Specifically for virtual machines (KVM/VMware).
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9 is the leading enterprise Linux distribution, known for its stability, security, and long-term support. Unlike many community distributions, RHEL requires a subscription. Here’s how to legally obtain the official 64-bit (x86_64) ISO. download red hat enterprise linux 9 iso 64 bit
For production stability, stick to RHEL. For hobbyist learning, CentOS Stream is a valid alternative. Specifically for virtual machines (KVM/VMware)