CentOS

CentOS is a Linux distribution that is derived from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) sources, and is maintained by The CentOS Project. It is a popular choice for web servers, database servers, and other types of servers due to its stability, security, and flexibility, as seen in its use by organizations such as NASA, CERN, and MIT. CentOS is also widely used in cloud computing environments, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and is supported by companies like IBM, HP, and Dell. Additionally, CentOS is used by various open-source projects, including Apache HTTP Server, MySQL, and PHP.

History

The CentOS project was founded in 2004 by Greg Kurtzer and Lance Davis, with the goal of creating a free and open-source alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The first version of CentOS, version 2, was released on May 14, 2004, and was based on RHEL 2.1. Since then, CentOS has released several versions, including CentOS 3, CentOS 4, and CentOS 5, each of which has been based on the corresponding version of RHEL. CentOS has also been used by various organizations, such as Yahoo!, Google, and Facebook, and has been supported by companies like Oracle, SAP, and VMware. Furthermore, CentOS has been used in various research institutions, including Stanford University, Harvard University, and University of California, Berkeley.

Features

CentOS includes a wide range of features, including support for x86-64 and ARM64 architectures, as well as PowerPC and IBM Z platforms. It also includes a variety of software packages, such as Apache HTTP Server, MySQL, and PHP, which are commonly used in web development and database administration. Additionally, CentOS includes a range of security features, such as SELinux and OpenSSL, which provide enhanced security and encryption for servers and networks. CentOS is also compatible with a variety of hardware platforms, including HP ProLiant, Dell PowerEdge, and IBM System x, and is supported by companies like Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, and Brocade Communications Systems.

Version history

The version history of CentOS is closely tied to that of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), as each version of CentOS is based on the corresponding version of RHEL. Some notable versions of CentOS include CentOS 5, which was released in 2007 and was based on RHEL 5, and CentOS 6, which was released in 2010 and was based on RHEL 6. More recent versions of CentOS include CentOS 7, which was released in 2014 and was based on RHEL 7, and CentOS 8, which was released in 2019 and was based on RHEL 8. CentOS has also been used by various government agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Defense (DoD).

Relationship with Red Hat Enterprise Linux

CentOS is derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), and is maintained by The CentOS Project. As a result, CentOS is highly compatible with RHEL, and can often be used as a drop-in replacement for RHEL in many applications. However, CentOS is not officially supported by Red Hat, and users who require official support may need to purchase a RHEL subscription. Despite this, CentOS is widely used in enterprise environments, and is supported by companies like Accenture, IBM, and HP. Additionally, CentOS is used by various non-profit organizations, including the Linux Foundation, the Apache Software Foundation, and the Free Software Foundation.

CentOS Stream

In 2019, Red Hat announced the creation of CentOS Stream, a new distribution that is designed to be a midstream distribution between Fedora and RHEL. CentOS Stream is intended to provide a more stable and reliable platform for development and testing, and is expected to be used by developers and testers who need to work with the latest RHEL code. CentOS Stream is also expected to be used by organizations that need to deploy RHEL in cloud computing environments, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Furthermore, CentOS Stream is supported by companies like Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA.

Derivatives and forks

There are several derivatives and forks of CentOS, including Oracle Linux, Scientific Linux, and Springdale Linux. These distributions are all based on the CentOS sources, but may include additional features or modifications. For example, Oracle Linux includes additional support for Oracle Database and other Oracle products, while Scientific Linux includes additional support for scientific computing and research applications. Additionally, there are several other derivatives and forks of CentOS, including PCLinuxOS, Red Flag Linux, and Turbolinux, which are used by various organizations and individuals around the world. Category:Linux distributions