Comparison of the Linux distributions Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and CentOS regarding licensing, support, release cycles, target groups and development models.Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL): Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a commercial Linux distribution developed and supported by Red Hat, Inc. RHEL provides a robust, stable, and secure platform for businesses and organizations. As a commercial product, RHEL comes with comprehensive support, regular updates, security patches, and a variety of certifications for hardware and software. Customers receive access to a comprehensive support service that includes installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. The cost of RHEL is derived from the subscription to these support services. CentOS: CentOS (Community ENTerprise Operating System) was a free, open-source Linux distribution based on the source codes of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). CentOS offered almost identical functionality to RHEL, but without commercial support. The distribution was developed and maintained by the community. CentOS was a popular choice for users looking for a free and similar alternative to RHEL. However, in December 2020, Red Hat announced that CentOS would continue as CentOS Stream, resulting in a change in direction and relationship with RHEL. Main differences:1. Licensing and costs: - Red Hat: RHEL is a commercial product licensed through a subscription. The cost covers support, regular updates and certifications. - CentOS: CentOS was free and open source until the move to CentOS Stream. There were no support costs because support was provided by the community and not by a commercial vendor. 2. Support: - Red Hat: Provides professional, commercial support available 24x7. Support includes troubleshooting, security patches and system updates, as well as access to Red Hat's comprehensive knowledge base. - CentOS: Does not offer official commercial support. Instead, support is based on community forums and resources. As of 2020, CentOS has been converted to CentOS Stream, which is a rolling release and thus serves more as a preview of upcoming RHEL releases. 3. Release cycles and stability: - Red Hat: Has a stable release cycle with a long support period (typically 10 years) for each major release, including security-related updates and bug fixes. The releases are well tested and certified to work reliably under various hardware and software configurations. - CentOS: Was essentially a 1:1 copy of RHEL without the commercial add-on services. With the introduction of CentOS Stream, CentOS is now released as a "preview" of future RHEL releases, making the release cycle more flexible and less stable than RHEL. 4. Target group: - Red Hat: Targets companies and organizations that require commercial support and guaranteed long-term support. Red Hat also offers training and certifications. - CentOS: Was intended for developers, system administrators and companies looking for a free, RHEL-compatible solution without commercial support. With the move to CentOS Stream, the distribution is now more aimed at developers and companies interested in developing and previewing new features. 5. Updates and Upgrades: - Red Hat: Offers regular updates and upgrades as part of the subscription. These are thoroughly tested and focused on the stability and security of the distribution. - CentOS: Updates and upgrades were based on RHEL releases but were not officially certified. With the introduction of CentOS Stream, continuous updates are being made that may differ from the stable RHEL releases. 6. Development model: - Red Hat: Follows a closed development model for the actual RHEL distribution, although the source code is accessible to the community. Red Hat performs extensive testing and qualification before making a release publicly available. - CentOS: Was a community-supported project that used RHEL source codes to provide an identical but unsupported distribution. With CentOS Stream, the development of the distribution becomes more active and dynamic as it provides developments ahead of the next RHEL release. Summary:- **Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)** is a commercial distribution with comprehensive support, certified updates, and long-term support for enterprises. - **CentOS** was a free and open-source alternative to RHEL that used RHEL source code but did not provide official support. Since 2020, CentOS continues as CentOS Stream, which is a rolling release and preview of upcoming RHEL versions. FAQ 85: Updated on: 27 July 2024 18:19 |