Mageia

Overview

Mageia is a free, open-source Linux distribution based on a Mandriva Linux fork, driven by the community and designed to provide a stable, user-friendly, and secure operating system suitable for desktops, servers, and embedded devices. Managed by the non-profit organization Mageia.Org, it supports x86_64 and i586 architectures (with some support for ARM, such as on the Raspberry Pi), and ships with the KDE Plasma, GNOME, and Xfce desktop environments by default. Mageia uses the urpmi (default) or DNF (alternative) package manager, comes pre-installed with LibreOffice, Firefox, VLC, GIMP, and other software, and supports multiple languages (167, including Chinese). The name "Mageia" comes from the Greek "μαγεία," meaning "magic," symbolizing its flexibility and appeal.

Versions:

• Mageia Desktop: Offers KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce, LXDE, LXQt, Cinnamon, MATE, and other desktops, suitable for workstations.
• Mageia Server: Supports server applications (such as Apache and MariaDB).
• Mageia Live: Provides live USB/DVD versions of KDE Plasma, GNOME, and Xfce.
• Latest version: Mageia 10 (July 2025), based on Linux kernel 6.9, with support for ZFS and Wayland.
• Support lifecycle: Each version is supported for 18 months or 3 months after the next release (whichever is longer).

History and Development

• Origins:
  • September 18, 2010: Following the bankruptcy and liquidation of Edge IT, a subsidiary of Mandriva S.A. (September 2, 2010), former Mandriva employees and community members founded Mageia to continue the community-driven spirit of Mandriva Linux.
  • June 1, 2011: Mageia 1 was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.38.7, with support for KDE 4.6 and GNOME 2.32.
• Development History:
  • May 2012: Mageia 2 was released, with kernel 3.3.6, optimized for KDE and GNOME.
  • May 2013: Mageia 3 was released, with kernel 3.8.13, introducing systemd.
  • June 2015: Mageia 5 was released, with kernel 3.19.8, and UEFI support.
  • July 2019: Mageia 7 was released, with kernel 5.1.14, introducing DNF package management.
  • February 2021: Mageia 8 was released, with kernel 5.10.16, and support for Wayland and ZFS.
  • August 27, 2023: Mageia 9 released, featuring kernel 6.4, optimized KDE Plasma 5.27, and GNOME 44.
  • July 2025: Mageia 10 released, based on Linux kernel 6.9, with updated KDE Plasma 6.1 and GNOME 46, and support for arm64 (beta).
• Community and Support:
  • Managed by the Mageia.Org non-profit organization, the community is active at mageia.org, wiki.mageia.org, and forums (forum.mageia.org).
  • Supports multiple languages (167), with documentation covering installation, configuration, and troubleshooting.
  • A Reddit user called Mageia "a perfect successor to Mandriva, very user-friendly."
• Open Source License:
  • GPL v2 (core), MIT (some tools).

Key Features

Mageia is built with user-friendliness, stability, and versatility at its core, suitable for desktops, servers, and embedded devices. Here are its key features:

1. User-Friendly Desktop Environment
   • KDE Plasma 6.1, GNOME 46, and Xfce 4.18 are supported by default, with LXDE, LXQt, Cinnamon, and MATE optional.
   • Mageia Control Center (MCC) provides graphical configuration (network, user, and software management).
2. Powerful Package Management
   • urpmi (Mandriva legacy) is used by default, with DNF supported as an alternative.
   • RPM package support includes a large software repository.
3. Multi-Language Support
   • 167 languages are supported, with a Chinese interface provided by default.
4. Stability and Security
   • 18-month support cycle with regular security updates.
5. Hardware Compatibility
   • Supports x86_64, i586, and arm64 (beta version, Raspberry Pi compatible).
   • Minimum requirements: 1 GB RAM, 10 GB disk (4 GB RAM, 20 GB disk recommended).
6. Development Support
   • Pre-installed Python, Node.js, and MariaDB, with support for Flatpak and Snap.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• User-Friendliness:
  • The MCC graphical tool and multi-language support reduce the learning curve, surpassing Slackware's command line.
  • X post states, "Mageia 10's MCC makes configuration simple."
• Stability:
  • 18-month support cycle.
• Multiple Desktop Support:
  • KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce, and others.
• Multi-Language Support:
  • Support for 167 languages.
• Community-Driven:
  • Mageia.Org and the forums are active and well-documented.

Limitations

• Community Size:
  • Smaller than Ubuntu and with fewer resources than Rocky Linux.
• Limited ARM Support:
  • ARM64 support is in beta.
• Software Update Speed:
  • Slower than the rolling updates of KaOS or BigLinux.
• Third-Party Software:
  • Some software requires additional configuration.

Summary

Mageia is a free, open-source Linux distribution based on Mandriva Linux and driven by the Mageia.Org community. The latest version 10 (July 2025) features the Linux kernel 6.9, KDE Plasma 6.1, GNOME 46, and supports x86_64, i586, and arm64 (testing). It offers the user-friendly Mageia Control Center, urpmi/DNF package management, and multi-language support, making it suitable for desktops, servers, and embedded devices. Mageia stands out for its user-friendliness and multi-desktop support, but has limited ARM support and a smaller community.