CentOS's Legacy: Why It Was Discontinued

CentOS was terminated because Red Hat shifted its focus to CentOS Stream to speed up the RHEL development cycle and drive users to move to RHEL. Alternatives include: 1. Rocky Linux, 2. AlmaLinux, 3. Oracle Linux. Compatibility, support, and long-term planning are considered when choosing an alternative.

introduction

The end of CentOS is an event that shocks and regrets many Linux users. As a stable and enterprise-level Linux distribution, CentOS has a wide range of applications and influence in the server field. Today, we will explore why CentOS was terminated and what this means for the Linux ecosystem. Through this article, you will learn about the historical background of CentOS, the reasons for its termination, and how to move forward in the post-CentOS era.

The history and impact of CentOS

CentOS, full name Community ENTerprise Operating System, was originally a free version based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It provides a reliable alternative for users who cannot afford the RHEL licensing fees. CentOS's stability and high compatibility with RHEL make it the preferred operating system for many businesses and developers.

I remember that in my early career, CentOS was the first distribution I had with Linux. Its stability and ease of use made me feel keen to Linux and eventually chose this career path. CentOS is not only an operating system, but also a community, a platform that benefits countless people.

Reasons for CentOS to be terminated

In 2020, Red Hat announced the shift of CentOS' focus from a stable version to CentOS Stream, a rolling release version that is mainly used to test and develop future features of RHEL. This decision has caused great controversy and dissatisfaction. Why did Red Hat make such a decision?

First of all, Red Hat hopes to accelerate the development cycle of RHEL through CentOS Stream and improve its competitiveness. By involving the community in the development process of RHEL, Red Hat can detect and fix problems faster. However, this strategy sacrifices CentOS' status as a stable and reliable operating system.

Second, Red Hat may hope to use this move to drive more users to turn to RHEL, thereby increasing its revenue. While this strategy may be commercially reasonable, it makes many CentOS-dependent users feel abandoned.

Post-CentOS Era: Alternatives and the Future

The termination of CentOS does not mean the end of the Linux ecosystem. Instead, it has spawned many new alternatives and opportunities. Here are some alternatives to note:

• Rocky Linux : Launched by Greg Kurtzer, one of the founders of CentOS, Rocky Linux aims to fill the gap left by CentOS. It is highly compatible with RHEL and promises long-term support and stability.

• AlmaLinux : Another community-driven RHEL alternative, AlmaLinux also promises high compatibility and long-term support with RHEL.

• Oracle Linux : Although not a new distribution, Oracle Linux has always been a reliable alternative to RHEL and is available in a free version.

When choosing an alternative, the following factors need to be considered:

• Compatibility : Ensure high compatibility of newly selected distributions with existing systems and applications, reducing migration costs.
• Support : Understand the support policies and community activity of the new release to ensure reliable solutions when encountering problems.
• Long-term planning : Choose a distribution with a clear long-term planning to avoid the risk of termination again.

Personal experience and advice

As a long-term CentOS user, I am well aware of the challenges and inconveniences of migrating to a new release. However, this is also an opportunity to revisit and optimize the system architecture. During the migration process, I suggest:

• Full Test : Before the official migration, conduct full testing to ensure that the new release can run properly in your environment.
• Backup data : During the migration process, data security is the most important thing to ensure a complete backup plan.
• Community Engagement : Actively participate in the community of new releases to get the latest information and support.

The termination of CentOS is a regrettable event, but it also brings new vitality and opportunities to the Linux ecosystem. By choosing the right alternatives and strategies, we can continue to explore and innovate in the Linux world.

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