| SYSTEM INFORMATION | |
|---|---|
| OS type and version | ubuntu vs debian |
| Webserver version | NGINX |
Hello everyone,
I’m hosting simple HTML/CSS websites without any databases, but expecting significant traffic on a VPS with 2 cores, running a minimal LEMP bundle. Would you recommend using Debian 12 or Ubuntu 24 LTS for this setup?
I also have the option to install older versions like Debian 11 or Ubuntu 22 LTS if those would be a better choice.
Thanks in advance!
Doesnt matter. The choice is esoteric.
You would be better off getting a larger VPS?
Virtualmin is always a good choice because it may let you scale or host other projects very conveniently.
You might consider some tuning options.
That same VPS is currently running Debian 11, with the load usually around 5% and never exceeding 20% during peak times. It’s only hosting static websites. Would upgrading to a larger VPS help improve response times (with SEO in mind)?
I can’t fully express how great Virtualmin is; I’ve been using it for over a decade across various projects. I’ve made a few donations in the past, but I can’t thank the team enough for their incredible work!
For me not being a Linux expert, I would go with Ubuntu, more of the basics are setup.
I recommend you use what you are most comfortable with. There will be few differences between Debian and Ubuntu in a server context.
Neither is “easier”, though maybe Ubuntu has a bigger community of users, but docs for one apply to the other almost always, since Ubuntu is based closely on Debian. Though, lately, Ubuntu is moving to snap packages for more of the system, which is theoretically better by some metrics, but practically it is much, much, worse. snap is becoming a reason I avoid Ubuntu.
I am learning everyday. This is also going on the list. 
Yes, Snap is definitely a concern, especially in server environments where responsiveness and efficiency are critical. I agree that Canonical’s decisions around Snap haven’t been the wisest, but I also don’t believe they’ll push Snap to the point where it’s mandatory on Ubuntu Server. That would be a huge misstep.
For now, it’s still manageable—I’ve installed Ubuntu 24 LTS on a test server, and a simple ‘apt purge snapd’ did the trick to remove it. I just hope they don’t make this impossible in future releases.