Welcome to the Cocoontech forum Mikedaly.
Many friendly folks here doing much relating to automation, security and frying turkeys (well one person) DIY and commercially; have a read and ask your questions.
Here using Ubuntu Linux / Wheezy / Jessie with the CM11A / Volp X10 stuff (serial) / TW-523 and dual phased TW-523 and it does well. Went to using the W800 X10 RF device a few years ago. It works with my automation software. I am using X10 for my Christmas decorations (using old Freewire outside). UPB light switches, ZWave and Zigbee is also utilized via Linux based automation software and OmniPro 2 panel.
I have switched here from MS Windows to Ubuntu / Wheezy / Jessie for my automation. I have continued to utilize Windows for my touchscreen interfaces (XPe, W7e and W10) relating to utilizing the Touch Consoles, Kinect, Alexa and MS SAPI stuff plus running MS VB's inside of Ubuntu.