The landscape of RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) clones shifted significantly with the introduction of CentOS Stream and the subsequent rise of alternatives like AlmaLinux. Understanding their core differences is crucial for making informed decisions.
CentOS Linux (Legacy vs. Stream)
CentOS Linux, historically, was a downstream, bug-for-bug rebuild of RHEL. It offered a free, enterprise-grade operating system with long-term stability, making it a popular choice for production servers.
However, the project shifted focus to CentOS Stream. Key characteristics of CentOS Stream include:
- Upstream to RHEL: It now sits between Fedora and RHEL, serving as a development preview of what will become the next minor release of RHEL.
- Rolling Release: Updates are delivered continuously, meaning it's more current with new packages but potentially less stable than a traditional point-release system.
- Development Focus: It's primarily aimed at developers and contributors who want to work on the future of RHEL.
AlmaLinux
AlmaLinux emerged as a direct response to the changes in CentOS, aiming to fill the void left by the traditional CentOS Linux. Its core attributes are:
- 1:1 Binary Compatible with RHEL: AlmaLinux is a downstream rebuild of RHEL, just like CentOS Linux used to be. This ensures full compatibility with RHEL.
- Stability Focused: It prioritizes stability and long-term support, mirroring RHEL's release cycle and support timelines.
- Community-Owned and Governed: It is managed by the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, a non-profit organization, ensuring it remains free and community-driven. CloudLinux Inc. provides initial sponsorship and support.
- Production-Ready: Designed as a stable, reliable operating system for production environments.
- Migration Path: Provides tools and support for easy migration from CentOS Linux.
Key Differences Summarized
Here's a direct comparison:
- Relationship to RHEL:
- AlmaLinux: Downstream, 1:1 binary compatible rebuild (like old CentOS).
- CentOS Stream: Upstream, a rolling preview of future RHEL.
- Stability:
- AlmaLinux: Highly stable, designed for production workloads. Releases follow RHEL.
- CentOS Stream: Less stable than traditional point releases due to its rolling nature; closer to a beta.
- Use Case:
- AlmaLinux: Production servers, enterprise applications requiring stability and RHEL compatibility.
- CentOS Stream: Development, testing, and contribution to RHEL; early access to upcoming RHEL features.
- Support Model:
- AlmaLinux: Community support, with commercial support options available from CloudLinux and other providers. Long-term support mirroring RHEL.
- CentOS Stream: Community support. Its lifecycle is tied to the RHEL development cycle.
Conclusion: If you require a stable, free, RHEL-compatible operating system for production use, similar to what CentOS Linux traditionally offered, AlmaLinux is a strong contender. CentOS Stream serves a different purpose, catering to users who want to be closer to RHEL development and can tolerate a less predictable, rolling-release model.
