Category:CentOS: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "The CentOS Linux distribution is a stable, predictable, manageable and reproducible platform derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused around the goal of providing a rich base platform for open source communities to build upon. === End of Life announcements: === {| class="wikitable" |+CentOS Project !Release !Active Support !Security Support |- |CentOS 6 |Ended on 10 May 2017 |Ended...")
 
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The CentOS Linux distribution is a stable, predictable, manageable and reproducible platform derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused around the goal of providing a rich base platform for open source communities to build upon.
<big>The CentOS Linux distribution is a stable, predictable, manageable and reproducible platform derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused around the goal of providing a rich base platform for open source communities to build upon.</big>


=== End of Life announcements: ===
=== '''<big>What is CentOS?</big>''' ===
<big>'''CentOS''' (Community ENTerprise Operating System) is a '''free, open-source, community-driven Linux distribution''' that was built to be '''functionally compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)'''.</big>
 
<big>CentOS provided a stable, secure, and robust platform for running enterprise-grade applications, web servers, and production workloads — '''without the licensing costs of RHEL'''.</big>
----
 
=== <big>'''History of CentOS'''</big> ===
{| class="wikitable"
!<big>Year</big>
!<big>Milestone</big>
|-
|'''<big>2004</big>'''
|<big>CentOS project was launched as a clone of RHEL.</big>
|-
|'''<big>2014</big>'''
|<big>Red Hat officially adopted the CentOS project (with the community still involved).</big>
|-
|'''<big>2020</big>'''
|<big>Red Hat shifted the focus to '''CentOS Stream''', ending traditional CentOS as we knew it.</big>
|-
|'''<big>2021+</big>'''
|<big>CentOS Linux 8 support ended early (Dec 2021). CentOS Stream became the official replacement.</big>
|}
----
 
== <big>'''Types of CentOS'''</big> ==
 
=== <big>1. '''CentOS Linux (Traditional) [Deprecated]'''</big> ===
 
* <big>A '''downstream clone of RHEL'''.</big>
* <big>Stable and production-ready.</big>
* <big>Example versions: CentOS 6, 7, and 8.</big>
 
=== <big>2. '''CentOS Stream [Current]'''</big> ===
 
* <big>A '''rolling-release distribution''' that sits '''just ahead of RHEL'''.</big>
* <big>Used by Red Hat to test features before merging into RHEL.</big>
* <big>Less stable than traditional CentOS for critical production workloads.</big>
 
<blockquote> <big>'''Current users who require RHEL-like stability now move to alternatives like AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux.'''</big></blockquote>
----
 
== <big>'''Key Features of CentOS'''</big> ==
{| class="wikitable"
!<big>Feature</big>
!<big>Description</big>
|-
|'''<big>RHEL Compatibility</big>'''
|<big>1:1 binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (until CentOS 8).</big>
|-
|'''<big>Stability</big>'''
|<big>Designed for long-term server use with fewer frequent updates.</big>
|-
|'''<big>Security</big>'''
|<big>SELinux enforced, firewalld, secure defaults, and regular patches.</big>
|-
|'''<big>Performance</big>'''
|<big>Optimized for enterprise workloads and hardware.</big>
|-
|'''<big>Package Management</big>'''
|<big>Uses <code>yum</code> or <code>dnf</code> package manager; RPM-based system.</big>
|-
|'''<big>Community Support</big>'''
|<big>Large community, plus professional support via RHEL or partners.</big>
|-
|'''<big>Minimal by Design</big>'''
|<big>Focused, lean base installation for servers.</big>
|-
|'''<big>Long Lifecycle</big>'''
|<big>Up to 10 years support (was common with older versions).</big>
|}
----
 
== <big>'''CentOS Version Table (Legacy and Stream)'''</big> ==
{| class="wikitable"
!<big>Version</big>
!<big>Release Date</big>
!<big>End of Support</big>
!<big>Notes</big>
|-
|'''<big>CentOS 5</big>'''
|<big>April 2007</big>
|<big>March 2017</big>
|<big>EOL</big>
|-
|'''<big>CentOS 6</big>'''
|<big>July 2011</big>
|<big>Nov 2020</big>
|<big>EOL</big>
|-
|'''<big>CentOS 7</big>'''
|<big>July 2014</big>
|'''<big>June 30, 2024</big>'''
|<big>Last traditional CentOS with long support</big>
|-
|'''<big>CentOS 8</big>'''
|<big>Sept 2019</big>
|'''<big>Dec 31, 2021</big>'''
|<big>Support ended early; replaced by CentOS Stream</big>
|-
|'''<big>CentOS Stream 8</big>'''
|<big>2021</big>
|<big>May 2024</big>
|<big>Precursor to RHEL 8</big>
|-
|'''<big>CentOS Stream 9</big>'''
|<big>Dec 2021</big>
|<big>Until ~2027</big>
|<big>Precursor to RHEL 9</big>
|}
 
== '''<big>Why Use CentOS Stream (Today)?</big>''' ==
 
* <big>Ideal for '''developers contributing to RHEL'''.</big>
* <big>Previews features before RHEL release.</big>
* <big>Maintained by Red Hat and community.</big>
* <big>Great for '''testing environments''', '''dev/test pipelines''', and '''CI/CD'''.</big>
 
=== <big>End of Life announcements:</big> ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+CentOS Project
|+<big>CentOS Project</big>
!Release
!<big>Release</big>
!Active Support
!<big>Active Support</big>
!Security Support
!<big>Security Support</big>
|-
|-
|CentOS 6
|<big>CentOS 6</big>
|Ended on 10 May 2017
|<big>Ended on 10 May 2017</big>
|Ended on 30 Nov 2020
|<big>Ended on 30 Nov 2020</big>
|-
|-
|CentOS 7
|<big>CentOS 7</big>
|Ended on 06 Aug 2020
|<big>Ended on 06 Aug 2020</big>
|Ends on 30 Jun 2024
|<big>Ends on 30 Jun 2024</big>
|-
|-
|CentOS 8
|<big>CentOS 8</big>
|Ended on 31 Dec 2021
|<big>Ended on 31 Dec 2021</big>
|Ended on 31 Dec 2021
|<big>Ended on 31 Dec 2021</big>
|-
|-
|CentOS Stream 8
|<big>CentOS Stream 8</big>
|Ends on 31 May 2024
|<big>Ends on 31 May 2024</big>
|Ends on 31 May 2024
|<big>Ends on 31 May 2024</big>
|-
|-
|CentOS Stream 9
|<big>CentOS Stream 9</big>
|Ends on 31 May 2027
|<big>Ends on 31 May 2027</big>
|Ends on 31 May 2027
|<big>Ends on 31 May 2027</big>
|}
|}

Latest revision as of 11:18, 23 August 2025

The CentOS Linux distribution is a stable, predictable, manageable and reproducible platform derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused around the goal of providing a rich base platform for open source communities to build upon.

What is CentOS?

CentOS (Community ENTerprise Operating System) is a free, open-source, community-driven Linux distribution that was built to be functionally compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

CentOS provided a stable, secure, and robust platform for running enterprise-grade applications, web servers, and production workloads — without the licensing costs of RHEL.

History of CentOS

Year Milestone
2004 CentOS project was launched as a clone of RHEL.
2014 Red Hat officially adopted the CentOS project (with the community still involved).
2020 Red Hat shifted the focus to CentOS Stream, ending traditional CentOS as we knew it.
2021+ CentOS Linux 8 support ended early (Dec 2021). CentOS Stream became the official replacement.

Types of CentOS

1. CentOS Linux (Traditional) [Deprecated]

  • A downstream clone of RHEL.
  • Stable and production-ready.
  • Example versions: CentOS 6, 7, and 8.

2. CentOS Stream [Current]

  • A rolling-release distribution that sits just ahead of RHEL.
  • Used by Red Hat to test features before merging into RHEL.
  • Less stable than traditional CentOS for critical production workloads.

Current users who require RHEL-like stability now move to alternatives like AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux.

Key Features of CentOS

Feature Description
RHEL Compatibility 1:1 binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (until CentOS 8).
Stability Designed for long-term server use with fewer frequent updates.
Security SELinux enforced, firewalld, secure defaults, and regular patches.
Performance Optimized for enterprise workloads and hardware.
Package Management Uses yum or dnf package manager; RPM-based system.
Community Support Large community, plus professional support via RHEL or partners.
Minimal by Design Focused, lean base installation for servers.
Long Lifecycle Up to 10 years support (was common with older versions).

CentOS Version Table (Legacy and Stream)

Version Release Date End of Support Notes
CentOS 5 April 2007 March 2017 EOL
CentOS 6 July 2011 Nov 2020 EOL
CentOS 7 July 2014 June 30, 2024 Last traditional CentOS with long support
CentOS 8 Sept 2019 Dec 31, 2021 Support ended early; replaced by CentOS Stream
CentOS Stream 8 2021 May 2024 Precursor to RHEL 8
CentOS Stream 9 Dec 2021 Until ~2027 Precursor to RHEL 9

Why Use CentOS Stream (Today)?

  • Ideal for developers contributing to RHEL.
  • Previews features before RHEL release.
  • Maintained by Red Hat and community.
  • Great for testing environments, dev/test pipelines, and CI/CD.

End of Life announcements:

CentOS Project
Release Active Support Security Support
CentOS 6 Ended on 10 May 2017 Ended on 30 Nov 2020
CentOS 7 Ended on 06 Aug 2020 Ends on 30 Jun 2024
CentOS 8 Ended on 31 Dec 2021 Ended on 31 Dec 2021
CentOS Stream 8 Ends on 31 May 2024 Ends on 31 May 2024
CentOS Stream 9 Ends on 31 May 2027 Ends on 31 May 2027

Pages in category "CentOS"

The following 3 pages are in this category, out of 3 total.

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