For beginners, to lower the learning barrier, let’s start with recommendations:
- Linux Version: Rocky Linux (https://rockylinux.org/zh-CN/download)
- Virtual Machine Software: VMware (registration required for download)
Search in the public account: Linux Beginner Notes: Where to download VMware Workstation 17 and Red Hat Linux RHEL 10. You can also register an account to download from here: https://www.vmware.com/products/desktop-hypervisor/workstation-and-fusion.Reasons for the recommendations:
- ① Rocky Linux was released because Red Hat Linux has stopped releasing CentOS, and downloading Red Hat Linux (the latest version is 10) is quite difficult without registering an official account. The recommendation for Rocky Linux is also because it is derived from the Red Hat system and is developed by the original developers of CentOS. The command usage is the same as Red Hat Linux, and downloading is straightforward without the need for registration.
- ② VMware has made its software completely free for non-commercial use as of 2024, making it easier to use compared to virtual machines from Oracle and Microsoft. You can now learn to use it for free without having to deal with the limitations of the previous free version of VMware Workstation Player or searching for a registration key for VMware Workstation Pro.
VMware, under Broadcom, has many different branches of Linux and virtual machines, and there are indeed some differences among the organizations or companies that own these branches. However, for Linux, it all originates from the Linux kernel developed by Linus Benedict Torvalds. While there are differences in command specifics, the kernel commands remain unchanged, as the saying goes, “once you understand one, you understand them all.” For virtual machines, VMware is the first choice; although other versions may also be easy to use, VMware offers comprehensive system support and publicly available tutorials, making it suitable for free non-commercial use.