centos.org

One-sentence overview

CentOS is a free, open-source, enterprise-grade Linux operating system led by Red Hat and built from the source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Its core value proposition is “enterprise-grade stability at zero cost.” It has long held a major share in server deployments, web hosting, and cloud environments, making it a go-to server OS for many developers and small businesses.

Business details

The CentOS project was originally maintained by the community and was officially acquired by Red Hat in 2014, becoming an “upstream” development version related to RHEL. In essence, CentOS has traditionally been a free clone of RHEL: the two share the same source code, with Red Hat’s commercial branding and paid support removed. As a result, CentOS offers nearly the same kernel stability, package compatibility, and security patching approach as RHEL. In terms of industry position, CentOS has long ranked among the top three operating systems for web servers. In China in particular, many IDC data centers, cloud server images, and website deployment tutorials have historically recommended CentOS by default. Its user base includes individual developers, SME IT teams, university labs, and some internet companies with limited budgets. However, it is important to note that at the end of 2020, Red Hat announced that CentOS 8 would reach end of maintenance by the end of 2021 and shifted focus to CentOS Stream, a rolling-release distribution. This forced existing CentOS users to consider migrating to RHEL, Rocky Linux, or AlmaLinux. Today, CentOS 7 provided via centos.org has reached the end of its lifecycle, with EOL in June 2024, while CentOS Stream no longer fits the traditional “stable release” positioning.

Who it’s for

• Individual developers/students: CentOS has abundant tutorials and strong community Q&A coverage, making it suitable for learning Linux operations, building a personal blog, or setting up a test environment from scratch.
• SME IT operations teams: For organizations that need a stable, secure server OS compatible with mainstream commercial software but do not have the budget for RHEL licenses, CentOS has historically been one of the most cost-effective alternatives.
• Cloud server users: Major cloud platforms such as Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, and AWS all provide CentOS images, allowing one-click deployment without extra setup.
• Not ideal for: Enterprises that require long-term commercial support, who should consider RHEL or Ubuntu LTS; frontend or AI developers who need the latest package versions, as CentOS default repositories are relatively conservative; and risk-averse users concerned about maintenance ending, since CentOS 7 is at EOL and CentOS Stream is not a traditional stable release.

Key features and highlights

• Enterprise-grade stability: Inherits RHEL’s kernel and packages, with rigorous Red Hat testing. It is suitable for long-running 24/7 servers.
• Free and open source: Completely free, with no licensing fees or user-count restrictions, and can be copied and deployed freely.
• Long lifecycle: Major releases have traditionally received up to 10 years of security updates, such as CentOS 7 from 2014 to 2024, making it suitable for systems requiring long-term maintenance.
• Rich software ecosystem: Mainstream server software such as Apache, Nginx, MySQL, PHP, and Python can be installed through yum/dnf package managers, with strong compatibility with RHEL.
• Strong community support: Official forums, Stack Overflow, and Chinese communities such as Linux.cn provide extensive documentation and Q&A, making solutions relatively easy to find.
• Deep cloud platform integration: CentOS images are available in the image marketplaces of all major cloud providers, so users can install and start configuring quickly.

Pricing analysis

CentOS itself is free and open source, with zero purchase cost. However, there are some “hidden costs” to consider:

• Maintenance costs: CentOS does not provide official technical support, so businesses must invest in in-house operations staff or purchase third-party support services, such as paid patches from TuxCare.
• Migration costs: CentOS 7 has reached the end of maintenance. Continuing to use old versions means security vulnerabilities will no longer be patched, so users need to migrate to CentOS Stream, Rocky Linux, or AlmaLinux. The migration process requires compatibility testing and may incur time costs.
• Cloud server costs: Although the operating system is free, cloud servers still cost money, ranging from a few dozen to thousands of RMB per month depending on configuration. Overall, CentOS falls into the category of “zero-cost entry, but with hidden long-term maintenance costs.” It offers strong value for money, but users must pay attention to version lifecycles.

How users in China can use it

• Network accessibility: Direct access from mainland China is generally smooth. CentOS official mirrors, such as mirror.centos.org, are mirrored by multiple domestic CDN and mirror providers, including Alibaba Cloud, Huawei Cloud, and Tsinghua University, offering very fast downloads without needing a VPN.
• Payment methods: No payment is involved because the system is free. If you buy a cloud server with CentOS preinstalled through a cloud platform, payment can typically be made via Alipay, WeChat Pay, or UnionPay, all of which are supported by domestic cloud providers.
• VPN required?: No. Installation, updates, and daily use can be completed entirely within the mainland China network environment. Some third-party repositories, such as EPEL, may require configuring a domestic mirror, but this is straightforward.
• Domestic alternatives: Alibaba Cloud Anolis OS, Huawei openEuler, and TencentOS Server are domestic distributions based on or compatible with the CentOS/RHEL ecosystem and offer commercial support. If you are concerned about CentOS maintenance ending, these domestic systems are worth considering first.
• Invoice issues: CentOS itself does not issue invoices because it is free software. If you purchase a cloud server through a cloud provider, the provider can issue a standard VAT invoice.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• ✅ Completely free, with no licensing barrier
• ✅ Enterprise-grade stability, suitable for production environments
• ✅ Extremely rich Chinese tutorials and community resources
• ✅ Fully compatible with RHEL, with good commercial software support
• ✅ Smooth direct access in China for downloads and updates

Cons:

• ❌ CentOS 7 has reached end of maintenance in June 2024, creating high security risks
• ❌ Package versions are relatively old and not ideal for developers who need new features
• ❌ No official technical support; businesses must troubleshoot issues themselves
• ❌ CentOS Stream is no longer a traditional stable release, and its positioning is less clear
• ❌ The default firewall, firewalld, and SELinux configurations are relatively strict, which can be challenging for beginners

Comparison with similar products

• Rocky Linux: Initiated by Gregory Kurtzer, one of the original co-founders of CentOS, Rocky Linux is fully compatible with RHEL and has an active community. It is the most direct replacement for CentOS 7. The main difference is that Rocky Linux promises to maintain a long-term stable release model and offers free commercial support through CIQ. It is suitable for users who want to continue the CentOS-style experience.
• AlmaLinux: Sponsored by CloudLinux, AlmaLinux is also compatible with RHEL and provides free patches and migration scripts. It is almost identical to Rocky Linux in functionality, but AlmaLinux has commercial backing and tends to update slightly faster. The choice between the two mostly comes down to personal preference.
• Ubuntu Server: Based on Debian, Ubuntu Server has faster package updates, an active community, and uses the apt package manager by default. It is suitable for users who need newer software, such as Docker or Kubernetes, or who prefer the Ubuntu desktop ecosystem. However, its system structure differs significantly from the RHEL family, resulting in higher migration costs.

Final recommendation

Best suited for:

• Users currently running CentOS 7 who plan to migrate to Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux, ideally with a smooth transition path
• Users who need a stable, free operating system to run web services, databases, or mail servers
• Teams with Linux operations experience who can handle security patches and troubleshooting themselves
• Users who are simply learning Linux and do not want to pay for an operating system

Not suited for:

• Users who require official 24/7 technical support, who should choose RHEL or Ubuntu Pro
• Businesses with extremely high security and compliance requirements that cannot accept an unsupported system, who should choose RHEL or AlmaLinux
• Users who want the latest software versions, such as Node.js 20 or Python 3.12, because CentOS default repositories are too conservative
• Users with no Linux operations knowledge who want an out-of-the-box experience, who may be better served by preconfigured cloud images or Ubuntu

Recommendation: If you are a new user, do not install CentOS 7 anymore, as it has reached EOL. Choose Rocky Linux 9 or AlmaLinux 9 instead. If you are an existing user, plan your migration as soon as possible. CentOS remains worth learning as a historical benchmark, but as a production environment, its countdown has already begun.