Today we will know the difference between Ubuntu vs Fedora. Each distribution of Linux presents a huge family of Linux that makes users more attracted to the Linux operating system as with each Linux distribution you can experience an exciting world with diverse and helpful features. Ubuntu and Fedora are two popular and prominent Linux distributions that despite their similarities, their differences make it difficult for Linux users to choose between Ubuntu and Fedora.
Ubuntu is the most widely used Linux distribution that most Linux users have experience using, but Fedora was not recommended for Linux beginners at the beginning of its release, although today, with its progress, it has become suitable for new users.
So, today, with the advancement of various Linux distributions it has become very difficult to decide between them; Users are interested in using all Linux distributions, But all people are looking for the best and most efficient operating system as per their goals and needs. Some users are interested in using Ubuntu and Fedora but choosing between Fedora and Ubuntu is a challenge for them and they don’t know which one is best for their purpose.
If you are planning to buy a Linux VPS and are interested in two popular distributions, Ubuntu and Fedora, this article can guide you in your decision; in this article we will examine Ubuntu vs Fedora and explain the key differences between Fedora and Ubuntu. You will also learn about the pros and cons of Ubuntu and Fedora, making it easier for you to choose between Fedora and Ubuntu.
What is Ubuntu?
Users who are in favor of Opera VPS and have already read our articles can skip this part of the article as they are familiar with Ubuntu OS through our educational articles. We have made this part of the article for users who have no familiarity with Ubuntu. The Ubuntu operating system is a free and open-source distribution of Linux, developed in 2004 by the British company Canonical based on the older Debian operating system and introduced to Linux users as a more user-friendly and, an alternative to Debian.
With support from Canonical, Ubuntu releases a new version every 6 months and has a regular release cycle where each version is supported for 9 months. Canonical also provides hosting servers for the Ubuntu community, allowing people worldwide to contribute to testing software bugs, answering questions, and providing free technical support.
Ubuntu supports server and desktop editions and uses GNOME for its graphical user interface by default since Ubuntu version 17.10. In terms of security, like other Linux distributions, Ubuntu is safe from viruses and security attacks and has a data privacy policy. Ubuntu has a large support community that constantly checks and fixes its security vulnerabilities, so it has fewer security flaws in terms of security. Below, we will introduce you to the pros and cons of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu Advantages
- Easy to install, manage, and use
- Ability to customize based on needs
- Stable, fast and light
- Open source and free
- It has a regular release cycle and always stays up-to-date
- There is excellent community support from Global Canonical and the FOSS community
- Supports Desktop, Server and Internet of Things editions
- Has an advanced and user-friendly graphical user interface
- Safe from viruses and malware
- Ability to run Ubuntu on systems with minimal hardware requirements and limited resources
Ubuntu Disadvantages
- Some problems require technical knowledge to solve
- Not suitable for beginners
- Unsuitable for game development from a gamers perspective
- There are compatibility issues, especially with Windows software
- Lack of support for some applications
Features Of Ubuntu
- GNOME is implemented as the Ubuntu desktop environment by default, allowing for customization.
- With full hardware support, Ubuntu allows users to install new printers, drivers, WiFi cards, graphics adapters, etc. for efficient work.
- Users can launch their favorite programs from Ubuntu repositories. Ubuntu has an intuitive interface that helps users seamlessly find programs, files and other items on the desktop.
- It has an integrated desktop environment with various types of files like audio, video and photo lenses, etc.
- Ubuntu allows users to access email by providing Thunderbird software.
- Ubuntu has a smart search engine to find desired content on the Ubuntu system.
- UFW firewall is installed by default in Ubuntu to improve system security by controlling and managing incoming and outgoing traffic.
- In Ubuntu, AppArmor is responsible for managing software security, which enforces access control based on the names and permissions of programs.
What is a Fedora?
Fedora is an open-source distribution of Linux first released in 2003 and supported by Red Hat Company. This operating system entered the market under the name Fedora Core Project after RedHat Linux ceased operations. While the RedHat Linux version was available to users in a paid and commercial way, Fedora Core was a Linux project that was released for public use and was free, So RedHat decided to invest in the Fedora Core project. The newest version of RedHat Linux, called RedHat Enterprise, is based on Fedora Core. Hence, Fedora can be launched as an upstream source for Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Linux performance
Fedora focuses on Linux performance through integration with new technologies and innovations and offers the latest software for Linux. It also follows a fast and regular release schedule, Fedora distribution release and update duration are 6 to 8 months; Because of this, it has been able to continue as a popular operating system after 14 years in the market and has many fans.
Fedora has attracted the attention of many users because of its high security and general utility. Fedora provides the Gnome desktop environment by default, but developers have tried to extend Gnome’s features, so you get a new and modern experience of Gnome in Fedora, Provides access to latest and most up-to-date technology.
This distribution is available in a variety of themes and colors, and its support community has coined the term spin for this feature. Each spin of this distribution uses a different desktop environment rather than GNOME. In general, Fedora supports Plasma, XFCE, LXQT, Mate-Compiz, Cinnamon, LXDE, and SOAS environments, and every Fedora spin can use one of these DEs. Fedora supports desktop and server editions, but Fedora is preferred for desktop use. We’ve already talked about what Fedora is, and you can learn more about the fascinating Fedora operating system through our educational article. Below, we will mention the pros and cons of Fedora and introduce you to its features.
Fedora Advantages
- Open-source and free
- Ease of use without requiring technical and specialized knowledge
- High security (equipped with SELinux security module)
- Following a regular release schedule
- Providing the most up-to-date packages and technologies
- Reliable support team through large online forums and RedHat company support for Fedora
- Fast and reliable
- Compatible with Docker
- Perfect for developers and DevOps teams
- Fedora comes with minimal packages pre-installed so it’s easy to customize the desktop to your needs
- Ease of installing Fedora
- Compatible with KVM hypervisors and suitable for creating and restoring virtual machines
- Support for most important software versions
- DNF package management is easier to use in Fedora than in other Linux distributions
Fedora Disadvantages
- Faster release cycles and the need for regular operating system updates
- Instability due to fast update program
- Compatibility issues with older hardware and minimal hardware resources
- Installing non-free packages requires installing a third-party repository
- Using Fedora Server Edition requires installing helpers and additional programs
Features of Fedora
- Offers a customized GNOME desktop environment compared to Ubuntu.
- Allows you to choose to spin with selected desktop environments such as KDE Plasma, Xfce, etc. already configured.
- Fedora supports useful programs by default, for example, Firefox as a web browser, LibreOffice for free software downloads such as Microsoft Office, and Evolution software for email clients.
- Fedora leverages granular security controls to isolate applications from each other by implementing the SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) module.
- Offers live mode tools.
- Fedora uses the Delta RPM package.
- The Fedora operating system provides the ability to automatically update to take advantage of the latest features.
The key difference between Ubuntu and Fedora
Despite their similarities, Fedora and Ubuntu distributions have key differences that set them apart from each other and make it difficult to decide between Ubuntu and Fedora.
The differences between Linux distributions are mainly in package management, default desktop environments, support teams, and release and installation cycle programs, and we’ll examine these issues in the case of Ubuntu and Fedora.
First, let’s mention the general things that make Fedora and Ubuntu different from each other:
- Fedora uses dnf/rpm/Flatpak package manager and Ubuntu uses apt/dpkg/snap package manager.
- Ubuntu is supported by Canonical and Fedora by Redhat.
- Ubuntu uses AppArmor as a security system, while Fedora uses the SELinux module to enhance security.
- The desktop environment of both is GNOME by default, but Ubuntu uses customized GNOME, while Fedora is equipped with vanilla GNOME and offers the possibility to use another desktop option.
Briefly, we have mentioned their basic differences. In the following, we will examine each of these factors in more detail so that you do not have to do further research and read another article.
In this article, you will come to the right decision when choosing between Ubuntu and Fedora.
Ubuntu vs Fedora: Package Management
One of the main differentiators of most Linux distributions is package management, which is software that simplifies the installation of packages and applications. Ubuntu uses apt, dpkg and Snap as package management to manage and deliver software such as libraries, programs and other code. APT Package Management (Advanced Package Manager) automatically downloads and installs software dependencies and is one of the prominent features of APT Package Management.
Also, Ubuntu’s Snap package manager is a global package system supported by Canonical. Fedora uses dnf, rpm, and Flatpak package management to facilitate installation and management of packages and dependencies.
DNF package manager can automatically update Fedora repository packages, this feature is not available in the Ubuntu package manager and the flatpack package manager is distribution agnostic.
Ubuntu vs Fedora: Software Availability
Since Fedora and Ubuntu use the GNOME GUI by default, both Linux distributions have large software repositories to make it easy for their users to install software without the need to install software from other sources. The difference is that the Fedora software repository does not support the installation of packages and non-free programs and only offers open-source programs, so you must install a third-party repository to install non-free software.
Fedora supports third-party .rpm software, while third-party deb. Packages are supported for installation on Ubuntu, provided by the Ubuntu repositories. Of course, on Linux, all problems have solutions, so installing the RPM Fusion repository can solve Fedora’s vulnerability to installing non-free software.
Note that most software repositories provide both deb and rpm files, and if the software shares the deb file, it’s unlikely that it doesn’t have an rpm file provided, but we’ve considered exceptions; In some rare cases, it has been observed that only deb files are provided for the software.
Ubuntu vs Fedora: Release cycle
Ubuntu supports a regular release cycle program which releases a new version of Ubuntu every 6 months and is supported for 9 months. In addition to regular versions, Ubuntu offers LTS (long-term support) versions, which are released every 2 years and are supported for 5 years. If you are looking for stability, you may prefer the LTS version of Ubuntu and not have to update the operating system every 6 months; But if you are interested in continuous changes and development and want to use the most up-to-date features and capabilities, then the normal version of Ubuntu makes this convenient for you.
But about Fedora, we must say that Fedora releases its new version every 6 months and its new version is supported for 13 months, but between 6 and 13 months, Fedora users are doomed to upgrade their operating system to the latest version.
Fedora’s fast release cycle is an ideal feature for users who are excited and eager to use the most advanced and latest features, But this can be considered a drawback for some users who don’t want to constantly update their operating system and face new challenges. Also updating Fedora requires a strong internet connection and approximately 1.5 GB of internet, which you should consider.
Ubuntu vs. Fedora: The Desktop Environment
Both Ubuntu and Fedora offer the GNOME desktop environment by default, with Ubuntu providing users with a customized GNOME similar to its predecessor, the Unity desktop. Besides supporting GNOME desktop environment, Ubuntu and Fedora also support other desktop environments. Ubuntu offers different desktop flavors Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Lubuntu, but Fedora allows users to choose different desktop environments such as KDE Plasma, Xfce, etc. that are already configured. The main Fedora team offers several desktop environments in the form of Fedora Spin.
Ubuntu vs Fedora: Installation
Ubuntu installs easily in under 20 minutes thanks to its popular Ubiquity installer, and even the Ubuntu installer will install updates and third-party codecs while installing Ubuntu. Ubiquity Installer is a nice feature of Ubuntu that makes installing the Linux operating system, which was one of the most challenging problems in the past, very easy. Ubuntu users will get the ability to dual-boot Windows and Ubuntu with Ubiquity Installer in a few clicks.
Regarding the installation of Fedora, it should be said that the process of installing Fedora is simplified with the Anaconda installer, but the Ubuntu installer is superior to the Fedora installer in this comparison. Anaconda installer on Fedora can’t handle complexities like deleting drives, and existing partitions and formatting them, you’ll still have a challenge performing such tasks.
If we want to conclude which is easier to install, Ubuntu or Fedora? In our opinion, Ubuntu can be installed quickly and easily.
Ubuntu vs. Fedora: Support
As we explained at the beginning of the port, Ubuntu is developed and supported by CAN, and Fedora Development by Red Hat. This gives and guarantees credibility and trusts to organizational Linux distributions.
In addition to organizational support, community support is also important to support Linux distributions as Linux users always look for a site consisting of major Linux distribution forums to solve find answers to their problems and questions.
Due to Ubuntu’s popularity, many blogs and websites focus on Ubuntu, and two main forums, Ubuntuforum and Ask Ubuntu Guide, cater to various areas of Ubuntu users. Fedora comes with an Ask Fedora main forum, which is a helpful resource for answering your questions. In general, in this comparison, it can be concluded that there are more materials available for learning and troubleshooting Ubuntu problems.
Ubuntu vs Fedora: Hardware support
Ubuntu uses a special method to improve hardware compatibility when installing proprietary drivers and thus improves hardware support. Fedora only supports open-source software, so installing proprietary drivers on Fedora won’t be easy. As a result, both will have hardware compatibility issues, but Ubuntu can be considered more compatible than Fedora.
Ubuntu vs. Fedora: Windows Subsystem Support for Linux
The Windows Subsystem for Linux was an efficient and intelligent project by Microsoft for Windows users who could benefit from Linux features in a Windows environment. Windows Subsystem for Linux offers Windows users the possibility to use the facilities and tools of Linux distributions without the need to acquire technical knowledge. Available in Ubuntu WSL 2, but Fedora is not supported by the Windows Subsystem.
Ubuntu vs. Fedora: Security
Security is always an important issue and there is no guarantee to provide 100% security in the internet world, but we are trying to improve the security of our system, so we try to choose more secure options than other options. Linux operating systems are much more secure than Windows, but it cannot be said that Linux operating systems are immune to security risks. In Ubuntu, only the root user account is allowed to make basic changes, and the AppArmor software manages and controls Ubuntu’s security.
AppArmor manages mandatory access based on software names and app access. Fedoras are also very safe. In addition to restricting modification permissions in Fedora, it is trying to increase system security through the SELinux security module. The SELinux security module does a great job of improving Fedora’s security profile, and if you know how to use Fedora’s security module features, you’ll have better control over Fedora’s operating system processes. So it offers more security than AppArmor.
Ubuntu vs Fedora: Gaming
Since Ubuntu is much more compatible with using Windows software than Fedora, it is recommended to run only Windows-based games on Ubuntu as you will face problems on Fedora. In general, providing access to dedicated video card drivers and a reliable Steam client, they both prepare the conditions for creating a great gaming experience.
Ubuntu vs. Fedora: Using sudo
On Fedora and Ubuntu, users may have user accounts with sudo privileges. The only difference between Ubuntu and Fedora is that the admin group in Ubuntu is sudo, while in Fedora it is a wheel.
It is interesting to know that Fedora and Ubuntu refuse to allow any user to access the system without root permission, so you can change root user privileges in Fedora using thesudo command and this is possible in Ubuntu using thesudo-scommand. By doing this, your user won’t become the root user, but the user account will become a shell with administrative privileges.
Ubuntu vs. Fedora: Server Release
Fortunately, apart from the desktop version, Fedora and Ubuntu also support server versions and their server versions have as many fans as the desktop versions. In comparing the server editions of Ubuntu and Fedora, apart from the important factors in the desktop edition, other factors can be observed for the best performance on the server side. An important factor in improving server-side operating system performance is operating system stability. Typically, sysadmins prefer an operating system that does not require frequent upgrades.
In comparison, Fedora needs to be updated and restarted every 6 months and users may face new challenges after upgrading. Therefore, between Fedora and Ubuntu, users looking for stability should choose Ubuntu. If the user has experience of using Ubuntu on the desktop, he will be more interested in using Ubuntu on the server. Some tasks require knowledge and use of RHEL, so Fedora is preferred for such users. Fedora can effectively respond to the needs of such users by providing a free Red Hat Enterprise (RHEL)-like environment.
