CentOS (Community Enterprise Operating System) is a Linux distribution based on the freely available source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It aims to provide a free, open-source, and community-driven alternative to the commercially supported RHEL distribution.It become the defacto operating system for most servers hosting a big portion of all web sites available today, However, upcoming CentOS 9 is going to be available only as CentOS Stream, which for many developers it might not be the right solution. You may want to take a look at my article Key differences between CentOS and CentOS Stream
CentOS has been widely adopted in many organizations, especially those that require a stable and reliable Linux distribution without the need for commercial support. However, it's worth noting that CentOS has undergone some changes in recent years, with CentOS Stream being introduced as a rolling-release distribution closely tied to the development of RHEL.
There are several alternative operating systems to CentOS that you can consider. Here are some popular options:
AlmaLinux
AlmaLinux is a community-driven, open-source Linux distribution that serves as a drop-in replacement for CentOS. It is designed to be binary-compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and provides long-term support.
Key features:
-Binary Compatibility: AlmaLinux is binary-compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). This means that applications and software packages built for RHEL can run on AlmaLinux without requiring any modifications, making it a seamless replacement for CentOS.
- Long-Term Support (LTS): AlmaLinux offers long-term support similar to CentOS. It provides regular security updates, bug fixes, and maintenance updates, ensuring stability and reliability for enterprise users.
- Community-Driven: AlmaLinux is a community-driven project that encourages community involvement and contributions. It is backed by the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, which aims to provide a sustainable and collaborative environment for the development and maintenance of the distribution.
- Predictable Release Cycle: AlmaLinux follows a predictable release cycle, ensuring that users can plan their updates and deployments accordingly. This helps organizations maintain stability and minimize disruptions.
- Familiar User Experience: AlmaLinux provides a user experience similar to CentOS, making it familiar to CentOS users. It uses the same package management system (RPM) and includes common tools and utilities found in CentOS/RHEL distributions.
- Security and Stability: AlmaLinux prioritizes security and stability, providing a reliable platform for critical applications and services. It undergoes rigorous testing and includes features such as SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) for enhanced system security.
- Backed by AlmaLinux OS Foundation: AlmaLinux is backed by the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, which ensures the long-term development, maintenance, and support of the distribution. The foundation works closely with the community and stakeholders to provide a sustainable and independent alternative to CentOS.
These key features make AlmaLinux a compelling choice for those seeking a stable, community-driven, and compatible alternative to CentOS.
Some sample commands that you can use with AlmaLinux:
Update the System
sudo yum update
This command updates the packages installed on your AlmaLinux system to the latest available versions.
Install a Package
sudo yum install package-name
Use this command to install a specific package. Replace package-name with the name of the package you want to install.
Search for Packages
sudo yum search search-term
Use this command to search for packages related to a specific search term. Replace search-term with the term you want to search for.
Start/Stop/Restart Services
sudo systemctl start service-name
sudo systemctl stop service-name
sudo systemctl restart service-name
Check System Information
uname -a
Check more on the AlmaLInux official website
Rocky Linux
Rocky Linux is another CentOS alternative that aims to provide a seamless transition for CentOS users. It is a community-driven project led by the original CentOS founder and follows the upstream development of RHEL.
Key features:
- Binary Compatibility: Rocky Linux is designed to be fully binary-compatible with RHEL. This means that software packages built for RHEL can run on Rocky Linux without requiring any modifications. It offers a seamless transition for users looking to migrate from CentOS.
- Community-Driven: Rocky Linux is developed and supported by a community of volunteers and contributors. It follows an open and collaborative approach, allowing users to actively participate in the development, testing, and improvement of the distribution.
- Long-Term Support (LTS): Similar to CentOS, Rocky Linux provides long-term support. It aims to offer a stable and reliable platform by providing regular security updates, bug fixes, and maintenance updates. The LTS approach ensures that users can rely on Rocky Linux for their production environments.
- Familiar User Experience: Rocky Linux strives to provide a user experience similar to CentOS and RHEL. It uses the same package management system (YUM/DNF) and includes common tools and utilities found in CentOS/RHEL distributions. This familiarity helps users transition smoothly to Rocky Linux.
- Security and Stability: Rocky Linux focuses on security and stability, inheriting the robustness and security features of RHEL. It includes security mechanisms such as SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) for enhanced system security.
- Ecosystem Compatibility: Being binary-compatible with RHEL, Rocky Linux offers compatibility with the extensive RHEL ecosystem. Users can leverage the wide range of software applications, frameworks, and tools developed for RHEL.
- Enterprise Features: Rocky Linux supports enterprise-grade technologies and features such as virtualization, containerization, high availability, and clustering. It provides a solid foundation for running critical applications and services in production environments.
- Backed by the Community: Rocky Linux benefits from an active and passionate community of users and contributors who provide support, share knowledge, and contribute to the improvement of the distribution. The community ensures the long-term sustainability and growth of Rocky Linux.
These key features make Rocky Linux an attractive choice for users seeking a stable, community-driven, and compatible alternative to CentOS. It aims to fill the void left by the changes in CentOS and offers a reliable operating system that is suitable for a variety of use cases, from personal systems to enterprise deployments.
Some sample commands that you can use with Rocky Linux:
Update the System:
sudo dnf update
This command updates the packages installed on your Rocky Linux system to the latest available versions using the DNF package manager.
Install a Package:
sudo dnf install package-name
Use this command to install a specific package. Replace package-name with the name of the package you want to install.
Search for Packages:
sudo dnf search search-term
Use this command to search for packages related to a specific search term. Replace search-term with the term you want to search for.
Start/Stop/Restart Services:
sudo systemctl start service-name
sudo systemctl stop service-name
sudo systemctl restart service-name
Use these commands to start, stop, or restart a specific service. Replace service-name with the name of the service you want to manage.
Check System Information:
uname -a
This command displays detailed information about your Rocky Linux system, including the kernel version, architecture, and hostname.
Check more on the Rocky Linux official website
Oracle Linux
Oracle Linux is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and provides a similar experience to CentOS. It is free to use and offers optional paid support for enterprise customers.
Key features:
- Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK): Oracle Linux includes the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel, which is a custom-built kernel optimized for performance, scalability, and reliability. The UEK provides advanced features and enhancements over the standard Linux kernel, making it well-suited for enterprise workloads.
- Binary Compatibility with RHEL: Oracle Linux is binary-compatible with RHEL, which means it can run applications and software packages built for RHEL without requiring modifications or recompilation. This compatibility allows users to leverage the extensive RHEL ecosystem and easily migrate between the two distributions.
- Oracle Integration: Oracle Linux is specifically designed to integrate well with Oracle's software and hardware offerings. It is optimized to run Oracle Database, Middleware, and Applications, providing performance, reliability, and security enhancements for Oracle workloads.
- Ksplice: Oracle Linux includes Ksplice technology, which allows for live kernel patching without requiring a system reboot. This feature enables critical security patches and updates to be applied without any downtime, ensuring maximum uptime for production environments.
- DTrace: Oracle Linux integrates DTrace, a powerful dynamic tracing framework originally developed by Sun Microsystems. DTrace allows users to observe and analyze system performance, troubleshoot issues, and gain insights into application behavior without significant performance overhead.
- Oracle Linux Support: Oracle offers comprehensive support options for Oracle Linux, ranging from free community support to paid support services. Customers can choose the level of support that best suits their needs, including access to patches, updates, and technical assistance from Oracle's support team.
- Security Enhancements: Oracle Linux incorporates various security features, including Mandatory Access Control (MAC) with SELinux, secure boot, and integrated firewall capabilities. These security enhancements help protect the operating system and applications against potential threats and vulnerabilities.
- YUM Package Management: Oracle Linux uses the YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) package management system, which simplifies software installation, updates, and removal. YUM provides easy access to the Oracle Linux software repositories, which contain a wide range of packages and updates.
Oracle Linux is well-suited for organizations that rely on Oracle's software stack, as it offers seamless integration and optimized performance for Oracle workloads. However, it can also be used as a general-purpose Linux distribution, providing stability, compatibility, and robust features for a wide range of enterprise applications.
Some sample commands that you can use with Oracle Linux:
Update the System:
sudo dnf updateThis command updates the packages installed on your Oracle Linux system to the latest available versions using the DNF package manager.
Install a Package:
sudo dnf install package-nameUse this command to install a specific package. Replace package-name with the name of the package you want to install.
Search for Packages:
sudo dnf search search-termUse this command to search for packages related to a specific search term. Replace search-term with the term you want to search for.
Start/Stop/Restart Services:
sudo systemctl start service-name
sudo systemctl stop service-name
sudo systemctl restart service-nameUse these commands to start, stop, or restart a specific service. Replace service-name with the name of the service you want to manage.
Check System Information:
uname -aThis command displays detailed information about your Oracle Linux system, including the kernel version, architecture, and hostname.
Check more on the Oracle Linux official website.