What is CentOS?
Learn all about CentOS, a popular Linux distribution known for its stability, security, and long-term support. Find out how to use it for your server needs.
What is CentOS?
CentOS is a widely-used, open-source, community-driven operating system that is based on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) distribution. It is known for its stability, security, and long-term support, making it a popular choice for servers and workstations.
History of CentOS
The CentOS project was created in 2004 by Lance Davis as a community-driven alternative to RHEL. The name "CentOS" stands for Community ENTerprise Operating System. The goal of CentOS was to provide a free, stable, and compatible platform for users who wanted the reliability of RHEL without the associated costs.
CentOS is built from the source code of RHEL, with the necessary branding and trademarks removed to comply with Red Hat's redistribution policies. This process, known as recompilation, ensures that CentOS remains compatible with RHEL while being freely available to the public.
Key Features of CentOS
CentOS offers a number of key features that make it a popular choice for both individuals and businesses:
- Stability: CentOS is known for its rock-solid stability, making it a reliable choice for critical systems and long-term use.
- Security: Security updates and patches are regularly released for CentOS, helping to protect users from vulnerabilities and threats.
- Long-Term Support: CentOS versions are supported for up to 10 years, providing users with a stable platform for their applications and services.
- Compatibility: CentOS is binary-compatible with RHEL, allowing users to easily migrate from one platform to the other without compatibility issues.
- Community-Driven: The CentOS project is driven by a diverse community of developers and users who collaborate to improve the operating system.
Use Cases for CentOS
CentOS is commonly used in the following scenarios:
- Web Servers: Many websites and web applications run on CentOS servers due to its stability and performance.
- Database Servers: CentOS is often used to host database servers such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MariaDB.
- Virtualization: CentOS is a popular choice for running virtualized environments using tools like KVM, VirtualBox, and VMware.
- Development Environments: Developers often use CentOS as a platform for building and testing applications due to its stability and compatibility with development tools.
- Enterprise Applications: Many businesses rely on CentOS for running enterprise applications that require a stable and secure operating system.
CentOS Releases
CentOS follows a release cycle that is based on the upstream RHEL releases. The CentOS project typically releases new versions shortly after the corresponding RHEL release, with updates and patches provided throughout the support lifecycle of the release.
CentOS versions are identified by a version number that corresponds to the RHEL version on which they are based. For example, CentOS 7 is based on RHEL 7, while CentOS 8 is based on RHEL 8.
CentOS vs. RHEL
While CentOS is based on RHEL and shares many similarities with it, there are some key differences between the two:
- Support: RHEL comes with official support from Red Hat, including access to technical support, training, and certifications. CentOS, on the other hand, relies on community support and does not offer official support from Red Hat.
- Branding: RHEL includes Red Hat branding and trademarks, while CentOS removes these elements to comply with redistribution policies.
- Updates: RHEL receives updates and patches more frequently than CentOS, as RHEL is the primary focus of Red Hat's development efforts.
- Cost: RHEL is a commercial product that requires a subscription for access to updates and support, while CentOS is freely available to the public.
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