Community-driven free software effort focused on delivering a robust open source ecosystem around a Linux platform.
centos.org
Introduction
CentOS (Community Enterprise Operating System) is a free, open-source Linux distribution derived from the source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
It aims to provide enterprise-class stability and compatibility with RHEL without the commercial licensing costs.
The classic CentOS Linux ended in 2021; today, CentOS Stream is the official continuation — a rolling-release platform upstream of RHEL.
Community forks like AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux now carry the original "stable RHEL clone" mission.
Project Structure & Governance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Lead Organization | Red Hat (IBM subsidiary) – primary sponsor since January 2014 |
| Governance | CentOS Governing Board (CGB) with community and Red Hat representatives |
| Development Model | Open source; code hosted on git.centos.org |
| Trademark Owner | Red Hat |
Timeline (Key milestones)
- 2004: Launched as community rebuild of RHEL
- Jan 2014: Red Hat becomes primary sponsor
- Dec 2020: CentOS Linux is EOL; pivot to CentOS Stream
- 2021–2025: Community forks emerge
Variants & Timeline
| Variant | Status | Release Model | Notes |
|---|
| CentOS Linux (version 1 to 8) | End of Life | Point releases (10-year support) | Rebuilt 1:1 from RHEL sources; last stable version: CentOS 8 (EOL 2021) |
| CentOS Stream | Active | Continuous delivery (rolling) | Positioned between Fedora and RHEL; used for RHEL development testing |
- Package Manager:
dnf / yum
Relationship with Other Entities
| Entity | Relationship |
|---|
| Red Hat | Primary sponsor, employer of core developers, trademark holder |
| Linux Foundation | No formal affiliation; CentOS participates in events and collaborates on tools |
| Fedora Project | Upstream influence; CentOS Stream sits downstream of Fedora |
| Community Forks | AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux (independent RHEL-compatible alternatives) |
Alternatives (RHEL-Compatible)
| Distribution | Governance | Support Model | Website |
|---|
| AlmaLinux | AlmaLinux OS Foundation (non-profit) | 10-year support | almalinux.org |
| Rocky Linux | Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation | 10-year support | rockylinux.org |