CentOS / Stream, from stable server distro to rolling Desktop/Workstation distro.
CentOS is a community-supported, mainly free software operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It exists to provide a free enterprise class computing platform and strives to maintain 100% binary compatibility with its upstream distribution.
CentOS stands for Community ENTerprise Operating System. CentOS is now a rolling distro (CentOS Stream), like Arch and Gentoo Linux, what does this mean; you always run the latest software packages if you update regularly. Rolling means a constant release of new software updates, this is very different as updates in Debian/Ubuntu, where they only release bigger software updates.
Short video on how to install CentOS
CentOS was like Debian a very stable server distribution, but since they decided to go rolling, I suggest Debian over CentOS for server usage at this moment. Don’t get me wrong, rolling releases are stable, but with the continuous software updates, it has the potential to bring more bugs to your server.
Structure
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is available only through a paid subscription service that provides access to software updates and varying levels of technical support. The product is largely composed of software packages distributed under open source licenses, and the source code for these packages is made public by Red Hat.
CentOS developers use Red Hat’s source code to create a final product very similar to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Red Hat’s branding and logos are changed because Red Hat does not allow them to be redistributed.
CentOS is available free of charge. Technical support is primarily provided by the community via official mailing lists, web forums, and chat rooms. The project is not affiliated with Red Hat and thus receives no financial or logistical support from the company; instead, the CentOS Project relies on donations from users and organizational sponsors.
CentOS Goals
Their purpose is to provide stable Linux solutions for organizations and individuals who do not need strong commercial support to achieve successful operation.
To meet that overall goal, CentOS strives to achieve:
– Easy maintenance
– Self hosting distribution (one that can build on itself)
– Suitability for long term use in production environments | Since CentOS went rolling, I do not suggest it for your production environment.
– Friendly environment for users and package maintainers
– Long-term support of the core
– Active development
– Community infrastructure
– Open management
– Commercial support – offered by partner vendors
My Thoughts
CentOS was a nice and stable server OS, now since the moved to Stream (rolling release, always the latest software packages installed), it would probably fit more for Desktops and Laptops.
For server installations I would recommend Debian. CentOS Stream is probably a descent way to play with Linux and experiment with different desktops and learn how rpm works. (RPM, the original RedHat Package Manager)
Download CentOS & CentOS Stream
Create a bootable USB drive
System requirements
– CPU: 2Ghz is recommended
– RAM: 2GB is recommended
– HDD: about 20G is recommended
– GPU: almost any
– CD-Rom drive or use a LiveUSB for installation
– Sound support, only if you want to hear something 😉
– Internet connection preferably