Can I use Red Hat Linux Server Developer on Desktop?
Hi, I would like to know if I can use Red Hat Linux Server Developer on desktop? I don't want to run a server at home, I want to use it for desktop purposes only. I could not find the desktop edition to download from the developer section. I don't know if a developer license can be used on desktop evaluation.
Do I just install the server edition on desktop, by installing server with GUI, from the Anaconda installer?
If I do use the server edition on desktop, is this safe to do online banking, shopping etc.? I don't want any of my information to get out into the public. Do I need to adjust any security, package, or firewall rules?
Thanks for your help, and have a great day! :)
Responses
Yes, you can use the Server variant as a desktop. As you mention, just choose "Server with GUI" in the installer.
The default settings are reasonably secure for regular use. Of course, you need to exercise caution when handling your private data online -- but that applies regardless of the operating system you use.
If you're interested in making the default installation even more secure, see the Security Guide. It contains useful sections, such as:
- Security Tips for Installation
- Keeping Your System Up-to-date
- Hardening Your System
Hi Robert ! :)
This is an interesting information ... especially regarding the license. I thought that the developer edition allows to use the system for developing and testing purposes only. Did I misunderstand this part ? I would be glad if it is true that the RHEL developer edition can also be used as a desktop / workstation for 'private things' such as described in the question above. Maybe I eventually interpreted that all wrong and the licence restriction prohibits only the commercial (business) usage ?
Hi Christian,
I guess I didn't phrase my previous reply well. I didn't mean to comment on the scope of the license provided by the Developer subscription. So, to clarify:
There are currently three types of Developer subscriptions offered:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Developer Support - Professional
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Developer Suite
- No-Cost Red Hat Enterprise Linux Developer Subscription
I don't know which one of these the OP uses, but I assume that you're asking about the "no-cost" option. You're right that it is intended for developers who are expected to develop apps, test the environment, etc.
That said, Red Hat doesn't monitor the way the system is used, so if you check your account balance using this installation, the license won't be void :-) When the OP mentioned "desktop purposes", I assumed they were talking about a developer workstation.
There is a problem, I don't really see any self-support subscriptions which include both software collections for development purposes and permission of use for other "private purposes" on personal systems.
When looking at the terms (Appendix 1) of the Subscription Services, you can't use server variant(the production subscription) on a desktop/laptop or vice versa. However, you cannot use a workstation subscription(the production subscription) on a server variant install(the only one coming from self-supported developer suite). Dual-booting with CentOS doesn't seem make sense either as CentOS is simply a clone of RHEL without Red Hat trademarks and both are free softwares(freedom to run).
I did this for a week to test a few things out. There are some missing packages for desktop usage, but nothing major. It does indeed work.
Depending upon your usage case, you could use it as a laptop install for testing out things quite nicely. That, said, my daily driver is RHEL Workstation on my tower, and Desktop for my laptops, Server for my servers.
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