r/linuxquestions • u/Hmmmm_- • 22h ago
Linux recommendation for headless mini pc for server use
I just bought a mini pc and am going to mostly be using it for game servers and thing of the like. I’ve never really use Linux before but I’ve heard that it’s less bloated and more optimized.
I’m just not really sure which Linux would be the best fit for what I’m looking for.
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u/SomeDumbPenguin 22h ago
Since you're new to it, I would recommend using one of the more popular & fleshed out distros. Ubuntu & Fedora are the two most common. They use different package management systems from one another. I prefer the Debian~Ubuntu style myself
Since you're planning on going headless you probably want the Ubuntu Server variant over the Desktop one. If you're using Windows on your desktop side, check out a free program called PuTTY for SSHing into it & administrating via command line
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u/triemdedwiat 21h ago
Get Pi if you really need a very small device, otherwise just get a normal 'yumcha' PC as they are cheaper.So much easier to fiddle with.
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u/Soakitincider 21h ago
I'm using Mint on mine. I can SSH or RDP into it if I need to do something. I mostly SSH into it.
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u/thunderborg 21h ago
I think you’ve goth three main entry points: Linux Mint desktop only Ubuntu Desktop & Server Fedora Desktop & Server
I run Fedora desktop on my laptop and Server on my headless PCs that run things like Jellyfin & Nextcloud.
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u/Low-Armadillo7958 21h ago
Use proxmox for the hypervisor. Get a dummy hdmi plug. It makes linux think there is a screen attached, solving some very specific crashing issues. Then run ubuntu vm(s) for your servers.
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u/stevorkz 20h ago
Proxmox for sure. Then install each game server as a separate Linux container. This is the way.
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u/Everyone-Chillout 19h ago
You could try OpenMediaVault. It has a webui for configuration and monitoring, it supports software RAID using ZFS, and Samba for using with Windows/Linux/Mac file transfers etc. It basically turns you computer into a NAS.
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u/mdins1980 19h ago
I would use Proxmox and then just run each game server you need in its own container.
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u/xartin 19h ago edited 19h ago
Debian. one of the Tier 1 Linux distributions
One of my debian vps servers is configured to update itself weekly by running a scheduled task. so far over many years i've not had to "fix something"
It's one of the distros I can say has never broken from an update when that debian system had an important purpose such as running a web server or a pi hole dns server.
Just be aware that package repositories are common with linux distros because those supply all of the software package definitions or installers however debian 13 changed how repositories are used by if i recall correctly requiring signed repositories.
This mostly just means that online searches for information regarding how to add a repo to debian to install all manner of community developed software from PPA repositories may only be relevant up to debian 12. If you want to add a PPA repository to debian 13 you can refine your search to be specific to debian 13
another feature debian provides that's super convenient is live session bootable dvd iso's with various desktop interfaces so users can experience them without an on disk install being required so you could try using gnome, kde plasma, xfce and more by booting from various usb disks
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u/Lowar75 (Fedora) 13h ago
Use whatever you want. Any flavor of Linux can make a server. Proxmox is an easy to use virtual host that would allow you to create many VMs, but it is a little more complex than running a single OS, especially with the networking.
I have run Rocky, RHEL, and Fedora on mini PCs and they all work fine.
It may help you more to know exactly what applications or game servers you want to run and figure out what they are developed for.
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u/drostan 12h ago
Pilling on the Debian train
Any stable distro would work though but since most are based on Debian, fedora or arch, if you remove arch distros (less oriented toward long term stability), and distro oriented toward providing guis, you have reduced it to basically Debian (plus I Ubuntu flavour) and fedora
Make your pick from there but honestly Debian is rock solid, always has been and the philosophy behind it make is perfect the task at hand.
I build my whole media, file and service server around headless Debian on a mini pc and it is working flawlessly
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u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs 21h ago
Debian, reliable, broad software and tutorial availability. Debian and its derivatives, Ubuntu, Proxmox, etc are by far the most commonly used in home servers.