I am looking to switch to a different Linux distribution (or BSD). I currently use openSUSE Tumbleweed, which is quite nice, but I’m having issues with my USB ports and it takes a hot second to boot up.
However, the reason I’m asking here instead of going straight to DistroWatch is that my laptop has a problem. When I turn it on, it bootloops unless it’s connected to power when I press the button. As such, this distribution would need to be able to handle running for weeks on end without a reboot.
I could get this repaired or replaced, but I have neither the time nor the money to spare.
So, does anyone have any suggestions? Or should I just slap Fedora Kinoite on it and call it a day?
EDIT: I went for Debian FreeBSD, as well as running fwupd, and it’s all working now. Thanks!
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As such, this distribution would need to be able to handle running for weeks on end without a reboot.
So, it has to be something stable (i.e. receive little to no updates) that’s capable of updating without requiring a reboot. That makes any stable distro a candidate. As such, choose either:
- Debian or something based on it
- Gentoo (stable branch)
- Nixos (stable channel)
- openSUSE Leap
- Ubuntu or something based on it
Ubuntu or something based on it
I would not recommend ubuntu, specially on this case. System updates, snapd mostly, have gone downhill and it’s nearly impossible to avoid reboots for extended periods. Debian seems to be still as solid as it’s always been.
Might even be worth checking if https://github.com/NixOS/nixos-hardware has a straight-up fix for the issue.
Vanilla Debian is very stable, it can keep running for years without a reboot, I can’t say if it fixes your USB problem tho
If I were you I would definitely use Debian 12.
When maximizing uptime, Debian is the no-fuss way to go.
I mean, if you are already on openSUSE, why not just use Leap? You won’t need to update it a lot hence you won’t need to reboot.
If youre coming on Nixos, I have a lot of resources in the bookmarks section here: https://codeberg.org/BlastboomStrice/LinuxPlan/src/branch/main/LinuxPlan.md#nixos-bookmarks
(This was a guide I made for myself in the span of ~4months to transition to linux and I still update it some times.)
I’m using MX Linux AHS on my PC for years, it is my work PC, 40h/week, for 3 years now, 0 problem with it, no systemd, no flatpak, no snap, and using Xfce is so nice :)
It is debian based and always up to date for firefox etc. For instance we are January 30th, my kernel is 3 days old.
6.12.11-amd64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 6.12.11-1~mx23ahs (2025-01-27) x86_64 GNU/Linux
Gentoo! Of course!
When I turn it on, it bootloops unless it’s connected to power when I press the button.
Have you tried updating your BIOS?
That’s a good idea. Why didn’t I think of that?
Well I didn’t think of it when I had Linux boot issues either until I asked a forum lol
Debian… but also to clarify it’s not “old” at all. I’m using Debian on my servers, yes, but also on my desktop that use daily, to work and to play video games on, including VR. So… don’t think because it’s “old” and “stable” it means it’s outdated.
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outdated
how? Maybe I don’t properly understand the difference with obsolete?
Obsolete means it’s unmaintained (not true) and outdated because many packages get updates with noticable delay - it’s a tradeoff for being stable. Besides not seeing new Linux goodies on release day, some devs force you to add additional repos for their apps which can lead to broken dependencies in the future.
Basically an distribution that is not a rolling release. Its hard to recommend a specific distribution. You could use one of the Ubuntus, a Fedora Atomic variant, Mint, they should be able to run for weeks without issues. Unless you update a system component that requires a restart to take into effect. Why not openSUSE Leap?
I’m personally on EndeavourOS, a rolling release and update often (even the Kernel). My PC is also on for 24h, usually for days, sometime even a week. One trick to avoid some of the restarts is to just logout and login the user. This should be no problem for you and at least some of the components start fresh due to login.
i will add a question to theirs: Why is Fedora not in the suggestions?
i’m only interested in negative criticism, if you please. What made you avoid or stop using Fedora?
I have daily driven (a) Fedora(-based distro) ever since I started using Linux. So I’m absolutely biased towards it. However, as Fedora is a semi-rolling release distro that really likes offline updates that involves a reboot, it simply falls flat when it comes to satisfying OP’s needs. They would have a very similar experience to their current one with openSUSE Tumbleweed, the very same they actively want to get rid of.
Three reasons for me:
- DNF can be kinda slow
- Fedora is owned by Red Hat, which is owned by IBM, which is American and also assisted the Axis powers during WWII.
- SELinux was created by the NSA. I know it’s FOSS, but I don’t feel I can trust any three-letter agency.
Fedora isn’t owned by Red Hat. It is a community-driven distro which Red Hat uses as a base for RHEL.
And you aren’t a paying customer. You can use Fedora without giving a single cent, or any telemetry data, to Red Hat.
Your stance is like saying “I’m not taking this free bread roll, because people I don’t like also eat bread rolls.”Ah, I stand corrected.
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Just settle with Gentoo, like I have since 2004. No need for switching. 😇
this distribution would need to be able to handle running for weeks on end without a reboot.
Any decent distro then.
Slackware ftwI never really got on with Slackware, but I might give it another shot…
I’ve been using Linux since 1998 on and off, and in the last few years, exclusively. I like Debian-Testing, and Linux Mint. Nothing else seems to work as I want it, it seems.
