Overview of the CentOS Operating System

CentOS (Community ENTerprise Operating System) is a free and open-source operating system based on the source code of the commercial platform Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The project was created to provide a stable, reliable, and RHEL-compatible environment for server solutions, application development, and testing. Thanks to its long-term support and high compatibility with RHEL, CentOS has become a popular choice among system administrators, DevOps engineers, and companies seeking a free alternative to commercial solutions.

History and Development of CentOS

The CentOS project was initially launched in 2004 as an independent initiative aimed at creating a stable Linux version compatible with RHEL without the need for a subscription. In 2014, the project became part of Red Hat, strengthening its position and ensuring further development. In 2020, it was announced that CentOS Linux would cease its existing version and transition to the CentOS Stream model — a more dynamic distribution that precedes RHEL releases. This caused some controversy and concern among users, as CentOS Stream is not a full replacement for the traditional CentOS Linux, but rather a preview for future RHEL updates.

Features and Benefits of CentOS

• RHEL Compatibility: CentOS is fully compatible with RHEL, allowing applications designed for RHEL to run without the need for a subscription.


• Long-term Support: Each version of CentOS receives security updates and bug fixes for several years, making it ideal for server solutions.


• Free of Charge: The absence of costs for usage and updates makes CentOS attractive for companies and developers with limited budgets.


• Community Support: Due to its popularity and long history, there is a large community of users ready to help and share knowledge.


• Powerful Management Tools: CentOS includes a set of standard management tools such as yum/dnf, systemctl, and others.

Installing CentOS

The process of installing CentOS is quite simple and intuitive. First, you need to download the system image from the official website. Typically, an ISO image is used for installation from a USB drive or DVD. After downloading the image, a bootable media is created, and the system boots from it. During installation, the user selects the language, regional settings, installation type (minimal, standard, server), disk partitions, and network parameters.

For experienced users, it is recommended to choose automatic disk partitioning and configure network settings manually to ensure maximum flexibility in system management. After the installation is complete, the system reboots, and the user gains access to the command line or graphical interface, depending on the selected settings.

System Updates and Management

System updates in CentOS are performed using the package manager dnf or yum, depending on the version. Regular updates ensure system security and stability, as well as access to new features and bug fixes. To update, run the update command, which downloads and installs all available updates.

dnf update

Package management and dependency resolution are an essential part of CentOS administration. To search, install, remove, and update packages, the commands dnf or yum are used. For example, to install a new package, run the installation command with the package name.

dnf install package_name

Security and Configuration

System security is a crucial task for server solutions. CentOS has a built-in firewall management system, firewalld, which allows easy configuration of traffic filtering rules. To enable and configure the firewall, use the command:

systemctl start firewalld

It is also recommended to configure SELinux — an access control system that provides an additional layer of system protection. By default, SELinux may be active in enforcing mode, which requires proper security policy configuration for applications and services.

For monitoring system resources and logs, standard tools such as top, htop, journalctl, and others are used. To automate tasks, you can set up cron — a system task scheduler.

Using CentOS in Organizations

Thanks to its stability and reliability, CentOS is widely used in corporate environments for deploying web servers, databases, mail servers, and other critical systems. This is especially relevant for enterprises seeking free alternatives to RHEL without sacrificing compatibility and support for long-term updates.

As a platform for development and testing, CentOS provides an environment closely resembling the RHEL working environment. This allows developers to create applications compatible with the enterprise platform without needing to purchase a RHEL subscription.

The Future of CentOS and Alternatives

After the change in the CentOS model and transition to CentOS Stream, many users are looking for alternatives. Among popular options are Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux, which position themselves as full replacements for the traditional CentOS Linux. These distributions are also based on RHEL source code and offer long-term support and stability.

Thus, despite changes in the project's policies, the community continues to actively develop to provide users with high-quality and free solutions for server systems.