Linux Support, Installs
& Server Administration.
Linux runs most of the internet, most web hosting, and a growing number of desktops that outlived Windows support. It's fast, stable, and free — until a driver won't load, an update breaks the boot, or a server goes dark at 2am. TIV360 handles Linux end to end: desktop installs and Windows conversions, software and peripheral setup, and the web, file, and VPS servers small businesses depend on.
Server Down? Site Offline? Locked Out?
A full disk, an expired SSL certificate, a kernel update that won't boot, a lost SSH key, a compromised account — when a Linux server fails, everything on it fails with it. Websites, email, file shares, and the business behind them. If something just broke and you need it back now, contact TIV360 →
Linux Is Rock Solid.
Until It Isn't.
Most Linux systems run for years without drama. When something does go wrong, the fix is usually precise and fast — if you know where to look. These are the problems that stop people cold, and the ones TIV360 resolves without wiping the machine.
Boot Failures & GRUB Errors
Dropped to a GRUB rescue prompt, stuck on a black screen, or booting straight into Windows after an update on a dual-boot machine. A broken bootloader looks catastrophic but rarely is — repairs from live media recover the system with every file intact.
Broken Updates & Package Conflicts
An update interrupted by a power loss, a package manager lock that won't release, held packages, or a third-party repository that conflicts with the system's own. Left alone, one broken package blocks every future security update. Untangled correctly, the system is back to clean in minutes.
NVIDIA & Graphics Drivers
Proprietary NVIDIA drivers that break after a kernel update, Secure Boot blocking unsigned driver modules, screen tearing, or a login loop that dumps you back to the password prompt. Graphics is the most common Linux desktop failure — and the most fixable.
WiFi & Bluetooth Not Detected
Some Broadcom and Realtek chipsets need drivers that don't ship with the installer, so the adapter simply doesn't appear. Others connect but drop constantly due to power management. Identifying the exact chipset is step one — and the step most guides skip.
Display, Scaling & Wayland Issues
Linux desktops are moving from X11 to Wayland, and not every app or setup has caught up. Mixed-resolution monitors with blurry scaling, screen sharing that shows a black window in meeting apps, and remote desktop tools that stopped working are common side effects.
Disk Full & Filesystem Errors
Runaway log files, stale kernels, old container images, and package caches can quietly fill a drive until services stop or the system won't log in. Filesystem errors after a hard shutdown need careful repair — run the wrong tool on a mounted drive and you create the data loss you were trying to avoid.
Windows 10 Updates Are Over.
Your Computer Isn't.
Microsoft's consumer Extended Security Updates program for Windows 10 ended October 13, 2026 — the last extension available to home users. Every vulnerability discovered from here on stays open on those machines. If your PC can't meet Windows 11's TPM 2.0 and CPU requirements, Microsoft's answer is to buy a new one.
Linux is the other answer. A modern, fully supported, free operating system that runs well on hardware Windows 11 rejects. TIV360 handles the whole conversion — so your files, bookmarks, and printer all make it across, and you know where everything is on day one.
- Workflow review first — confirm your critical software works on Linux before anything changes
- Hardware check — CPU, RAM, storage health, WiFi chipset, graphics
- Live USB test drive so you can try Linux on your machine with zero changes
- Complete backup of documents, photos, email, and browser data
- Clean install or dual-boot alongside Windows
- App setup — browser, email, office suite, photo tools, and anything you rely on
- Printer, scanner, and peripheral configuration
- Automatic updates and system snapshots turned on
- Post-install walkthrough of what changed and where things live
Try Before You Switch
Linux boots from a USB stick without touching your drive. Test WiFi, sound, display, and your printer before committing.
Keep Windows Too
Dual-boot lets you pick Windows or Linux at startup. Handy during the transition, or for the one app that won't leave Windows.
Old Hardware, New Life
Lightweight desktops like Xfce and MATE run smoothly on older machines. Add an SSD and many feel faster than they did new.
Familiar From Day One
Linux Mint uses a taskbar, start menu, and system tray layout anyone coming from Windows will recognize immediately.
Snapshots & Rollback
System snapshots let you roll back a bad update in minutes. Something Windows users have wanted for decades.
Honest Fit Check
Adobe Creative Cloud, desktop QuickBooks, many industry-specific apps, and games with kernel-level anti-cheat don't run on Linux. You hear that before the switch, not after.
Linux Installed Right —
Distro, Software & Setup.
Hundreds of Linux distributions exist. Maybe five matter for most people. TIV360 picks the right one for your hardware and work, installs it properly, and sets up the software you actually use — with updates, security, and backups configured from the start.
Distro Selection & Install
Linux Mint for Windows switchers. Ubuntu LTS for long support windows. Fedora for newer software. Debian for stability. The right distro depends on your hardware and what you do — not on what forum threads argue about. Installs include partitioning, encryption if wanted, and Secure Boot.
Dual-Boot & Virtual Machines
Run Linux and Windows on the same machine — either side by side at boot, or Windows inside a virtual machine on Linux. BitLocker recovery keys are secured before any partition changes, a step that saves people from locking themselves out of their own Windows install.
Software Installation
Linux installs software from signed repositories, Flatpak, Snap, AppImage, or vendor packages — and mixing them carelessly causes conflicts and duplicate apps. TIV360 installs from the right source for each program so everything updates cleanly from one place.
Office & Productivity
LibreOffice and OnlyOffice open and save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. Microsoft 365 web apps run in the browser. Thunderbird handles email and calendars, including Microsoft 365 and Gmail accounts. Most office work moves over with no retraining.
Running Windows Apps
Wine and Bottles run many Windows programs directly on Linux. Steam's Proton runs a large share of the Windows game library. Results vary by program — TIV360 tests your specific apps and sets up a Windows VM for anything that won't cooperate.
Developer Workstations
Linux is the native environment for most web and software development. Full workstation builds with Git, VS Code, Docker, Python, Node, PHP, and local WordPress development stacks — configured to mirror the servers your code will actually run on.
Printers, Docks, Drivers & Devices —
Made to Work on Linux.
Linux supports more hardware out of the box than ever. The exceptions are where people get stuck — the printer that needs a vendor driver, the dock that shows no displays, the scanner nobody can find. TIV360 knows which hardware works natively, which needs help, and which to avoid buying.
Printers & Scanners
Most modern network printers work driverless over IPP and AirPrint. Older and USB models may need HP, Brother, Canon, or Epson Linux drivers. Scanner setup through SANE and eSCL — including the all-in-one whose scanner half nobody could get working.
Docks & Multi-Monitor
USB-C and Thunderbolt docks usually just work. DisplayLink docks need a separate driver and break silently after kernel updates if it isn't set up to rebuild. Multi-monitor layouts, mixed scaling, and laptop lid behavior configured properly.
Graphics Cards
AMD and Intel graphics run on open drivers built into the kernel. NVIDIA needs the proprietary driver for full performance, with Secure Boot key enrollment so it survives updates. Hybrid laptop graphics set up to save battery without breaking external displays.
Audio & Bluetooth
Modern distros route audio through PipeWire. Headsets with no microphone, Bluetooth earbuds stuck in low-quality mode, USB audio interfaces, and HDMI audio that never shows up — all fixable once the right profile and device are identified.
Gaming & Controllers
Steam with Proton, controller mapping for Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch Pro controllers, and launcher setup for non-Steam games. Upfront clarity on titles that won't run — mostly online games whose anti-cheat blocks Linux.
Linux-Friendly Hardware Advice
Buying a new laptop, printer, or WiFi adapter for Linux? A five-minute check of the exact chipset saves hours of driver hunting. TIV360 recommends hardware that works on Linux out of the box, before you spend the money.
Linux Servers — Built, Secured
& Kept Running.
Linux runs the overwhelming majority of web servers, including nearly every WordPress host. TIV360 has spent 18+ years building and maintaining WordPress sites — work that lives on Linux servers. That experience covers the whole stack: setup, hardening, migrations, backups, and the emergency calls when something breaks.
Web Servers & WordPress Hosting Core Service
Apache or Nginx, PHP, MariaDB or MySQL, and free auto-renewing SSL — tuned for WordPress speed and stability. Caching, PHP version upgrades, slow-site diagnosis, and moves between hosts with no downtime and no broken links.
VPS Setup & Hardening
A fresh VPS is attacked by automated bots within minutes of going online. SSH key-only login, root login disabled, firewall rules, intrusion blocking with fail2ban, and automatic security updates — on any provider, from a $6 droplet to a dedicated box.
End-of-Life Upgrades & Migrations
Servers still running CentOS 7, Debian 11, or Ubuntu 20.04 are past standard support. In-place upgrades where they're safe, rebuild-and-migrate where they're not — moving sites, databases, email, and cron jobs to a supported OS without losing anything.
File Servers, NAS & Mixed Networks
Samba shares that Windows and Mac machines see as normal network drives, NFS for Linux clients, and NAS setup and recovery. Permissions done right so staff see what they need and nothing they shouldn't.
Docker & Self-Hosting
Containerized apps with Docker Compose, plus self-hosted alternatives to monthly subscriptions — Nextcloud for files and calendars, password managers, Home Assistant, Pi-hole, media servers. Raspberry Pi builds for small, low-power, always-on jobs.
Backups & Monitoring
Automated, encrypted, off-site backups with restic or Borg — tested with actual restores, because an untested backup is a guess. Uptime alerts, disk space warnings, and SSL expiry checks so you hear about problems before your customers do.
Is Your Server Still Getting Security Updates?
An end-of-life server keeps running normally — it just stops getting patched. Every vulnerability discovered after the cutoff stays open permanently. Check your version against this list.
Current targets: Debian 13, Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04 LTS, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, and RHEL 9 and 10. Support dates confirmed October 2026.
Get a Server Audit →Common Linux Questions
Is Linux hard to switch to?
For browsing, email, documents, photos, and video calls — no. Linux Mint in particular looks and behaves enough like Windows that most people are comfortable within a day or two. The learning curve is mostly about where settings live. The command line is optional for everyday use; you'll never need it to check email or print a document.
Will my software run on Linux?
Browsers, Zoom, Slack, Spotify, Steam, and thousands of other programs have native Linux versions, and anything web-based works in the browser. The real gaps are Adobe Creative Cloud, desktop QuickBooks, many industry-specific Windows programs, and games with kernel-level anti-cheat. TIV360 checks your exact software list before you switch.
Will Linux run on my old computer?
Usually, yes. Linux Mint recommends 4GB of RAM, and lighter desktops run on less. Most major distros now require a 64-bit processor, so very old 32-bit machines are limited. The single biggest upgrade for an older PC is swapping its hard drive for an SSD — often the difference between sluggish and quick.
Does Linux need antivirus?
Linux desktops are targeted far less than Windows, and installing software from signed repositories closes off most infection routes. What actually protects a Linux machine is keeping it updated, installing from trusted sources, and using strong passwords. Servers are a different story — internet-facing Linux servers are attacked constantly, which is why hardening matters.
Which Linux distro should I use?
Coming from Windows: Linux Mint. Want long support windows and the widest documentation: Ubuntu LTS. Want newer software: Fedora. Running a server: Debian or Ubuntu LTS. Need Red Hat compatibility: Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, or RHEL. Raspberry Pi: Raspberry Pi OS. Distro-hopping is a hobby — your machine should just work.
Can you manage a server I already have?
Yes — any host, any provider, or a box in your back office. Work starts with an audit: OS version and support status, open ports, pending updates, user accounts, SSL status, and whether backups actually exist and restore. You get a plain-English report of what's fine, what's at risk, and what to fix first.
Is Linux actually free?
The operating system, yes — Mint, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Rocky, and Alma cost nothing to download, install, or use on as many machines as you want. Optional paid support subscriptions exist for businesses, like RHEL and Ubuntu Pro, and Ubuntu Pro is free for personal use on a small number of machines. What you pay for is expertise, not licenses.
Can I keep Windows and try Linux too?
Yes. Dual-booting lets you choose at startup, and Windows can also run inside a virtual machine on Linux. If your Windows drive uses BitLocker, back up the recovery key before any changes — altering boot settings can trigger a recovery prompt. TIV360 handles that step first, every time. Ask about a dual-boot setup →
Linux Problem?
Let's Fix It.
Whether it's a server that needs attention now, a Windows 10 machine that deserves a second life, or a printer that refuses to cooperate — TIV360 handles Linux from desktop to data center. Remote and in-person support available.