Preparing for the End of CentOS: What the Depreciation Means for Your Server Environment

CentOS Depreciation – In December 2020, Red Hat made an announcement that sent ripples throughout the Linux server community: CentOS Linux would be officially deprecated in favor of CentOS Stream. The decision to shift CentOS from a stable, downstream clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to a rolling-release distribution has left many system administrators, web hosting companies, and businesses rethinking their server management strategies.

As CentOS nears its end-of-life (EOL) for traditional versions, businesses using CentOS as their main server operating system must begin planning for the future. This blog post will explore what the deprecation of CentOS means, how it will affect your server environment, and what steps you should take to prepare for a smooth transition.

What Happened to CentOS?

CentOS Depreciation has long been a favorite among Linux users, particularly for those who wanted the stability and features of RHEL without the cost of a RHEL subscription. CentOS Linux (the stable, downstream version) was built from RHEL’s source code, and it offered security patches and bug fixes, making it a reliable choice for web servers, databases, and other enterprise workloads.

However, in late 2020, Red Hat made a bold move: they announced that CentOS Linux would no longer be maintained as a downstream clone of RHEL. Instead, CentOS Stream would become the focus of Red Hat’s development efforts. CentOS Stream, unlike CentOS Linux, is positioned as an upstream (or development) version of RHEL. It acts as a preview of sorts for RHEL releases, meaning updates and new features will appear in CentOS Stream first, before being incorporated into RHEL.

What does this change mean?

• CentOS Linux 8 will reach its end of life (EOL) on December 31, 2021.
• CentOS Stream will continue to receive updates and bug fixes but will no longer offer the same level of stability as CentOS Linux.
• Users who were relying on CentOS Linux for long-term, stable, and free enterprise-grade Linux support will need to seek alternatives.

How CentOS Depreciation Affects Your Server Environment

1. No More Long-Term Support for CentOS Linux

The most immediate impact of CentOS’s deprecation is the lack of long-term support for CentOS Linux 8. Once the EOL date passes, there will be no further updates, security patches, or bug fixes for CentOS 8. This leaves systems running CentOS vulnerable to security exploits and compatibility issues with newer software.

For organizations running CentOS 7 (which will still be supported until June 30, 2024), there is a little more time to plan. However, it’s important to remember that CentOS 7’s EOL is fast approaching, and users should start evaluating alternatives before they reach that point.

2. Stability vs. New Features

CentOS Stream offers a rolling release model, which means new features and updates arrive more frequently. While this is great for developers who need access to the latest software, it can cause stability issues for production environments that rely on well-tested, stable releases. For businesses that prioritize long-term stability over cutting-edge features, CentOS Stream may not be the ideal choice.

If your servers are running critical applications that require a stable, well-supported operating system, CentOS Stream’s upstream model may not be suitable. The system updates in CentOS Stream are pushed regularly and might not be as thoroughly tested as RHEL or CentOS Linux in the past.

3. Impact on Your Custom Software

If you’ve customized your CentOS environment with specialized configurations or third-party software, the transition to CentOS Stream may require additional testing and adjustments. Because CentOS Stream is ahead of RHEL, there could be compatibility issues with software that was originally designed for stable, downstream systems like CentOS Linux.

This could potentially create headaches for businesses that depend on finely tuned server environments. You may need to test custom software and configurations on CentOS Stream before rolling it out to production environments.

How to Prepare for CentOS Depreciation

Now that you understand the impact of CentOS’s depreciation, it’s time to consider the best alternatives and start planning your transition. Here are the top steps you should take to prepare your server environment for the end of CentOS:

1. Evaluate CentOS Stream for Development Environments

For some users, CentOS Stream may be a good option. Since CentOS Stream is essentially a preview of future RHEL releases, it provides early access to new features and updates, which could be beneficial for development environments or non-critical workloads. However, for production environments, you may want to consider other options that offer more stability.

2. Switch to RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux)

If your organization is already familiar with CentOS and requires long-term support and stability, consider RHEL as your alternative. RHEL is the enterprise version of CentOS and comes with professional support, patches, and certified stability.

Red Hat offers no-cost RHEL subscriptions for small and non-production environments, which may suit organizations with limited budgets. For larger-scale deployments, a RHEL subscription will give you access to enterprise-grade support and services.

3. Look into AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux

Both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are community-driven alternatives that aim to continue the legacy of CentOS Linux by offering a downstream, RHEL-compatible distribution with long-term support and stability.

• AlmaLinux is backed by CloudLinux, a commercial Linux provider, and it offers a seamless migration path from CentOS. It is binary-compatible with RHEL, meaning that applications and tools built for RHEL or CentOS will work perfectly on AlmaLinux.
• Rocky Linux was created by the original CentOS founder Gregory Kurtzer and aims to continue the spirit of CentOS as a community-driven alternative. Like AlmaLinux, it offers full compatibility with RHEL.

Both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are great choices for users who want the reliability and stability of CentOS without switching to CentOS Stream.

4. Consider Ubuntu Server

Ubuntu Server is another solid alternative, particularly for businesses that want a Linux distribution with a strong community following and a large software ecosystem. Ubuntu Server offers long-term support (LTS) releases, which are stable, security-patched, and supported for five years.

While Ubuntu Server is a different flavor of Linux compared to CentOS, its strong support, ease of use, and broad compatibility with enterprise software make it an excellent option for those transitioning away from CentOS.

5. Plan Your Migration

The most critical step in preparing for CentOS depreciation is to plan your migration well in advance. Migrating from CentOS to a new distribution can take time and resources, particularly if you have custom configurations, third-party applications, or a complex server environment.

Some steps to take during migration:

• Inventory your existing CentOS systems: Identify what applications, services, and custom configurations you have on your CentOS servers.
• Test your new environment: Before making the switch, set up a test server running your chosen alternative (such as AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, or RHEL) to ensure compatibility with your applications.
• Create a backup: Always back up your data before migrating to avoid potential data loss during the transition.
• Schedule downtime: Depending on your environment, you may need to schedule a migration window where minimal disruption occurs to business operations.

6. Stay Informed

Finally, stay updated on the latest news and developments regarding CentOS and its alternatives. Red Hat, AlmaLinux, and Rocky Linux all provide resources and community forums to help users through the transition. Being proactive and staying informed will ensure that your migration process goes smoothly.

Conclusion

The depreciation of CentOS Linux marks a significant change in the landscape of enterprise Linux distributions. While CentOS Stream may be a good fit for development and testing environments, most businesses will need to consider alternatives for their production servers.

Whether you decide to migrate to RHEL, switch to AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux, or opt for a completely different distribution like Ubuntu Server, it’s important to start planning your transition now to ensure continued security, support, and stability for your server environment.

By evaluating your needs, testing alternatives, and planning your migration carefully, you can smoothly transition away from CentOS and continue to enjoy a robust, secure Linux environment for your business.