What Happened to CentOS
In December 2020, Red Hat announced that CentOS Linux would transition from a downstream (stable release clone) of RHEL to an upstream (development branch) called CentOS Stream. CentOS, which had been used on countless servers as a “free RHEL,” was effectively discontinued.
EOL Timeline
| Version | End of Support | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CentOS Linux 8 | December 31, 2021 | Ended (originally planned for 2029, terminated 8 years early) |
| CentOS Linux 7 | June 30, 2024 | Ended |
| CentOS Stream 8 | May 31, 2024 | Ended |
| CentOS Stream 9 | May 31, 2027 | Active |
| CentOS Stream 10 | ~2030 | Active (released December 2024) |
CentOS Stream is the “development branch” of RHEL. Its stability guarantees are insufficient for production servers. This led the community to create alternative distributions.
Comparing 5 Alternative Distributions
1. Rocky Linux — The Successor from CentOS’s Founder
Created by Gregory Kurtzer, the original founder of CentOS. It carries on “what CentOS was originally meant to be.”
- Compatibility: RHEL 1:1 binary compatible (bug-for-bug compatible)
- Organization: Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF) — charter prohibits profit-seeking
- Sponsors: CIQ (Series A $26M), Google Cloud partnership
- Support period: 10 years per major version (5 years Active + 5 years Maintenance)
| Version | Release Date | End of Support |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 8 | June 2021 | May 2029 |
| Rocky Linux 9 | July 2022 | May 2032 |
| Rocky Linux 10 | July 2025 | May 2035 |
2. AlmaLinux — A Stable Alternative Backed by CloudLinux
A nonprofit foundation with CloudLinux Inc. guaranteeing $1M annually in funding.
- Compatibility: RHEL ABI (Application Binary Interface) compatible — not binary-identical, but application-level compatible
- Strengths: Official cPanel/Plesk support, x86_64_v2 builds (supports older servers), ELevate migration tool
- Support period: 10 years per major version
3. Oracle Linux — Free, But It’s Oracle
Free to download, distribute, and use. It provides its own optimized kernel called the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK).
- Strengths: Ksplice (zero-downtime kernel patches, paid), Oracle DB optimization
- Weaknesses: Community concerns about potential Oracle license policy changes
4. Amazon Linux 2023 — AWS-Specific
A distribution optimized for AWS environments. Available by default on EC2, ECS, and Lambda.
- Note: Usable outside AWS, but AWS Support does not apply
- Support: Standard until June 2027, Maintenance until June 2029
5. Ubuntu Server — A Debian-Based Alternative
An entirely different ecosystem, not RHEL-based.
- Differences: apt/dpkg package management, LTS every 2 years (10-year support with Ubuntu Pro)
- Strengths: #1 cloud marketplace share, fast adoption of latest packages
- Weaknesses: Incompatible with rpm/yum-based infrastructure, weaker FIPS/STIG certification compared to RHEL family
Rocky Linux vs AlmaLinux: Detailed Comparison
A comparison of the two most discussed CentOS alternatives.
| Category | Rocky Linux | AlmaLinux |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | RHEL 1:1 binary identical | RHEL ABI compatible (application level) |
| Founder | Original CentOS founder | CloudLinux Inc. |
| Governance | Benefit Corporation | 501(c)(6) nonprofit foundation |
| Update speed | ~1 day after RHEL release | ~1 day after RHEL release |
| Older servers | x86_64_v3 required (v10) | x86_64_v2 builds available |
| Hosting panels | cPanel unsupported from v134 | Official cPanel/Plesk support |
| Migration | migrate2rocky (same-version transition) | ELevate (major version upgrade) |
| Architectures | x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le, s390x, RISC-V | x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le, s390x |
When to Choose Rocky Linux?
- Environments requiring 100% binary identity with RHEL
- Enterprises with strict regulatory/compliance requirements
- Those who want the spiritual successor to CentOS
When to Choose AlmaLinux?
- Web hosting servers running cPanel/Plesk
- When a major version upgrade from CentOS 7 is needed (ELevate)
- When operating on older server hardware
Migration Methods
CentOS 8/9 to Rocky Linux (migrate2rocky)
# Download the migrate2rocky script
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rocky-linux/rocky-tools/main/migrate2rocky/migrate2rocky.sh
# Grant execute permission
chmod +x migrate2rocky.sh
# Run migration (requires root)
sudo ./migrate2rocky.sh -r
# Reboot after completion
sudo reboot
# Verify migration
cat /etc/os-release
# NAME="Rocky Linux"
# VERSION="8.10 (Green Obsidian)"Required disk space: /usr 250MB, /var 1.5GB, /boot 50MB. Only supports transitions within the same major version (CentOS 8 to Rocky 8, CentOS 9 to Rocky 9).
CentOS 7 to AlmaLinux 8 to 9 (ELevate)
There is no direct path from CentOS 7 to Rocky Linux. AlmaLinux’s ELevate tool enables major version upgrades.
# Step 1: Add ELevate repository
sudo yum install -y http://repo.almalinux.org/elevate/elevate-release-latest-el7.noarch.rpm
# Step 2: Install LEAPP packages
sudo yum install -y leapp-upgrade leapp-data-almalinux
# Step 3: Pre-upgrade check
sudo leapp preupgrade
# Step 4: Review report (handle items to suppress)
cat /var/log/leapp/leapp-report.txt
# Step 5: Run upgrade
sudo leapp upgrade
# Step 6: Reboot (upgrade proceeds automatically)
sudo reboot
# Verify completion
cat /etc/os-release
# NAME="AlmaLinux"
# VERSION="8.x"ELevate upgrades one step at a time (7 to 8 to 9 to 10). It has been validated on over 500,000 servers worldwide.
Conclusion: Why We Recommend Rocky Linux
In most cases, Rocky Linux is the safest choice.
| Criteria | Why Rocky Linux Has the Edge |
|---|---|
| RHEL compatibility | 1:1 binary identical — the highest level of compatibility guaranteed |
| Trust | Authentic successor created by the original CentOS founder |
| Independence | Charter prohibits profit-seeking — not tied to any specific company |
| Ecosystem | Google Cloud partnership, CIQ enterprise support |
| Long-term support | 10-year support (Rocky 10 through 2035) |
However, other options may be better in specific cases:
- cPanel/Plesk hosting -> AlmaLinux
- Oracle DB-centric infrastructure -> Oracle Linux
- AWS-only environments -> Amazon Linux 2023
- Want to move away from the RHEL family -> Ubuntu Server
If you’re still running CentOS 7, it has already passed EOL, so plan your migration immediately. Security patches are no longer provided.