I'm rebuilding my primary computer at work tomorrow. Currently, it has Windows 7. I would like to replace the main system with either Linux or Unix, although I would like to be able to run a fully operational Windows as a VM within that. Any recommendations on which Linux or Unix to go with?

I'm a big fan of Slackware and OpenBSD, although also like Solaris. Then again, the company uses Ubuntu for some of the servers, so there's the option of going with that or Debian. I'm in a systems administrator role, dealing mostly with networking topics, although am hoping to lean more toward the security side, or at least network-security.

Ultimately, I need to continue to be able to do things across the network, like with accessing and working with servers, which include Windows Servers 2003, 2008, 2012, and Ubuntu Servers.

I'm going to install Windows 7, 8, or 10 as a VM, I'd like to avoid multi-boot, but need to access the full Windows OS in case there's a proprietary need or if someone else needs to use the machine, they'll have something they're familiar with. In addition to thoughts on *nix choices, any suggestions for VM software?

Thanks!

I've had good luck running Ubuntu on a work laptop for the past 6 years. I took the original Windows installation and built into a VM using VMware Player.

For tools for interacting with Windows systems, I've used Remmina which supports RDP to 2003-2012 servers depending on the security you set for the connection. Also for SSH tunneling I've used GsTM to quickly map ports to known hosts.

Libre Office is not the greatest still, so I have the MS Office installation running on the VM and use it if I need to edit documents, otherwise I'll just use Libre Office to view a document.

Not sure if you use instant messaging but I've been using Pidgin as my instant messenger.

I manage to run the Windows VM whenever I need it verses having it run all the time.

You might have better luck running Ubuntu on the desktop since it is widely used and there are all kinds of packages out there that can easily run on it, but I might just be bias.

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I've also used Ubuntu, really enjoy it. I might end up going another route but it is one option that I'm considering.

Excellent, thank you!

Fortunately, I don't even have to install an office suite. Where I'm at, while MS Office is used among the non-IT staff, in my position I just use Google Drive / Docs in coordination with the rest of the IT staff. Most of what I work with - as far as files and office-type apps - is in the cloud or otherwise remote.

What I really need are solid network security tools for use on workstations and servers across the network, which includes multiple subnets across the country.

The company uses Junos Pulse for the VPN. I will need a Java-friendly system. VPN is low priority for this particular computer, although I will need it when I rebuilt a secondary machine.

Yep! Actually, most of our IT department uses Pidgin. It's pretty good. I've always pronounced it like the bird. One of the devs said it's actually pronounced pid-gin (with a hard "g"). Still, I like to use the soft "g" (j sound).

I'm not sure at this point if I'll need to leave the Windows VM running or only on an as-needed basis.

I understand. My bias with linux is towards Slackware and Slack-based systems that have spawned from that. I like the more unix-like principles that the system adheres to - I could just go all in with a BSD or SysV OS - although I don't know if I would end up sacrificing network admin-type options if I steer away from the bleeding edge stuff. Then again, there might be more options with security.

In the end, it might not make much difference, but to just go with a personal preference. As long as I get the functionality that I need with systems administration tasks, I'll be fine.