The End of CentOS: Evaluating the Impact

The end of CentOS has had a significant impact on users, with users having the option of RHEL, AlmaLinux, Debian or Ubuntu as alternatives. 1. The migration cost is high, requiring time and money. 2. Community division affects open source projects. 3.RHEL provides commercial support, but it is costly. 4.AlmaLinux is similar to CentOS and has low migration costs. 5. Debian and Ubuntu need more time to adapt.

introduction

The end of CentOS is an event that shocks and anxiety many IT professionals. As a widely used Linux distribution, CentOS not only provides a stable and reliable platform for enterprise-level applications, but also becomes the preferred operating system for many developers and system administrators. However, in 2020, Red Hat announced that it would stop supporting CentOS Linux and instead launch CentOS Stream, which undoubtedly had a huge impact on countless users who rely on CentOS. This article will explore the impact of CentOS ending, provide some solutions, and share my personal experience and insights in this regard.

If you are confused about the end of CentOS or are looking for alternatives, this article will provide you with in-depth analysis and advice to help you better cope with this change.

The impact of CentOS ending on users

The impact of CentOS termination is first reflected in the user's migration cost. Many enterprises and individual users have built complex application environments and infrastructure on CentOS, and migrating to other distributions not only takes time and money, but also may bring compatibility and stability issues. I myself have run multiple production servers on CentOS, and when I learnt about CentOS termination support, I have to spend a lot of time and effort evaluating and migrating these systems.

Another significant impact is the division of the community. CentOS has a huge user and developer community, and many open source projects and tools are developed around CentOS. Although the launch of CentOS Stream provides a new platform, it also leads to the differentiation of the community. Some people choose to embrace new changes, while others look for other alternatives. This division not only affects community cohesion, but also may affect future development of open source projects.

Alternative options

Faced with the end of CentOS, users need to consider various alternatives. I share some common options here and analyze them in combination with my own experience.

Select Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

RHEL is an upstream distribution of CentOS that provides commercial-grade support and stability. If your budget allows, choosing RHEL is a good choice. I've used RHEL on several projects and found that its stability and security are indeed better than many other distributions. However, RHEL is more expensive, which can be a barrier for some small businesses or individual users.

Choose another free enterprise-level distribution

In addition to RHEL, there are some other free enterprise-grade Linux distributions such as Oracle Linux and AlmaLinux. I personally prefer AlmaLinux because it is very similar to CentOS and has a lower migration cost. AlmaLinux is powered by CloudLinux and promises long-term stability and security updates, which makes me feel more at ease when migrating.

Choose Debian or Ubuntu

Debian and Ubuntu are another choice, and they are very popular in both desktop and server fields. I've used Ubuntu on some projects and found its community support and package management to be excellent. However, Debian and Ubuntu have big differences in package management and configuration files from CentOS, and it takes more time and effort to adapt when migrating.

Challenges and solutions in the migration process

Users may encounter various challenges when migrating to a new distribution. I'm sharing some common problems and solutions here.

Compatibility issues

Compatibility issues are one of the most common problems during migration. Many applications and services run well on CentOS, but compatibility issues may occur on other distributions. During the migration process, I found that double-checking of the application's dependencies and configuration files is the key to solving compatibility issues. Using container technologies, such as Docker, can effectively isolate the application environment and reduce the complexity of migration.

Performance optimization

Performance may change after migrating to a new release. After migrating to AlmaLinux, I found that some applications have deteriorated performance. I finally solved this problem by tuning kernel parameters and optimizing application configuration. Performance optimization needs to be adjusted according to the specific situation, and it is recommended to conduct sufficient testing and evaluation before migration.

Security and updates

Security and updates are another aspect that needs attention. CentOS is known for its stable security updates, and it is very important to ensure timely access to security updates after being moved to a new distribution. When I was using AlmaLinux, I found that its security update frequency and quality were excellent, which made me feel at ease about its security.

Personal experience and advice

After experiencing the impact of the end of CentOS, I have a deeper understanding and experience of the choice of Linux distribution. The following are some of my personal suggestions and experience sharing.

Planning and evaluation in advance

Before the migration, adequate planning and evaluation are recommended. Evaluating the dependencies and configuration of existing systems and developing detailed migration plans can greatly reduce risks and problems during the migration process. During the migration process, I found that planning and evaluation in advance can help me better address various challenges.

Choose the distribution that suits you

It is very important to choose the distribution that suits you. Choosing the most suitable distribution based on your needs and budget can minimize migration costs and risks. When choosing AlmaLinux, I took into account its similarity to CentOS and its long-term support, which made me feel more at ease during the migration process.

Stay learning and updating

The Linux world is changing rapidly, and it is very important to keep learning and updating. Paying attention to the latest technical updates and distribution updates can help you better cope with future changes. I found during the migration that keeping learning and updating allowed me to better cope with various challenges and problems.

in conclusion

The end of CentOS has undoubtedly had a huge impact on many users, but through reasonable planning and selection, users can smoothly migrate to new distributions. I hope the analysis and suggestions in this article will help you better respond to this change and find the best solution for you.

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