* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics") * [Linux](/en/topics/linux "Linux") * What to know about CentOS Linux EOL What to know about CentOS Linux EOL =================================== Updated July 1, 2024•*4*-minute read Copy URL Jump to section --------------- OverviewCentOS LinuxWhy is it going away?What does EOL mean?What does this mean for you?Migration optionsCloud optionsWhy Red Hat Enterprise Linux? Overview -------- CentOS Linux 7 reached end of life (EOL) on June 30, 2024. This article will cover what that means, how you can prepare, and how Red Hat can help ease your migration. [Explore migration options](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/centos-migration "Migrate from CentOS Linux to Red Hat Enterprise Linux") What is CentOS Linux? --------------------- CentOS Linux is a freely available, community-supported Linux distribution that was developed, distributed, and maintained by the CentOS Project community contributors. It was derived from Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® sources and released in alignment with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux release cycle. CentOS Linux is not a product of Red Hat and does not have Red Hat support. [Learn more about CentOS](/en/topics/linux/what-is-centos) Red Hat resources ----------------- [Keep reading](/en/resources "Keep reading") Why is CentOS Linux going away? ------------------------------- In 2020, The CentOS Project, in coordination with Red Hat, announced that it would shift full investment to CentOS Stream, the upstream development platform for upcoming Red Hat Enterprise Linux releases. As a result, CentOS Linux updates and releases were discontinued between 2021 and 2024, finishing when CentOS Linux 7 reached EOL on June 30, 2024. [Read more about CentOS Linux EOL](/en/blog/fastest-road-centos-linux-red-hat-enterprise-linux) What does EOL mean? ------------------- End of life (EOL) occurs when a product or service is discontinued. Organizations that use the product will have to migrate to a new solution to continue receiving updates and security patches. What does this mean for you? ---------------------------- If you are running CentOS Linux 7, you should migrate to a new operating system to continue receiving security updates, patches, and new features. If you remain on CentOS Linux, you’re at risk of exposing your organization to unpatched vulnerabilities and potential security breaches. While it may still be possible to find support for CentOS Linux from third parties, [it would be a fork](/en/blog/centos-linux-end-life-centos-stream-and-new-red-hat-enterprise-linux-landscape), and wholly separate from the CentOS Project, CentOS Stream, or Red Hat. [Discover 5 top reasons to choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux as your Linux solution](/en/resources/choose-rhel-as-linux-solution-analyst-material "Discover 5 top reasons to choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux as your Linux solution") What are your migration options for moving to Red Hat Enterprise Linux? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Because CentOS Linux was derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux sources, users migrating to Red Hat Enterprise Linux can continue to use many of the same techniques and elements with minimal training, while also gaining more features, tools, support, and value. To further assist in your migration planning and execution, the [CentOS Linux migration assessment](https://redhatdg.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_23OOmQLv1t0OlXo) is available to evaluate your current CentOS Linux setup and provide for a smooth shift to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Here are some options to ease your transition. [Read overview of migration options](/en/resources/simplify-centos-linux-conversions-overview) ### Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Third Party Linux Migration [Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Third Party Linux Migration](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/red-hat-enterprise-linux-for-third-party-linux-migration) is a new offering designed to assist users of CentOS Linux 7 to maintain business continuity after the EOL date. This competitively-priced offering includes a Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription and tooling to convert in-place instances of CentOS Linux 7 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7. It makes Red Hat Enterprise Linux more accessible with a simplified conversion process that maintains existing customizations, configurations, and preferences on-premise or in the cloud. For organizations that need more time past the CentOS Linux EOL date, this offering is also available with up to 4 years of extended lifecycle support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 so you can maintain consistency in your environment until you’re ready to upgrade to a newer version. This video can't play due to privacy settings To change your settings, select the "Cookie Preferences" link in the footer and opt in to "Advertising Cookies or try disabling adblockers." *Don't let CentOS Linux 7 EOL catch you off guard. Discover how Red Hat's Third Party Linux Migration offer can help. Video duration: 5:22* Once you've migrated from CentOS Linux 7, make a plan to update your Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems, since [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 is reaching end of maintenance (EOM)](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/rhel-7-end-of-maintenance) on June 30, 2024. ### Convert2RHEL for migrating to Red Hat Enterprise Linux Convert2RHEL is a no-cost, fully supported migration tool that simplifies the migration process while maintaining existing customizations, configurations, and preferences.This command line utility converts RPM-based Linux operating systems to a fully supported Red Hat Enterprise Linux OS. It minimizes the need for costly redeployment projects and reduces the burden on system administrators by automatically identifying and replacing OS packages in CentOS Linux with RHEL equivalents. It’s an automated way to convert to Red Hat Enterprise Linux — instead of manually redeploying all your workloads. Once you've migrated from CentOS Linux 7, you will then need to upgrade your Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 subscription. [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 reached its end of maintenance (EOM)](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/rhel-7-end-of-maintenance)on June 30, 2024. [Upgrading](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/upgrade-rhel) to the latest versions of the operating system allows you to continue to take full advantage of everything the operating system has to offer. If you’re not ready to upgrade, [Extended Life Cycle Support](/en/blog/not-ready-upgrade-rhel-7-4-years-extended-life-cycle-support-now-available) (ELS) for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 provides up to 4 additional years of maintenance support for certain critical-impact security fixes, selected urgent priority bug fixes, and troubleshooting for the last minor release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (7.9) until May 31, 2029. [Get Convert2RHEL documentation](https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/8/html-single/converting_from_a_linux_distribution_to_rhel_using_the_convert2rhel_utility/index) ### Migrating from CentOS Linux with Red Hat Lightspeed (formerly Red Hat Insights) Organizations [migrating to Red Hat Enterprise Linux](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/centos-migration) now have a simpler way to convert using an online service. Find out how to get pre-conversion guidance specific to your environment with these [step-by-step instructions](/en/blog/how-convert-centos-linux-rhel-red-hat-insights). ### Red Hat Developer Subscription for Teams [Red Hat Developer Subscription for Teams](/en/resources/developer-subscription-for-teams-overview) offers existing Red Hat customer organizations running Red Hat technologies in their production environments the opportunity to deploy Red Hat Enterprise Linux in their development environments at no extra cost. Red Hat Enterprise Linux gives developers easy access to a more reliable and security-focused operating system, allowing your organization to build and test applications on the same innovative and reliable platform used for your production workloads. ### Red Hat Consulting For large environments or organizations with limited resources, you can engage Red Hat Consulting to help accelerate your migration. Red Hat experts bring proven knowledge and experience to your migration project. We can help you identify and convert key applications and workloads, and we mentor and enable you to continue confidently afterward. [Explore Red Hat Consulting](/en/services/consulting) Red Hat Enterprise Linux in the cloud ------------------------------------- Red Hat Enterprise Linux is certified for use and compatibility with hundreds of cloud providers, including [AWS](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/rhel-for-aws), [Microsoft Azure](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux-azure), and [Google Cloud](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/google-cloud), so you can choose the best IT infrastructure options for your business. [Migrate from CentOS Linux to a cloud-ready operating system](/en/resources/migrate-to-cloud-ready-operating-system-overview "Migrate from CentOS Linux to a cloud-ready operating system") Why choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux? ------------------------------------ Red Hat Enterprise Linux naturally provides a similar user experience to CentOS Linux versions and requires little retraining for CentOS Linux users. Red Hat Enterprise Linux [provides higher value and minimizes overall costs](/en/resources/idc-business-value-red-hat-solutions-compared-to-unpaid) over time by providing a: * Lower overall cost of ownership [compared to non-paid Linux](/en/resources/idc-business-value-red-hat-solutions-compared-to-unpaid). * Defined maintenance and update schedule. * [Global support team](/en/services/support) that is available 24x7. * Ecosystem of certified [partners](/en/partners). * Collection of [security resources](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/security). * Host of management tools including [Red Hat Lightspeed](/en/lightspeed). * Consistent experience across the [open hybrid cloud](/en/hybrid-cloud-solutions), including physical, virtual, private clouds, public clouds, and edge deployments. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the reliable replacement for CentOS Linux, providing consistency across footprints whether your organization is deploying new applications, moving existing applications from the datacenter to a cloud environment, or simply migrating off another Linux distribution. [Read the brief](/en/resources/simplify-centos-linux-conversions-overview "Simplify conversions from CentOS Linux with tailored pathways") The official Red Hat blog ------------------------- Get the latest information about our ecosystem of customers, partners, and communities. [Keep reading](/en/blog "The official Red Hat blog") All Red Hat product trials -------------------------- Our no-cost product trials help you gain hands-on experience, prepare for a certification, or assess if a product is right for your organization. [Keep reading](/en/products/trials "All Red Hat product trials") Keep reading ------------ ### What is an image builder? An image builder is a tool used to create a copy of a virtual system or configuration that can then be used as a base from which developers can build and deploy these systems on other machines or platforms. [Read the article](/en/topics/linux/what-is-an-image-builder "article | What is an image builder?") ### Why choose Red Hat for Linux? Workloads need to be portable and scalable across environments. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is your consistent, stable foundation across hybrid cloud deployments. [Read the article](/en/topics/linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux "article | why choose red hat for linux?") ### What is Linux? Linux is an open source operating system made up of the kernel, the base component of the OS, and the tools, applications, and services bundled with it. [Read the article](/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux "article | what is linux?") Linux resources --------------- ### Related content * Detail [Real-time Linux for controls](/en/resources/realtime-linux-for-controls-detail) * Analyst material [[node:rh-smart-meta-title]](/en/resources/omdia-operating-system-choice-decision) * E-book [State of Linux in the public cloud](/en/resources/state-of-linux-public-cloud-ebook) * E-book [State of Linux in the public cloud](/en/engage/state-of-linux-public-cloud-ebook) ### Related articles * [What is an image builder?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-an-image-builder) * [Why choose Red Hat for Linux?](/en/topics/linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux) * [How to move to Red Hat Enterprise Linux from other Linux distros](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/migration-process/convert2rhel) * [Linux for cloud computing](/en/topics/linux/linux-for-cloud-computing) * [Why run Microsoft SQL Server on Linux?](/en/topics/linux/why-run-sql-server-on-linux) * [What is Linux?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux) * [What is post-quantum cryptography?](/en/topics/security/post-quantum-cryptography) * [What is the SAP HANA migration?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-sap-hana-migration) * [What is lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) authentication?](/en/topics/security/what-is-ldap-authentication) * [Red Hat Enterprise Linux security](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/security) * [Why run Linux on AWS?](/en/topics/linux/linux-on-aws) * [What is high availability?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-high-availability) * [What is ERP?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-erp) * [Functional safety and continuous certification on Linux](/en/topics/open-source/functional-safety-and-continuous-certification-on-linux) * [What is SAP HANA (and why does it run on Linux)?](/en/topics/linux/sap-hana-and-linux) * [Why run Linux on IBM Cloud](/en/topics/linux/linux-on-ibm-cloud) * [What is CentOS Stream?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-centos-stream) * [Why choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Azure?](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux-on-azure) * [Why choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux on AWS?](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux-on-aws) * [Linux on Azure](/en/topics/linux/linux-on-azure) * [What to know for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 End of Maintenance](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/rhel-7-end-of-maintenance) * [What is CentOS?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-centos) * [Red Hat Enterprise Linux migration process](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/migration-process) * [Why run Linux on Google Cloud?](/en/topics/linux/linux-on-google-cloud) * [Red Hat Satellite on Red Hat Enterprise Linux](/en/technologies/management/satellite/satellite-for-rhel) * [Why choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Google Cloud?](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/why-choose-red-hat-enterprise-linux-google-cloud) * [What is Linux kernel live patching?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux-kernel-live-patching) * [What's the best Linux distro for you?](/en/topics/linux/whats-the-best-linux-distro-for-you) * [What's the difference between Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux](/en/topics/linux/fedora-vs-red-hat-enterprise-linux) * [What is a Linux server?](/en/topics/linux/linux-server) * [What is a configuration file?](/en/topics/linux/what-configuration-file) * [What is high performance computing (HPC)?](/en/topics/high-performance-computing/what-is-high-performance-computing) * [What is a golden image?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-a-golden-image) * [What is an ARM processor?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-arm-processor) * [ARM vs x86: What's the difference?](/en/topics/linux/ARM-vs-x86) * [What is MPLS?](/en/topics/edge-computing/what-is-mpls) * [What is a Linux certification?](/en/topics/linux/linux-certification) * [What was CoreOS and CoreOS container Linux](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift/what-was-coreos) * [What is SELinux?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-selinux) * [What is the Linux kernel?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-the-linux-kernel) [More about this topic](/en/topics/linux "More about this topic")