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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Is Debian with automatic updates a good idea? (lemm.ee)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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So a while back I threw Ubuntu 22 LTS on an old Surface Pro 3 and gave it to my Dad.

He loves it, but he's the type who's been burnt by updating software in the past, so he basically refuses any whenever prompted.

Been thinking about throwing Debian with Gnome on it for a while, and wondering if it's stable enough to just let updates happen automatically in the background?

I got no experience with Debian I basically jumped right on EndeavourOS as my main distro when I started using Linux full time.

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[–] netvor 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I'm a debian-er at heart, as much as I'd praise it (and have, in other thread in this post), there's one issue that might be relevant. Almost all of this has been with Debian 10 and 11, I think it's been improved in 12, though, but I'm not sure.

See, I have sister to whom I gave laptop with Debian & Xfce. And created normal (non-admin, non-sudo) users for her as well as both of her kids. Now when they login, NetworkManager will refuse to let them use Wi-fi connection, and require them to choose a different (admin) account and type its password.

Unfortunately although I've been seeing this issue for years now, I never had an opportunity to test it properly, since it always seems to happen to non-admin users only. Also I'm not sure if NM can properly manage connections if a non-admin user creates it -- will it let other non-admin define the same connection? And I spend 99% time on a desktop (mini-pc) with ETH connection, being sudoer, and no Xfce, so I never get to "enjoy" any of these.

(This is also particularly ironic because I always set up wireguard and tell them "if you have any problem, just call me, I can fix it remotely" -- and then literally the only problem they ever have is the one I can NOT fix remotely. 😆 )

Also sometimes after login the system will bug them with "unlocking keychain" dialog which can't be closed, but that could be just side effect of the NM issue and/or just Xfce thing.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I've used Debian for years on my personal machines and have never had this problem. According to Debian's documentation for NetworkManager, a user account must be in the netdev group in order to manage system-wide network connections. The initial user account that the Debian installer creates for you is in this group by default, but maybe the accounts you created for your family members aren't?

[–] netvor 2 points 2 months ago

I can't verify it now or any time soon, but you might be right.

Thanks for the pointer!