards, and network adapters.
  • Professional Software
    Certain professional-grade software in fields like video editing, graphic design, or specialized industry applications may not have Linux versions or equivalents. Professionals might need to dual-boot or use another OS for specific tasks.

RancherOS features and specs

  • Lightweight
    RancherOS is a minimalist operating system designed specifically for running containers, which allows it to have a very small footprint compared to traditional operating systems.
  • Container-Focused
    Since the main process is a Docker instance, RancherOS is entirely focused on container management, making it an excellent choice for environments heavily reliant on container-based applications.
  • Easy to Deploy
    RancherOS makes it simple to deploy and manage Docker containers, which can be beneficial for rapid development and scaling of applications.
  • Minimal Overhead
    By using containers for all system processes, RancherOS reduces the overhead associated with running traditional operating systems, thus enhancing performance.
  • Consistent Environment
    RancherOS provides a consistent and predictable environment for running containers, which is crucial for development and production parity.

Possible disadvantages of RancherOS

  • Limited Functionality
    Because RancherOS is pared down to just the essentials for running containers, it might lack features and capabilities found in full-fledged operating systems.
  • Learning Curve
    Users who are new to container-focused operating systems might find RancherOS to have a steep learning curve, especially if they are accustomed to traditional OS interfaces and functionalities.
  • Less Community Support
    Compared to more widely adopted operating systems, RancherOS might have less community support and fewer tutorials or third-party resources available.
  • Dependency on Docker
    RancherOS is heavily dependent on Docker, which may be a drawback if there are plans to use alternate container runtimes or if Docker's design does not align with user needs.
  • Niche Use Case
    RancherOS is primarily targeted at containerized applications, which might not be suitable for all types of applications or organizational requirements.

Ubuntu videos

Ubuntu 19.10 Review | The Best GNOME Desktop, Yet?

More videos:

  • Review - Review: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine"
  • Review - Ubuntu 19.04, My Review (And Why Most Users Should Avoid It)
  • Review - Ubuntu 24.04: An Excellent Linux Distro
  • Review - Ubuntu's Decline
  • Review - Ubuntu 24.04 Review: Why It's Time to Change Ubuntu's Release Cycle

RancherOS videos

Rancher Online Meetup - September 2021 - Introducing SUSE Rancher 2.6

More videos:

  • Review - Del Taco® Huevos Rancheros Burrito REVIEW!
  • Review - DEMO 1431 Getting started with SUSE Rancher and Ondat persistent storage
  • Tutorial - How to Intall RancherOS 0.6 to Hard Disk + Review on VMware Workstation Easy Tutorial [HD]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ubuntu and RancherOS)
Linux
96 96%
4% 4
Operating Systems
97 97%
3% 3
Linux Distribution
98 98%
2% 2
Security & Privacy
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 Ubuntu and RancherOS

Ubuntu Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
Ubuntu and Mint are both based on Debian and share many similarities. However, some differences may impact performances in certain use cases. For example, Ubuntu tends to be more resource-heavy than Mint, especially the GNOME desktop environment, on the other hand, is known for its lightweight Cinnamon desktop environment, which can be more responsive & faster.
Source: linuxsimply.com
10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
Ubuntu also has some lightweight games like chess and Sudoku. GNOME Files, formerly known as Nautilus, is the default file manager. It is recognized for its strong community support, regular releases, and focus on user experience. There are several Ubuntu flavors available as well per the demand of users such as Ubuntu Studio for users who need the best multimedia-supported...
12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Ubuntu uses Snaps for package management, and the latter is the reason the Linux community has started repelling it. They completely dropped out-of-the-box support for Flatpaks, as we mentioned in our Ubuntu 23.04 features list. Although it’s a good starting point for a complete beginner, we would argue there are better Linux distros to try than Ubuntu.
Source: beebom.com
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Based on the open source Ubuntu community, Canonical provides commercial support and services for Ubuntu Enterprise deployments. Ubuntu Enterprise is known for its ease of use, regular updates, and compatibility with cloud environments. Commercial versions include Ubuntu Desktop, Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu for IoT, and Ubuntu Cloud -- all optimized versions for their...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Around since 2004, Ubuntu is a classic Linux distribution. The operating system is aimed at different user groups and simplifies the first steps for beginners. On the one hand, Ubuntu is customizable, but also offers numerous technical tools to simplify installation and configuration. Many programs are pre-installed, and additional packages can be conveniently added. Ubuntu...
Source: www.ionos.com

RancherOS Reviews

We have no reviews of RancherOS yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ubuntu seems to be a lot more popular than RancherOS. While we know about 236 links to Ubuntu, we've tracked only 3 mentions of RancherOS. 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.

Ubuntu mentions (236)

  • How to Check PC Specs without Logging into Windows 11?
    For a quick and easy process, I am using Puppy Linux, an extremely light-weight Linux Distribution. I will download the latest Puppy Linux ISO File (I am going with Slackware Base S15Pup64 as it is lighter) and then create a bootable USB using Rufus. If you want a safe and hassle-free process, you can stick with Ubuntu Distribution. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Top 33 Ubuntu Linux Commands Every User Should Know (with Outputs)
    User@ubuntu:~ $ curl http://ubuntu.com User@ubuntu:~ $ curl -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"name": "user", "age": 30}' http://example.com/api # -X POST: Specifies the request type as POST. # -H: Sets the request header, here specifying JSON content. # -d: Sends data with the request. User@ubuntu:~ $ curl -u username:password -O http://example.com/protectedfile.zip. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • How to Get Started with Bash Scripting for Automation
    Install a Linux distribution: Ubuntu, CentOS, or any preferred distro. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How to use WSL 2 to Install Ubuntu on Windows 11?
    The system will list all the available Linux Distros. Popular Distros including but not limited to Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE, SUSE Linux Enterprise and more will be displayed. Choose your distro accordingly. In this article, I am going to Install Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Long Term Support). - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • How to Setup Users and User Groups on Linux
    A Virtual machine - VM running on Linux environment, I recommend Ubuntu. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
View more

RancherOS mentions (3)

  • Kubernetes from Scratch in 2022
    Rancher is an enterprise managed platform that works well for large to medium cooperation. It includes all required components. Requirements are to use Docker as the container runtime engine, and when using block storage, their own solution Longhorn is used. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Strangler Pattern in practice
    The docker images ready for deployment were built on the pushed git tag. We used the Rancher tool for test/stage environments. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • Kubernetes Dashboard with Keycloak
    Along with what /u/dwalvi said, the Kubernetes Dashboard doesn't have OAuth built-in so you will need something in between adding that functionality. This could be the OAuth2 Proxy or it could be your ingress controller or API gateway. Another alternative might be skipping the dashboard for a multi-cluster management tool like Rancher. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ubuntu and RancherOS, you can also consider the following products

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.

SUSE Studio - Modernisieren Sie Ihre Infrastruktur mit SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, OpenStack Cloud-Technologie für IAAS und softwaredefiniertem Storage von SUSE.

Arch Linux - You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.

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