CentOS
CentOS is an enterprise Linux distribution based on the sources from Red Hat Enterprise Linux. CentOS conforms with Red Hat's redistribution policy and aims to be 100% binary compatible. Each CentOS version is supported for 7 years (by means of security updates). A new CentOS version is released every 2 years and each CentOS version is regularly updated (every 6 months) to support newer hardware. Currently, there are 4 different supported CentOS releases: CentOS-5 is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, CentOS-4 is based on RHEL4, CentOS-3 is based on RHEL3, and CentOS-2 is based on RHAS2.1.
| Tags | Operating Systems Linux Distributions |
|---|---|
| Licenses | GPL |
| Operating Systems | POSIX Linux |
Recent releases
- 27 May 2009 09:29
Changes: The CentOS 5.3 live CD has been updated to reflect the update to 5.3 in the mainline CentOS distribution. The live CD can be used as a workstation or as a rescue environment. The emacs, scribus, and k3b packages had to be removed to stay under 700MB. You can easily install them with the "yum install" command while running under the live CD environment.
- 01 Apr 2009 14:55
Changes: This version contains several new features. gfs2 and the IET SCSI target, which were available as a developer preview, are now ready for production use. During installation, you can now encrypt your block devices using the LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) specification. There is a newer yum available, which speeds up operation. From 5.3 on, OpenSSL is now FIPS compliant. NetworkManager and wpa_supplicant have been rebased to more current versions. On the desktop, the most noticeable feature is the completely new artwork, which will be the base for future artwork enhancements.
- 19 Oct 2008 07:05
Changes: The CentOS5-LiveCD was updated to reflect changes in the mainline of the CentOS5 distribution.
- 17 Oct 2008 21:41
Changes: The Server CD was updated to stay in line with the current CentOS-4 release.
- 16 Oct 2008 20:41
Changes: This release contains drivers for new hardware and major updates to Firefox and Evolution.
- All comments
Recent commentsUpdate
CentOS 3:
Version 3.7 has been released on April 11, 2006.
CentOS 4:
Version 4.3 has been released on March 19, 2006.
CentOS Linux 4.0 i386 Media Kit available
If anyone is interested you can buy a professional media kit for CentOS from Reaction XP.
www.reactionxp.com (http://www.reactionxp.com/centos.html)
Re: a great alternative
> However, for those who want extra
> functionality, add three lines to
> /etc/yum.conf to include the
> "addons" repository and you'll
> get some newer things (that are still
> good & stable, but not included with
> RHEL).
build5 includes a fully configured yum installed by default, with the addons repository already there.
and thanks ... Crippler
a great alternative
If you're not down with the contractual obligations that RHEL would hold you to, CentOS is a great way to have a long-term stable Enterprise Linux distribution without the extra baggage. It's RHEL 3 without the Red Hat trademarks or mandatory support contract. So feel free to burn copies for your friends and distribute at LUG meetings and installfests. It's ideal for corporate use because updates will be available for five years and patches will address stability and security issues only.
However, for those who want extra functionality, add three lines to /etc/yum.conf to include the "addons" repository and you'll get some newer things (that are still good & stable, but not included with RHEL).
We've switched to this at $WORK after Red Hat shook things up late in 2003 and haven't looked back. Our major Linux support vendors have agreed to support CentOS, for the most part. This is because it is essentially a technical clone of RHEL and since they're already supporting that anyway there is no added cost to them to support it.
So essentially this has the nuts and bolts of RHEL with the community conscience of a Debian-like social contract.