Rocky Linux vs CentOS (Comparison to Choose Winner)

Rocky Linux is a relatively new operating system that has gained widespread popularity as a free and open-source alternative to CentOS. It is based on the RHEL source code, providing users with a stable, reliable, and secure platform for enterprise applications. Since its release, Rocky Linux has been widely touted as one of the best replacements for CentOS, which lost official support from Red Hat in 2020. With a focus on stability, performance, and support, Rocky Linux aims to provide users with a feature-rich, user-friendly experience that is suitable for both individual users and businesses. Before going deeper and know all about new version of Linux and eventually Rocky Linux vs CentOS we have a Special offer for you.

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What is Rocky Linux?

Rocky Linux is a free and open-source enterprise-level operating system distribution that was created as an alternative to CentOS following the announcement of changes in CentOS development process by Red Hat.

Here are some of the pros and cons of Rocky Linux:

It’s designed to be a drop-in replacement for CentOS, which was very popular. So if you’re familiar with CentOS, Rocky Linux will feel familiar.

• It’s focused on stability and enterprise features. So it could be good for servers.
• It has backing from the original CentOS founder, Gregory Kurtzer. So there is expertise behind it.
• The future is still uncertain, as with any new open source project. There is a chance it may not gain enough momentum.
• It is focused on enterprise features, so may lack some flexibility for desktop use or newer technology previews.

What is CentOS?

CentOS (Community Enterprise Operating System) is a free and open-source enterprise-level operating system distribution that is based on the source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

CentOS is well-regarded in the open-source community for its stability and security. It benefits from the extensive testing and development that goes into RHEL, which is known for its enterprise-grade reliability and support. CentOS is also popular among system administrators and developers because it is easy to use and has a large repository of software packages.

Rocky, The latest stable CentOS release!

CentOS is a community-driven enterprise Linux distribution. It’s based on the source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), but it’s free and open source, so you can use it without having to pay any licensing fees. CentOS is widely used by organizations around the world in both private and public clouds, including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.

The latest stable version of CentOS (6) was released in 2010 with no further updates since then; however, you may still find it useful if your infrastructure is running older applications that require this version of the operating system.

Rocky Linux vs CentOS: Key Differences You Need to Know

In this part of Rocky Linux vs CentOS article, we talk about the Differences!

CentOS vs Rocky Linux are both Linux distributions that are based on the source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), and while they aim for 100% bug-for-bug compatibility with RHEL, there are some differences between them.

Below, we compare the two operating systems and highlight their significant differences and similarities.

The Creator of two OS

Gregory Kurtzer co-founded the Caos Linux project, which eventually became the CentOS Project in collaboration with Rocky McGough. Their goal was to create a community-managed distribution of RPM-based Linux, similar to Debian for dpkg. However, after Red Hat’s decision to discontinue CentOS, Kurtzer announced the development of Rocky Linux, a RHEL fork with a similar goal to CentOS. The name Rocky Linux is a tribute to the late co-founder of CentOS, Rocky McGough.

Architecture

Rocky Linux and CentOS are based on RHEL and compatible with the Red Hat Enterprise binary code, ensuring stability and high performance. Although they differ slightly in terms of the architecture they support, both distributions prioritize the key RHEL features. So CentOS vs Rocky Linux in terms of architecture are highly the same.

Support

CentOS 7 and 8 are the final releases of CentOS Linux, and they will no longer receive any updates or support. While CentOS 7 will still receive maintenance updates until its EOL date of June 30, 2024, the official support for CentOS has already ended, prompting users to seek alternatives. While CentOS Stream is still receiving updates, it may not be suitable as a production-ready OS.

On the other hand, CIQ, the official company behind Rocky Linux, offers commercial support, with forums providing community support for any potential issues. Additionally, several other companies also provide commercial support for Rocky Linux, making it a viable alternative to CentOS for users seeking support.

Stability

CentOS Stream is a development branch of RHEL that always stays a minor version ahead of RHEL, adopting a rolling release approach that may cause potential stability issues. This makes it unsuitable for organizations running mission-critical servers. On the other hand, Rocky Linux prioritizes stability and performance, just like CentOS. It achieves this by being a downstream of RHEL, building releases using upstream RHEL code.

This ensures the same stability, performance, and app compatibility as RHEL and CentOS. Additionally, each Rocky Linux release comes with a 10-year support lifecycle, providing better support for new apps and increased stability compared to CentOS Stream.

Security

The Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) system is a key security feature on CentOS, Rocky Linux, and RHEL. It provides access control policies for various processes and files, creating multi-level security protection. SELinux is enabled by default on these operating systems, providing an extra layer of security.

While CentOS Stream also uses SELinux, it is considered to be less secure than CentOS Linux and RHEL. This is because Red Hat has announced that it will address security issues in CentOS Stream only after they are resolved in the current RHEL release.

Rocky Linux uses SELinux to implement a robust MAC (Mandatory Access Control) architecture. This allows Rocky Linux to create a containment system by separating information confidentiality and integrity, without relying on superusers or the traditional rights system approach. This approach provides a high level of security for the operating system.

Community

Rocky Linux is a community-driven, enterprise-grade operating system built as a replacement for CentOS after its parent company, Red Hat, announced that it would be discontinuing support for CentOS. CentOS was a popular, free and open-source operating system based on the source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). So this is all you need to know about Rocky Linux vs CentOS background.

Rocky Linux aims to maintain compatibility with RHEL, which makes it compatible with most of the third-party software that is certified to run on RHEL. CentOS, being the upstream source for RHEL, is also compatible with most third-party software that is certified to run on RHEL. In this part Rocky Linux vs CentOS are almost the same.

Which one is winner? CentOS vs Rocky Linux

RHEL is a type of computer system that has gone through eight big changes since it was first made, from RHEL 2.1 to the newest one, RHEL 9. The first RHEL release was used to make the first CentOS Linux release. RHEL is made from the Fedora Linux system, which helps it stay up-to-date and compete with other systems.

RHEL releases come out more slowly than Fedora releases, which is better for big companies that don’t like changing their system too much. This way of making RHEL from Fedora continued until CentOS 8. After that, the people who made RHEL and CentOS said they would stop making CentOS Linux and start making something new called CentOS Stream.

How to Get and Install Rocky Linux

In this part of Rocky Linux vs CentOS blog we talk about how to get and install Rocky Linux. To get Rocky Linux, you should go to the official Rocky Linux website and download an ISO file.

Once you finish downloading the ISO file, you can turn it into a USB or DVD that you can use to start up your computer. This is called “bootable media.” Next, use your bootable media to start the installation process. This will bring up the Rocky Linux boot screen. From there, select “Install Rocky Linux”.

You can refer to our complete tutorial about how to install Rocky Linux to continue the installation process.

FAQ

Conclusion

RHEL 9 is a great release, and it’s clear that Red Hat has put a lot of effort into making sure that their flagship enterprise OS was ready for prime time. It offers new features, improved security, and easier deployments for enterprise users. If you’re looking for an alternative to CentOS or Ubuntu Server but don’t want to use SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES), then RHEL 9 might be just the ticket!

Rocky Linux is a free Linux distribution that is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and aims to replace CentOS. While the operating system is stable and user-friendly, it remains to be seen whether the community will accept it as a legitimate successor to CentOS.