Using EOS on a work device

General system Newbie
1

I decided to use Linux on a new work device that I will be sharing with a colleague, and of course I want to install EOS. I am curious, for this circumstance would I be better off installing only the LTS kernel? Will doing this keep me safe from updates that could break the system in the main kernel?

Also, the colleague who is using the computer is employee status. Should I create a separate root account and not give him root admin access? I have never shared a Linux device before, so I wanted to ask this community for some tips on staying ahead of potential headaches.

Feel free to share any tips I’m not aware of at all. This computer will be used for an ecommerce business. Mostly emails and processing orders, customer service, etc.

2

I would keep the main kernel and install the LTS alongside it, I have them both installed just in case. If they have no need for root access I would just set them up as a general user, saves them doing anything that could break the system or accessing anything they shouldn’t

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3

Certainly - use LTS if you don’t want to bargain with fate…

4

Is it possible to remove the mainline kernel?

5

Sure, just:

  1. Install lts kernel
  2. Reboot
  3. Select lts kernel at boot
  4. Remove mainline kernel
6

I would have them both installed.

Being LTS, won’t guarantee that no bugs what so ever will creep in in a future update, The probability is though quite small.

LTS means only Long Time Support, not Bugfree Guaranteed.

Create a regular user account. No admin account.

Also, not only a bug in the kernel may cause an issue in updates.
Any updates to any other packages you have installed in the system may, in unfortunate circumstances, introduce some “irregularities”.

If this is a “mission critical” system, I would suggest using a distribution with Stable release cycle.

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7

The device I’m using is an Intel iMac and for some reason the wifi drivers are only installed with endeavourOS. I tried debian and it was wired connection drivers only. The same with Fedora, Linux Mint, openSUSE TW.

8

I have no experience with Mac machines.

If you check what WiFi card and what driver it is using, there might be ways to install the driver in other OS:es as well. There might.

Having said that, you are of course free to choose whatever system that suits you best.
However, with a fast moving system like Arch, you need to be prepared for dealing with possible issues that may arise after some update.

2 Likes
9

I use EndeavourOS as my main work computer, apart from the windoze laptop my company provides, and a RedHat virtual machine… Never experienced any major problems with updates, most were just minor inconveniences. Of course, I don’t run updates hours before an important deadline, that would be stupid… :rofl:

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