* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics") * [Open source](/en/topics/open-source "Open source") * What is CentOS? What is CentOS? =============== Updated July 1, 2024•*5*-minute read Copy URL Jump to section --------------- OverviewCentOS Stream vs. CentOS LinuxCentOS vs. RHELIs it going away?Is RHEL free?Start using Overview -------- [CentOS](https://www.centos.org/) is an [open source](/en/topics/open-source/what-is-open-source) project that releases 2 distinct [Linux® distributions](/en/topics/linux/whats-the-best-linux-distro-for-you), [CentOS Stream](/en/topics/linux/what-is-centos-stream) and CentOS Linux. It is also the open source community of people who participate in it and everything enabling them to work on CentOS project outputs. Red Hat®, Almalinux, CloudLinux, and AWS all contribute to this community. CentOS Stream is the upstream development platform for upcoming [Red Hat® Enterprise Linux](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux) product releases. [Try Red Hat Enterprise Linux for free](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/server/trial "product | red hat enterprise linux | try it") After June 30, 2024, The CentOS Project [discontinued all updates and releases](https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/centos-stream-building-innovative-future-enterprise-linux) of CentOS Linux®. Updates for CentOS Linux 8 ended in December 2021, and [updates for CentOS Linux 7 ended](/en/topics/linux/centos-linux-eol) on June 30, 2024. This means current CentOS Linux users will need to choose a migration path. 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. To aid in this transition, consider using the [CentOS Linux migration assessment](https://redhatdg.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_23OOmQLv1t0OlXo) to find potential considerations for your specific needs and environment. CentOS Stream vs. CentOS Linux ------------------------------ CentOS Linux and CentOS Stream are both are open source Linux distros, versions of CentOS, and part of the overall enterprise Linux ecosystem. CentOS Stream serves as the [open source development](/en/about/development-model) platform for upcoming releases of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. CentOS Stream is what will become Red Hat Enterprise Linux, while CentOS Linux is derived from source code released by Red Hat. Historically, each version of CentOS Linux reflected major versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux—both used the RPM package manager system and maintained similar functionality, compatibility, and bug fixes. [CentOS Stream](/en/topics/linux/what-is-centos-stream) serves as the [open source development](/en/about/development-model) platform for upcoming minor releases of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. CentOS Stream makes Red Hat Enterprise Linux developmental source code available so community members–along with Red Hat partners and ecosystem developers–have a place to contribute and test code in tandem with Red Hat Enterprise Linux engineers. CentOS Linux is a community-supported distribution derived from source code released by Red Hat. It is built on the Linux kernel, which is most often used for software development and deployment and doesn’t have a distribution model. Updates to CentOS Linux discontinued between 2021 and 2024. Historically, each version of CentOS Linux reflected major versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Both used the RPM package manager system and maintained similar functionality, compatibility, and bug fixes. Red Hat resources ----------------- [Keep reading](/en/resources "Keep reading") CentOS vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux ----------------------------------- CentOS is an open source project. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is an [enterprise open source product](/en/enterprise-open-source-report/2021) with a defined [life cycle](https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata) and [upgrade path](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/upgrade-rhel). CentOS Stream, CentOS Linux, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux are all [different Linux distributions](/en/topics/linux/centos-alternatives) (along with Ubuntu, Debian, Oracle Linux, Fedora Linux and others), and there are many technical, support, and developmental differences between them. Choosing the [best Linux distribution](/en/topics/linux/whats-the-best-linux-distro-for-you) for you depends on your use case and tool requirements. * There are thousands of technical differences, like variances in binary execution paths. * The support structures are different. CentOS Stream and CentOS Linux support is provided by the goodwill of other users and contributors via GitHub, forums, wikis, tutorials, and other methods of collaboration. Red Hat Enterprise Linux [is supported](/en/about/value-of-Red-Hat) by full-time engineers and staff. * The way they all invite, test, and commit source code modifications are different. Red Hat Enterprise Linux contributions are channeled through CentOS Stream. CentOS Stream contributions can be suggested by anyone, but contributions are only accepted and committed by Red Hat engineers. CentOS Linux doesn’t have a contribution model. ### ### Why industry leaders choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux over CentOS Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux can help drive business transformation at scale to meet customer demand, letting you free up resources and consolidate IT systems. Salesforce, a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) system provider, is taking advantage of the stability Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers its modern IT workloads. The company is migrating more than 200,000 systems from CentOS Linux to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9. [Learn more about the Salesforce migration](/en/about/press-releases/salesforce-standardizes-global-hybrid-cloud-infrastructure-red-hat-enterprise-linux) Is CentOS going away? --------------------- The CentOS Project [discontinued updates and releases](/en/topics/linux/centos-linux-eol) of CentOS Linux between 2021 and 2024. This means current CentOS Linux users will need to [choose a migration path](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/centos-migration). Updates for CentOS Linux 8 ended in December 2021, and updates for CentOS Linux 7 ended on June 30, 2024. However, the CentOS community is not going away. Community contributors and CentOS users will continue to collaborate on open source Linux distributions as part of the CentOS Stream project, which will remain an important part of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux development process. [**CentOS special interest groups**](https://wiki.centos.org/SpecialInterestGroup.html) **(CentOS SIGs)** will continue their activities within the community, based on the direction of each groups’ members and organizing leaders. Anyone can seek the CentOS governing board’s approval to start a new SIG. **CentOS Stream** will continue to be the open source development platform and main development pipeline of Red Hat Enterprise Linux minor releases. * CentOS Stream 8 is part of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 development process and updates will continue through the [full support phase](https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata#Full_Support_Phase) of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 lifecycle. * CentOS Stream 9 launched in 2021 as part of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 development process with a similar update cycle. CentOS Linux source code will remain available to the public on [git.centos.org](https://git.centos.org/), but builds of  CentOS Linux 8 ended in December 2021. Organizations and communities providing CentOS Linux-like operating systems—such as Rocky Linux, Amazon Linux 2, [Docker](/en/topics/containers/what-is-docker), and AlmaLinux—will need to be consulted directly since Red Hat and CentOS maintain no involvement in these efforts. Rocky Linux, which was founded by CentOS co-founder Gregory Kurtzer, will also continue creating CentOS Linux-like distributions. The CentOS governing board decided to sunset CentOS versions on the following schedule: * CentOS Linux 7 updates continued alongside [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/rhel-7-end-of-maintenance) support lifecycle through June 2024. * CentOS Linux 8 updates ended December 31, 2021. * CentOS Linux 9 will not launch. [This blog answers similar FAQs](/en/blog/faq-centos-stream-updates "FAQ: CentOS Stream Updates") Can I use Red Hat Enterprise Linux for free? -------------------------------------------- Yes. Qualifying individuals and organizations have access to several programs that provide Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscriptions at no cost (depending on certain variables). [Red Hat tooling to support the migration](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux/migration-process/convert2rhel) is available and fully supported, as is the resulting deployment. * Individual developers can sign up for a no-cost [Red Hat Developer subscription](https://developers.redhat.com/about). * [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. * Open source projects, communities, and other nonprofit software groups engaged with open source may qualify for a no-cost [Red Hat Open Source Infrastructure program](/en/blog/extending-no-cost-red-hat-enterprise-linux-open-source-organizations). * Academic institutions and nonprofit research institutions may be able to access Red Hat Enterprise Linux at a reduced rate through the [Red Hat Academic Program](/en/blog/expanding-red-hat-enterprise-linux-choices-research-and-academia). [Discover the Red Hat Enterprise Linux experience](/en/resources/make-most-of-your-linux-experience-ebook "Experience Red Hat Enterprise Linux") Start using CentOS Stream ------------------------- CentOS Stream includes the kernel and all user space components, and is where the primary RHEL + 1 development occurs. It enables a quicker route to market for independent software vendors (ISVs), independent hardware vendors (IHVs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and Red Hat layered products. There are 2 main ways to start using CentOS Stream. **Migrate** from CentOS Linux 8 to CentOS Stream 8 using the following commands : ``` [root@centos ~]# dnf swap centos-linux-repos centos-stream-repos [root@centos ~]# dnf distro-sync ``` **Download** CentOS Stream [here](https://www.centos.org/centos-stream/). 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 ------------ ### Ansible vs. Puppet: What you need to know Ansible and Puppet are community open source IT automation tools. This article will help explain the similarities and differences between Ansible and Puppet in greater detail. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-puppet "article | ansible vs puppet") ### Ansible vs. Salt: What you need to know Ansible and Salt are community open source IT automation tools. This article will help explain the similarities and differences between Ansible and Salt in greater detail. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-salt "article | ansible vs salt") ### Ansible vs. Chef: What you need to know Ansible and Chef are community open source IT automation tools. This article will help explain the similarities and differences between Ansible and Chef in greater detail. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-chef "article | ansible vs chef") Open source resources --------------------- ### Related content * Blog post [Get the most out of Red Hat Enterprise Linux for AWS](/en/blog/get-most-out-red-hat-enterprise-linux-aws) * Blog post [Get the most out of Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Microsoft Azure](/en/blog/get-most-out-red-hat-enterprise-linux-microsoft-azure) * Blog post [How does real-world AI deliver value? 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