Category:CentOS
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:
| 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.