CentOS is slated to reach its end of life in June 2024. As of 2022, it remains a prevalent choice for servers globally, having been the most popular Linux server distribution in 2010. This robust Linux operating system, built on the foundation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), continues to drive enterprise desktops and servers effectively. The announcement of CentOS’s end of life has stirred significant apprehension. Organizations and administrators relying on this operating system are grappling with the challenge of migrating their servers and IT infrastructure away from CentOS. Such a large-scale shift in server software is a considerable endeavor.
Why CentOS Is Being Phased Out:
CentOS made its debut in 2004, initially based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). A decade later, in 2014, Red Hat acquired CentOS, assuring its autonomy and pledging technical and financial support. However, this acquisition hinted at potential changes ahead.
In 2019, as part of its push into the Cloud market, IBM took over Red Hat, altering its approach toward CentOS. Presently, CentOS has transitioned from being a direct replica of RHEL to an upstream version. It functions more like a testing platform for RHEL, resembling Fedora in its role. Furthermore, the rebranded operating system is now known as CentOS Stream.
Upstream Linux distributions often showcase the latest features and adopt shorter release cycles. Yet, they may lack the stability crucial for servers and enterprise use—a gap that AlmaLinux seeks to fill.
Why CentOS Is Being Phased Out:
CentOS made its debut in 2004, initially based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). A decade later, in 2014, Red Hat acquired CentOS, assuring its autonomy and pledging technical and financial support. However, this acquisition hinted at potential changes ahead.
In 2019, as part of its push into the Cloud market, IBM took over Red Hat, altering its approach toward CentOS. Presently, CentOS has transitioned from being a direct replica of RHEL to an upstream version. It functions more like a testing platform for RHEL, resembling Fedora in its role. Furthermore, the rebranded operating system is now known as CentOS Stream.
Upstream Linux distributions often showcase the latest features and adopt shorter release cycles. Yet, they may lack the stability crucial for servers and enterprise use—a gap that AlmaLinux seeks to fill.
Why Opt for AlmaLinux?
AlmaLinux closely resembles the previous iteration of CentOS. It stands as a dependable and stable operating system, maintaining a 1:1 binary compatibility with RHEL. Essentially, it mirrors the current stable versions of RHEL.
Beyond serving as a reliable substitute for CentOS, AlmaLinux presents itself as an excellent alternative to RHEL. Users gain access to an enterprise-level OS without incurring the service fees typically associated with RHEL. It’s a resilient and thoroughly vetted operating system.
For both enterprises and individuals seeking a viable alternative to CentOS, AlmaLinux emerges as a strong contender.
1. Strong Financial Support
Although AlmaLinux is available for free, substantial financial resources are necessary for software development, particularly for an entire operating system. This encompasses payments to software developers, system administrators, and various management aspects.
Thankfully, AlmaLinux boasts robust financial backing and support. Key companies supporting AlmaLinux include prominent names like Amazon, Microsoft, CloudLinux, Equinix, AMD, and others. Sustaining open-source software like AlmaLinux for the long term demands solid financial support. The substantial backing from cloud service providers stems from AlmaLinux providing them with a seamless transition from CentOS.
Beyond financial support, AlmaLinux benefits from a substantial community of developers, testers, and enthusiasts who actively contribute to its ongoing development and overall success.
2. Effortless Transition from CentOS
The migration from your existing CentOS and RHEL servers to AlmaLinux is a smooth process. The AlmaLinux community has developed a specialized tool called “Alma Linux deploy,” designed to aid system administrators in converting their current CentOS setups to AlmaLinux seamlessly.
This migration tool, Alma Linux deploy, facilitates the transfer of the entire operating system, including software and configurations, from CentOS or RHEL to AlmaLinux. Remarkably, the entire migration process requires only two server reboots.
For organizations managing a multitude of servers operating on CentOS, the capability to migrate swiftly to AlmaLinux with minimal downtime stands as a crucial factor for ensuring uninterrupted business operations.
3. Accessible Across Servers and Desktops
AlmaLinux offers editions for both desktop and server environments. This flexibility enables organizations to create and test software on an operating system base that mirrors the one utilized by their servers.
Furthermore, employing the same operating system across the enterprise simplifies system administration and other IT management tasks.
Users familiar with RHEL or CentOS will quickly recognize the similarities present in AlmaLinux Desktop. Its familiarity ensures a seamless transition, making users feel comfortable and at ease while using it.
4. Empowers Extensive Cloud Infrastructure
Despite being relatively new, AlmaLinux has rapidly become the backbone of substantial cloud infrastructures and data centers globally. It holds a prominent position within CloudLinux and is in widespread use across various government agencies. Additionally, AlmaLinux VMs are readily deployable on cloud platforms like Azure and AWS.
A glance at AlmaLinux’s DistroWatch webpage underscores its burgeoning usage and increasing popularity, positioning it favorably among other RHEL derivatives.
Other Considerable Alternatives to CentOS
An alternative worth exploring alongside AlmaLinux is Rocky Linux, which, akin to AlmaLinux, is also based on RHEL. Rocky Linux is led by one of the original figures behind CentOS, with additional involvement from early contributors to CentOS in its development.
Similar to AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux offers a migration tool called “migrate2rocky,” aiding the transition from CentOS and other RHEL derivatives. While AlmaLinux enjoys slightly more sponsorship, DistroWatch rankings as of 2022 indicate its higher popularity compared to Rocky Linux.
Another contender is Oracle Linux, in development since 2006 and maintaining binary compatibility with RHEL. Additionally, migrating directly to RHEL itself is an option, albeit involving fees for usage. However, opting for RHEL provides essential server support during the transition from CentOS.
Switching to AlmaLinux from CentOS is a Seamless Process
AlmaLinux stands as an excellent substitute for CentOS, ensuring binary compatibility with RHEL. When contemplating a migration to AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux, it’s advisable to install it on a virtual machine initially to familiarize yourself with its functionalities. Additionally, testing the migration tool in a simulated environment before implementing it on live servers is a prudent step.
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AlmaLinux Migration Guide
This guide outlines the process of converting your operating system to AlmaLinux using the AlmaLinux Migration tool (opens new window).
Supported Operating Systems for Conversion:
– CentOS 8
– CentOS Stream 8, 9
– Oracle Linux 8, 9
– RHEL 8, 9
– Rocky Linux 8, 9
– Virtuozzo Linux (VZLinux) 8, 9
This tool also offers support for cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin panels.
Steps for Migration:
For EL8 or EL9 systems, the minimal supported version is 8.4. Ensure your OS version meets this requirement, upgrading if necessary.
Tip: Having a backup or snapshot of your system is recommended for a restore point in case of issues.
Follow these steps to convert your EL8 or EL9 system to AlmaLinux via CLI:
1. Update your operating system if needed with the command:
sudo dnf update -y
2. Download the almalinux-deploy.sh script:
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AlmaLinux/almalinux-deploy/master/almalinux-deploy.sh
3. Execute the script:
sudo bash almalinux-deploy.sh
4. Review the output for any errors. A successful conversion will indicate “Migration to AlmaLinux is completed.”
5. Reboot the system to boot with AlmaLinux kernel:
sudo reboot
Verify the successful conversion:
– Check the release file:cat /etc/redhat-release
Expected output: “AlmaLinux release 8.7 (Stone Smilodon)”
Verify the system boots with the AlmaLinux kernel by default:
sudo grubby –info DEFAULT | grep AlmaLinux
Expected output: “title=”AlmaLinux (4.18.0-425.3.1.el8.x86_64) 8.7 (Stone Smilodon)”
Migration from CentOS versions lower than 8.4:
For systems using CentOS versions 8.4 or 8.5, it’s recommended to update to version 8.5 before migrating to AlmaLinux. However, if the CentOS version is at least 8.4, this step is not necessary.
As of January 31, 2022, the CentOS 8 mirror lists are offline. Use the provided sed commands to update your dnf config files for the conversion process to proceed smoothly. Alternatively, use the -f flag when running the almalinux-deploy.sh script to handle this automatically.
Execute the commands to update your system and reboot as directed in the previous steps.
Verify the successful conversion using the provided commands for release file and default kernel check.