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CentOS Linux distribution is a stable, predictable, manageable, and reproducible platform derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) sources.
Since March 2004, this Linux operating system has been a community-supported distribution built from source code publicly released by Red Hat. As such, CentOS Linux aims to be functionally compatible with RHEL. They mainly change packages to remove upstream vendor branding and artwork. This Linux OS is free of cost and free to redistribute.
A small yet growing team of core developers is responsible for the ongoing development of the Linux operating system. They are supported by an active community that includes system administrators, network administrators, IT managers, core contributors, and Linux enthusiasts worldwide.
In the coming year, the project aims to expand its mission and establish the Linux OS as a leading community platform for emerging open-source technologies, including OpenStack. Built around these technologies, different CentOS versions will be available as independent downloads or through a personalized installer. Read more about the variants and Special Interest Groups that produce them.
The CentOS Project
This project is a community-driven, free software initiative dedicated to building a robust foundational platform for open-source ecosystems. It offers a versatile development framework suitable for diverse applications, from cloud providers and hosting services to scientific data processing.
The Governing Board
The Governing Board consists of long-time contributors and new members from Red Hat who helped establish the current collaboration. The objective is to oversee the project’s direction, encourage SIG progress, and advocate for CentOS Linux.
The Project Structure
The CentOS Project is modeled on the structure of the Apache Foundation, with a governing board that oversees various semi-autonomous Special Interest Groups or ‘SIGs’. These teams provide supplemental features and alternative solutions that enhance core Linux performance. A few notable examples of SIGs are:
- Core – Building and releasing the core Linux platform.
- Xen4CentOS – Providing Xen4 support for 6
- Design – Improving the user experience with high-quality artwork
CentOS is an Enterprise-class Linux Distribution derived from sources freely provided to the public by a prominent North American Enterprise Linux vendor.
This OS is developed by a small but growing team of core developers, supported by an active user community that includes system and network administrators, enterprise users, managers, core Linux contributors, and enthusiasts worldwide.
It is a community-supported operating system, primarily composed of free software and built on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It stands for Community Enterprise Operating System.
CentOS offers several advantages over other clone projects, including an active and growing user community, rapidly rebuilt and tested errata packages, an extensive mirror network, responsive developers, and multiple free support channels such as IRC chat, mailing lists, forums, and a dynamic FAQ.
CentOS – Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✓ Provides a stable, predictable, manageable, and reproducible platform derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux sources. | ✗ The full DVD ISO is about 7.3 GB, requiring substantial download bandwidth and storage compared with smaller Linux installation images. |
| ✓ Free to use and redistribute, with an active community of system administrators, developers, enterprise users, and Linux enthusiasts. | ✗ Installing the system with customized partitions or alongside another operating system requires careful planning of drives, partitions, and boot configuration. |
| ✓ Supports a broad range of installation targets, including standard storage interfaces, RAID, NVDIMM, Fibre Channel, and virtualized storage devices. | ✗ Network-based and iSCSI installations may require manual network details or authentication credentials, adding setup complexity in specialized environments. |
| ✓ Provides multiple support channels, including forums, mailing lists, IRC, and a community-maintained FAQ. | ✗ The broad range of installation targets and enterprise-oriented deployment options can make configuration more involved for users who only need a basic desktop Linux system. |
| ✓ Includes installation support for complex environments such as multi-boot systems, network-based installations, iSCSI targets, and domain-connected systems. | ✗ Some supported storage hardware, such as Fibre Channel devices, may require vendor-provided drivers, which can add an extra dependency during installation. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CentOS still supported?
The traditional Linux releases are no longer maintained. The Project has shifted its focus to Stream, which tracks just ahead of Red Hat Enterprise Linux development and is the current distribution.
Is CentOS good for a server?
Yes. The distribution is designed as a stable, manageable platform for enterprise-oriented deployments and open-source infrastructure. Its supported installation targets include standard storage, RAID, Fibre Channel, NVDIMM, and virtualized storage devices.
Can CentOS be installed alongside Windows?
Yes. The installer can detect existing operating systems and configure the boot loader accordingly, while users can also manually configure the boot setup when necessary. Installing alongside another OS requires careful attention to the existing partitions and disk layout.
Is CentOS better than Rocky Linux?
They serve different purposes in the current Enterprise Linux ecosystem. CentOS Stream is developed just ahead of RHEL and serves as a development and preview platform for upcoming RHEL minor releases, while Rocky Linux is designed as a downstream, RHEL-compatible distribution; the better choice depends on whether you want an RHEL-aligned development flow or a traditional RHEL-compatible platform.
Official Homepage – https://www.centos.org
Supported installation targets
An installation target is a storage device that stores CentOS and boots the system. CentOS supports the following installation targets for AMD64, Intel 64, and 64-bit ARM systems:
- Storage connected by a standard internal interface, such as SCSI, SATA, or SAS
- BIOS/firmware RAID devices
- NVDIMM devices in sector mode are supported on Intel64 and AMD64 architectures through the nd_pmem driver.
- Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters and multipath devices. Some can require vendor-provided drivers.
- Xen blocks devices on Intel processors in Xen virtual machines.
- VirtIO block devices on Intel processors in KVM virtual machines.
System specifications
The CentOS installation program automatically detects and installs your system’s hardware, so you should not have to supply any specific system information. However, for certain CentOS installation scenarios, it is recommended that you record system specifications for future reference.
These scenarios include:
Installing CentOS with a customized partition layout
Record: The model numbers, sizes, types, and interfaces of the hard drives attached to the system. For example, Seagate ST3320613AS 320 GB on SATA0, Western Digital WD7500AAKS 750 GB on SATA1.
Installing CentOS as an additional operating system on an existing system
Record: Partitions used on the system. This information can include file system types, device node names, file system labels, and sizes, and allows you to identify specific partitions during the partitioning process. If one of the operating systems is Unix-based, CentOS may report the device names differently. Additional information can be obtained by executing the mount and blkid commands or by reviewing the /etc/fstab file.
If multiple operating systems are installed, the CentOS installation program automatically attempts to detect them and configure the boot loader accordingly. If other operating systems are not detected, you can manually configure them. For more details, refer to Configuring Boot Loader in the Configuring Software Options section.
Installing CentOS from an image on a local hard drive
Record: The hard drive and directory that holds the image.
Installing OS from a network location
If the network needs to be configured manually (i.e., when DHCP is not used), follow the necessary steps to set it up.
Record:
- IP address
- Netmask
- Gateway IP address
- Server IP addresses, if required
Contact your network administrator if you need assistance with networking requirements.
Installing OS on an iSCSI target
Record: A note of the iSCSI target location. Depending on your network, you may need a CHAP username and password, a reverse CHAP username and password.
Installing OS if the system is part of a domain
Ensure the domain name is delivered by the DHCP server. If it is missing, enter it yourself during installation.
