Server Linux (SUSE) and Home Linux (Ubuntu) are visually identical flavors of Linux that offer the same terminal commands and menu bars. However, Server Linux has better automatic software detection, more robust installation options, and allows remote administration via YAST. In contrast, Home Linux has a more graphical user interface making it more approachable for new users. Both flavors use different default desktop environments and are based on different Linux distributions, but offer a large selection of compatible open source programs.

1. Home Linux (Ubuntu) Server Linux
(SUSE)
Tyler Largin & Dennis McNeal

2. Both flavors of Linux have identical
terminal modes
•Any standard command that you enter in Home Linux works
in Server Linux
•They are Visually Identical
•They both offer Identical menu bars
SUSE Ubuntu

3. Server Linux offers better Automatic
detection
•SUSE will detect that a .jar file requires Java runtime
environment and automatically download the software
for it
•Ubuntu will often force the user to download the
software to run the file manually

4. Home Linux is more user Friendly
•The Programs and Application Catalog are
much more graphic based and more intuitive
•The GUI is more approachable and
recognizable to people who have used Windows
or Mac operating systems
Ubuntu

5. Server Linux has YAST and Home Linux
does not
• You can only do local administration on Home Linux
• Server Linux allows you to administer Clients and
servers on multiple machines by using YaST

6. Server Linux has a robust amount of
installation options
• In server Linux you can choose everything from
using KDE and GNOME to select specific
packages like DHCP being installed on the system
• When you install Home Linux you have very few
options on customizing your installation
(UBUNTU) (SUSE)

7. Home Linux has a much
shorter update cycle
• Server Linux releases an update
every 8 months
• Home Linux releases an update
every 6 months

8. Server and Home Linux both have the same
file system layout
• They both save external device information in the /dev
directory
• They both also save User data in the /usr directory
(Ubuntu) (KDE)

9. Server and Home Linux use
different default desktop
environments.
• SUSE by default uses the KDE
environment
• UBUNTU by default uses Gnome by
default

10. Home Linux and Server Linux are
based off different distributions
• Ubuntu Linux is based off the Debian
Linux
• SUSE Linux is based off of the Slackware
Linux

11. Home and Server Linux both offer a large selection
of compatible programs
• They both offer open source applications
• They both offer packages to customize the look
and feel of the user experience
(UBUNTU) (SUSE)

12. Sources
• http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Windows-XP-
installed-computer-dual-boot-Ubuntu-Linux-system
• http://www.ubuntugeek.com/the-ubuntu-release-cycle.html
• http://en.opensuse.org/Lifetime
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuF6CpML3IQ
• http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/21908