Back in the day, I started learning CentOS through a brotherhood connection. At that time, I inexplicably developed a fondness for IT and the internet during high school, which has continued unabated until today. The Linux system has developed quite well, with many excellent branches. The only regret is that in January 2024, Red Hat announced that CentOS 7 will officially end support on June 30, 2024. So, it will soon be time to say goodbye to the CentOS system that I have been using almost all along.
As early as December 8, 2020, CentOS announced that the CentOS Linux series would no longer be updated or maintained, and the lifecycle of CentOS 7 would end on June 30, 2024, while shifting focus to the CentOS Stream version.
Why Not Directly Upgrade to CentOS Stream#
CentOS Stream is a rolling release version without a fixed version number; in short, it is a testing version, and even Red Hat does not recommend using CentOS Stream in production environments.
What we commonly refer to as CentOS is CentOS Linux, which is released every two years, with each version providing 10 years of security maintenance support. However, Red Hat has now stopped supporting the CentOS Linux version.
Alternatives to CentOS#
There are actually many alternatives to CentOS, among which I mainly recommend Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux. Others include Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, CloudLinux, and various cloud vendors' operating systems based on CentOS.
Rocky Linux#
Rocky Linux was created by Gregory Kurtzer, the original founder of CentOS, with the intention of being a native replacement for CentOS, compatible at the binary level with other Red Hat products, providing users with strong ecosystem support while inheriting the open-source and free characteristics of the original CentOS. The name is also a tribute to early CentOS co-founder Rocky McGaugh.
The advantage of Rocky Linux lies in its strong community support and commitment to enterprise continuity. It is suitable for users seeking stable, reliable, and community-driven solutions.
AlmaLinux#
AlmaLinux is developed by Cloud Linux and aims to fill the gap left by the termination of the CentOS project, also serving as a direct replacement for CentOS, with binary compatibility and community support corresponding to RHEL. It is completely free with no usage restrictions.
AlmaLinux provides additional commercial support based on community support, making it more attractive in enterprise environments that require extra support guarantees.
Choices for Replacing CentOS#
There are even more choices for replacing CentOS, which can be said to be countless. However, based on my personal experience and comprehensive considerations, I would prefer Debian, followed by Ubuntu, and of course, also include Fedora, openSUSE, RHEL, and others.
Debian#
Debian is one of the oldest Linux distributions, established in 1993, and is a purely community-driven Linux distribution known for its stability, making it more suitable for servers and production environments. Its rich software repository is also a significant advantage, containing over fifty thousand packages that cover almost all common needs. Debian has high hardware compatibility, supporting various architectures, from personal computers to servers and embedded systems. Its package management system, APT, is easy to use, allowing for convenient software installation, updates, and uninstallation, which is one of the reasons I like Debian the most.
However, Debian has a long update cycle, which ensures system stability but also means that package versions may be older and lack the latest features. For some users who need the latest software, this can be a significant drawback. Additionally, Debian's default configuration is relatively conservative, and beginners may need to spend more time configuring and optimizing the system. Due to Debian's pure open-source philosophy, certain proprietary drivers and software may require manual installation, which can increase the difficulty of use for non-technical users.
Ubuntu#
Ubuntu is a derivative version created in 2004 based on Debian, supported by Canonical, with regular security updates and long-term support (LTS) versions, ensuring the security and stability of the system. It has different versions tailored for various hardware platforms and usage environments, suitable for servers, desktops, and IoT devices. It holds a very strong position in both personal and enterprise aspects, and its user experience is also excellent.
Although Canonical provides commercial support for Ubuntu, it may not be as comprehensive and in-depth as the enterprise-level support and services of RHEL and SLES. While it has a large community, it still cannot compare with traditional enterprise-level Linux distributions like RHEL and SLES in terms of maturity in enterprise applications and ecosystems.
Simple Summary#
The above is purely a summary of my personal preferences and experiences, and there is no intention to disparage or discriminate against the many systems mentioned. It is simply a selection based on personal time, energy, and usage scenarios. Therefore, the content of the article is for reference only. Please think rationally and choose systems based on your needs; what suits you best is the best. Finally, I remind all friends currently using the CentOS system to prepare for system replacement or migration for better security, to avoid unnecessary issues.
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