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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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As such, this distribution would need to be able to handle running for weeks on end without a reboot.
So, it has to be something stable (i.e. receive little to no updates) that's capable of updating without requiring a reboot. That makes any stable distro a candidate. As such, choose either:
Ubuntu or something based on it
I would not recommend ubuntu, specially on this case. System updates, snapd mostly, have gone downhill and it's nearly impossible to avoid reboots for extended periods. Debian seems to be still as solid as it's always been.
It's like people forget Ubuntu is based on Debian but I guess with Snapd that may no longer be true.
Also Canonical has added a lot of problems to promote their monetization strategies lately. Mostly aimed at business rather than regular users, but still causes problems for home users.
I generally prefer RHEL based distros over Debian based ones, so Rocky Linux for servers is my current go to and Fedora for desktop, though Fedora is heading in a similar direction as Ubuntu I feel...
Very true I have been a Debian user since 98. I have tried other distros but it only lasts a month or two before I come back. Debian just works and if you need something newer testing works great got home use. I can wait a little when freeze happens and worse case I have flatpak and distrobox to fall back on.
Might even be worth checking if https://github.com/NixOS/nixos-hardware has a straight-up fix for the issue.
Vanilla Debian is very stable, it can keep running for years without a reboot, I can't say if it fixes your USB problem tho
When maximizing uptime, Debian is the no-fuss way to go.
If I were you I would definitely use Debian 12.
My debian machines usually only have their uptime interrupted by power outages or the like. They’re not my daily drivers, but very stable and reliable.
I have Linux mint on my “daily driver” (used for work and gaming) desktop and I’m also very pleased with it - most updates can be installed without rebooting and it’s over-all a pretty trouble-free experience!
Hope this helps!
Debian... but also to clarify it's not "old" at all. I'm using Debian on my servers, yes, but also on my desktop that use daily, to work and to play video games on, including VR. So... don't think because it's "old" and "stable" it means it's outdated.
If youre coming on Nixos, I have a lot of resources in the bookmarks section here: https://codeberg.org/BlastboomStrice/LinuxPlan/src/branch/main/LinuxPlan.md#nixos-bookmarks
(This was a guide I made for myself in the span of ~4months to transition to linux and I still update it some times.)
I mean, if you are already on openSUSE, why not just use Leap? You won't need to update it a lot hence you won't need to reboot.
Gentoo! Of course!
I've been using Linux since 1998 on and off, and in the last few years, exclusively. I like Debian-Testing, and Linux Mint. Nothing else seems to work as I want it, it seems.
When I turn it on, it bootloops unless it's connected to power when I press the button.
Have you tried updating your BIOS?
That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?
Well I didn't think of it when I had Linux boot issues either until I asked a forum lol
Put Aurora on it - an improved version of Kinoite.
That requires reboots to update.
Nothing against Aurora, I might run my customized version of it new systems, but any system update requires you reboot the device.
Sure, I was just expanding on OP's Kinoite comment.
Aurora can however go weeks or months without a reboot (you don't HAVE to update), so that's still ok.
Or Bluefin, depending on desktop preference. I've been using both and can recommend either.
i will add a question to theirs: Why is Fedora not in the suggestions?
i'm only interested in negative criticism, if you please. What made you avoid or stop using Fedora?
I have daily driven (a) Fedora(-based distro) ever since I started using Linux. So I'm absolutely biased towards it. However, as Fedora is a semi-rolling release distro that really likes offline updates that involves a reboot, it simply falls flat when it comes to satisfying OP's needs. They would have a very similar experience to their current one with openSUSE Tumbleweed, the very same they actively want to get rid of.
Three reasons for me:
Fedora isn't owned by Red Hat. It is a community-driven distro which Red Hat uses as a base for RHEL.
And you aren't a paying customer. You can use Fedora without giving a single cent, or any telemetry data, to Red Hat.
Your stance is like saying "I'm not taking this free bread roll, because people I don't like also eat bread rolls."
this distribution would need to be able to handle running for weeks on end without a reboot.
Any decent distro then.
Slackware ftw
I never really got on with Slackware, but I might give it another shot...
Debian and a BSD (FreeBSD is nice) can run for years without a reboot.
Certain activities will often push a machine to crash. 3D gaming, network drive mounts on an unstable network, and some drivers.
No distro is going to fix a true hardware problem.
Just settle with Gentoo, like I have since 2004. No need for switching. 😇
Just installed Pop! OS and am very happy with it, very stable, no problems so far! In the past I've tested Mint, Manjaro and openSUSE I think. Switched back from windows as I don't need remote access anymore and there's nothing that makes me want to go back
I think almost any distro would be good at uptimes for days or weeks on end, but personally:
If you have newer harder, Fedora will have newer packages and drivers for that hardware.
If you have anything older than 2 years, Debian should be fine as long as you don't mind older editions of your favorite desktop environment.
I think something to consider is that most distros don't care when you update, as long as you update properly.
Arch for example doesn't care of you update daily, weekly, or monthly. They just want you to update all packages at once instead of partial upgrades to help solve errors and ensure everyone is on the same page when needing help.
My personal vote would be Debian, as that can stay up for months without issue, but I get distracted by new bells and whistles on KDE releases so I use Fedora.
LFS is the only true distro
If you can boot from USB, I'd look at Ventoy, which will let you put multiple distro ISOs on a single USB stick and then pick one of them to boot from when you boot up. I linked to a tutorial rather than the project page for a quick review.
It could be that OpenSUSE is contributing to your boot issues, and that one of the other distros may have a kernel and configuration that plays more nicely; Ventoy will help you determine this. It'll also let you play with several distros without having to install all of them, and see if you like one more than another.
If your boot problem is hardware related - either an issue with the hardware itself, or just Linux compatability, then you should stay away from rolling release distros like Arch; while you can configure them to minimize reboots, they're managed in such a way as to expect people to upgrade frequently, including the kernel, which requires reboots. For example, I run Arch and I love it, but I also tend to not upgrade it very often and the longer between upgrades, the greater the chance of something going wrong during an update. It's absolutely the least dependency-hellish distro I've used if you update frequently, but something like Debian is better if you're looking for long uptimes.
TL;DR: use Ventoy and try several distros. If you find that your boot problems persist through several distros, ignore rolling-release distros like Arch, Alpine, and Void, and focus on Debian-derived distros like Debian, Ubuntu, or Mint. Or you can try a Redhat derivative, but I hate RPM with the fire of a thousand suns so I'd recommend that last - still, some obviously insane people like it, and it's an option.
The boot issue is definitely hardware related. The machine doesn't even power on the display before restarting.