CentOS

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CentOS
CentOS full logo.svg
CentOS 6.0.png
CentOS 6.0's default GNOME desktop
Company / developer The CentOS Project
OS family Unix-like
Working state Current
Source model Free and open source software
Initial release 03:32:38, May 14, 2004 (UTC) (2004-05-14T03:32:38Z)[1]
Latest stable release 6.2  (UTC: December 20, 2011; 60 days ago (2011-12-20)) [±]
Marketing target Free computing (desktops, mainframes, servers, workstations)
Available language(s) Multilingual
Update method Yum (PackageKit)
Package manager RPM Package Manager
Supported platforms i386, x86-64, PowerPC, s390, s390x
Kernel type Monolithic (Linux)
Default user interface GNOME and KDE (user-selectable)
License GNU GPL & various others.
Official website CentOS.org

CentOS is a free operating system distribution based upon the Linux kernel. It is derived entirely from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) distribution. CentOS exists to provide a free enterprise class computing platform and strives to maintain 100% binary compatibility with its upstream source, Red Hat.[2] CentOS stands for Community ENTerprise Operating System.

In July 2010 CentOS overtook Debian to become the most popular Linux distribution for web servers, with almost 30% of all Linux web servers using it.[3] But in January 2012, after a head-to-head race, it lost that position to Debian.[4]

Contents

[edit] 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 either an open source or a free software license 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.[5]

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.

[edit] Versioning scheme

CentOS version numbers have two parts, a major version and a minor version, which correspond to the major version and update set of Red Hat Enterprise Linux that was used to build that version of CentOS. For example, CentOS 4.4 is built from the source packages from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 update 4.[6]

Since mid-2006, starting with version 4.4 (formally known as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 update 4), Red Hat has adopted a versioning convention identical to that of CentOS, e.g., Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.5.[7]

[edit] Release history

The architecture information is taken from the CentOS Overview page.

CentOS Release Architectures RHEL base CentOS release date RHEL release date Delay
2 i386 2.1 2004-05-14[1] 2002-05-17[8] 728d
3.1 i386, x86-64, IA-64, s390, s390x 3 2004-03-19[9] 2003-10-23[8] 148d
3.3 i386, x86-64, IA-64, s390, s390x 3.3 2004-09-17 2004-09-03 14d
3.4 i386, x86-64, IA-64, s390, s390x 3.4 2005-01-23 2004-12-12 42d
3.5 i386 3.5 2005-06-10[10] 2005-05-18 23d
3.6 i386 3.6 2005-11-01[11] 2005-09-28 34d
3.7 i386, x86-64, IA-64, s390, s390x 3.7 2006-04-10[12] 2006-03-17 23d
3.8 i386, x86-64 3.8 2006-08-25[13] 2006-07-20 36d
3.9 i386, x86-64, IA-64, s390, s390x 3.9 2007-07-26[14] 2007-06-15 41d
4 i386, x86-64, various 4 2005-03-09[15] 2005-02-14[16] 23d
4.1 i386, ia64, s390 4.1 2005-06-12[17] 2005-06-08 4d
4.2 i386, x86_64, ia64, s390, s390x, alpha 4.2 2005-10-13[18] 2005-10-05 8d
4.3 i386, x86-64, ia64, s390, s390x 4.3 2006-03-21[19] 2006-03-12 9d
4.4 i386, x86-64 4.4 2006-08-30[20] 2006-08-10 20d
4.5 i386, x86_64, IA-64 4.5 2007-05-17[21] 2007-05-01 16d
4.6 i386, x86-64, IA-64, Alpha, s390, s390x, PowerPC (beta), SPARC (beta) 4.6 2007-12-16[22] 2007-11-16[23] 30d
4.7 i386, x86-64 4.7 2008-09-13[24] 2008-07-24[25] 51d
4.8 i386, x86-64 4.8 2009-08-21[26] 2009-05-18[27] 95d
4.9 i386, x86-64 4.9 2011-03-02[28] 2011-02-16[29] 14d
5 i386, x86-64 5 2007-04-12[30] 2007-03-14[31] 28d
5.1 i386, x86-64 5.1 2007-12-02[32] 2007-11-07[33] 25d
5.2 i386, x86-64 5.2 2008-06-24[34] 2008-05-21[35] 34d
5.3 i386, x86-64 5.3 2009-03-31[36] 2009-01-20[37] 69d
5.4 i386, x86-64 5.4 2009-10-21[38] 2009-09-02[39] 49d
5.5 i386, x86-64 5.5 2010-05-14[40] 2010-03-31[41] 44d
5.6 i386, x86-64 5.6 2011-04-08[42] 2011-01-13[43] 85d
5.7 i386, x86-64 5.7 2011-09-13[44] 2011-07-21[45] 54d
6 i386, x86-64 6 2011-07-10[46] 2010-11-10[47] 242d
6.1 i386, x86-64 6.1 2011-12-09[48] 2011-05-19[49] 204d
6.2 i386, x86-64 6.2 2011-12-20[50] 2011-12-06[51] 14d

In accordance with the Upstream Vendor change in Life Cycle Policy of RHEL[52] CentOS5 and 6 will also be supported for 10 years.

End of support schedule
CentOS Release Full Updates Maintenance Updates
3 2006-07-20 2010-10-31
4 2009-03-31 2012-02-29
5 Q1 2014 2017-03-31
6 Q2 2017 2020-11-30
Releases that have no upstream equivalent
CentOS Release Architectures RHEL base CentOS release date
4.7 - Server i386, x86-64 4.7 2008-10-17[53]
5.1 - LiveCD i386 5.1 2008-02-18[54]
5.2 - LiveCD i386 5.2 2008-07-17[55]
5.3 - LiveCD i386 5.3 2009-05-27[56]
5.5 - LiveCD i386, x86-64 5.5 2010-05-14[40]
5.6 - LiveCD i386, x86-64 5.6 2011-04-08[42]
6.0 - LiveCD i386, x86-64 6.0 2011-07-25[57]
6.0 - LiveDVD i386, x86-64 6.0 2011-07-27[58]
6.0 - MinimalCD i386, x86-64 6.0 2011-07-28[59]
6.1 - LiveCD i386, x86-64 6.1 2011-12-09[60]
6.1 - LiveDVD i386, x86-64 6.1 2011-12-09[61]
6.1 - MinimalCD i386, x86-64 6.1 2011-12-09[62]
6.2 - LiveCD i386, x86-64 6.2 2011-12-20[63]
6.2 - LiveDVD i386, x86-64 6.2 2011-12-20[63]
6.2 - MinimalCD i386, x86-64 6.2 2011-12-20[50]

[edit] Architectures

CentOS supports only the x86 architectures:[64][65]

  • x86 (32-bit)
  • x86-64 (AMD's AMD64 and Intel's EM64T, 64-bit)

The following architectures are not supported by CentOS (as of version 5):

[edit] Bootable media version

  • A Live CD version of CentOS is available at mirror.centos.org.
  • A Live USB of CentOS can be created manually or with UNetbootin.

[edit] Tao Linux

See also: Red Hat Enterprise Linux derivatives

Tao Linux was another prominent distribution derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Its primary developer announced in June 2006 that Tao would be retired and rolled into CentOS development. Tao users migrated to the CentOS release via "yum update".[66]

[edit] History and organizational difficulties

In July 2009, it was reported that CentOS's founder, Lance Davis, had disappeared in 2008. Davis had ceased contribution to the project but continued to hold the registration for the CentOS domain and PayPal account. In August 2009, the CentOS team reportedly made contact with Davis and obtained the centos.info and centos.org domains.[67]

[edit] See also

Portal icon Free software portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b John Newbigin (2004-05-14). "CentOS-2 Final finally released". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/2004-May/000153.html. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  2. ^ "Purpose of CentOS". CentOS Project. http://www.centos.org/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=3. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
  3. ^ "The most popular Linux for Web servers is ..." (blog). computerworld.com. http://blogs.computerworld.com/16596/the_most_popular_web_server_linux_is. 
  4. ^ "Debian is now the most popular Linux distribution on web servers". w3techs.com. http://w3techs.com/blog/entry/debian_is_now_the_most_popular_linux_distribution_on_web_servers. 
  5. ^ "Red Hat License Agreements". Red Hat. http://www.redhat.com/licenses/rhel_rha_eula.html. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  6. ^ "What is the versioning/release scheme of CentOS and how does it compare to the upstream vendor?". CentOS Project. http://www.centos.org/modules/smartfaq/faq.php?faqid=34. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
  7. ^ "Red Hat Enterprise Linux > AS/ES/WS Basics". Red Hat. http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_80_10667.shtm. Retrieved 2008-08-11. 
  8. ^ a b Red Hat. "Red Hat Enterprise Linux Errata Support Policy". http://www.redhat.com/security/updates/errata/. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  9. ^ Lance Davis (2004-03-19). "CentOS 3.1 has now been released". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/2004-March/000015.html. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  10. ^ Lance Davis (2005-06-10). "[CentOS-announce CentOS 3.5 i386 is released"]. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2005-June/011810.html. 
  11. ^ Lance Davis (2005-11-01). "[CentOS-announce CentOS 3.6 is released."]. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2005-November/012349.html. 
  12. ^ Lance Davis (2006-04-10). "[CentOS-announce CentOS 3.7 is released"]. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2006-April/012807.html. 
  13. ^ Johnny Hughes (2006-08-25). "[CentOS-announce Subject: CentOS 3.8 is released for i386 and x86_64"]. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2006-August/013178.html. 
  14. ^ CentOS Team (2007-07-26). "CentOS 3.9 is released for i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2007-July/014084.html. Retrieved 2008-10-21. 
  15. ^ DistroWatch.com (2005-03-09). "Distribution Release: CentOS 4". http://distrowatch.com/2439. 
  16. ^ DistroWatch.com (2005-02-14). "Distribution Release: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4". http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=02364. 
  17. ^ Johnny Hughes (2005-06-12). "[CentOS-announce CentOS 4 i386 - CentOS 4.1 i386 is available"]. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2005-June/011812.html. 
  18. ^ Johnny Hughes (2005-10-13). "[CentOS-announce CentOS-4.2 is Released for i386, x86_64, ia64, s390, s390x and alpha architectures"]. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2005-October/012286.html. 
  19. ^ Johnny Hughes (2006-03-21). "[CentOS-announce CentOS 4.3 is Released for i386, x86_64, and ia64"]. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2006-March/012763.html. 
  20. ^ Johnny Hughes (2006-08-30). "[CentOS-announce CentOS 4.4 is released for i386 and x86_64"]. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2006-August/013185.html. 
  21. ^ Johnny Hughes (2007-05-17). "[CentOS-announce CentOS 4.5 is released for i386, x86_64, and ia64"]. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2007-May/013778.html. 
  22. ^ DistroWatch.com (2007-12-16). "Distribution Release: CentOS 4.6". http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=04657. Retrieved 2008-11-10. 
  23. ^ DistroWatch.com (2007-11-16). "Distribution Release: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.6". http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=04592. Retrieved 2008-11-10. 
  24. ^ Johnny Hughes (2008-09-13). "CentOS 4.7 is released for i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2008-September/015241.html. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
  25. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2008-07-24). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.7 GA Announcement". http://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv4-announce/2008-July/msg00002.html. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
  26. ^ Johnny Hughes (2009-08-21). "CentOS 4 i386 and x86_64 release of CentOS-4.8". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2009-August/016106.html. 
  27. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2009-05-18). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.8 GA Announcement". https://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv4-announce/2009-May/msg00000.html. Retrieved 2010-03-12. 
  28. ^ Johnny Hughes (2011-03-02). "CentOS 4 i386 and x86_64 release of CentOS-4.9". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-March/017255.html. 
  29. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2011-02-16). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.9 GA Announcement". https://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv4-announce/2011-February/msg00000.html. 
  30. ^ Karanbir Singh (2007-04-12). "Release for CentOS-5 i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2007-April/013660.html. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  31. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2007-03-15). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Now Available". http://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv5-announce/2007-March/msg00001.html. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  32. ^ Karanbir Singh (2007-12-02). "Release for CentOS-5.1 i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2007-December/014476.html. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  33. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2007-11-07). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1 General Availability Announcement". http://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv5-announce/2007-November/msg00000.html. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  34. ^ Karanbir Singh (2008-06-24). "Release for CentOS-5.2 i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2008-June/014999.html. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 
  35. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2008-05-21). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 General Availability Announcement". http://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv5-announce/2008-May/msg00002.html. Retrieved 2009-01-22. 
  36. ^ Karanbir Singh (2009-04-01). "Release for CentOS-5.3 i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2009-April/015711.html. Retrieved 2009-04-01. 
  37. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2009-01-20). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.3 General Availability Announcement". http://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv5-announce/2009-January/msg00000.html. Retrieved 2009-01-22. 
  38. ^ Singh, Karanbir (21 Oct 2009). "[CentOS-announce] Release for CentOS-5.4 i386 and x86_64". lists.centos.org. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2009-October/016195.html. Retrieved 2009-10-24. 
  39. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2009-09-02). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4 GA Announcement". http://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv5-announce/2009-September/msg00000.html. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  40. ^ a b Singh, Karanbir (14 May 2010). "[CentOS-announce] Release for CentOS-5.5 i386 and x86_64". lists.centos.org. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2010-May/016638.html. Retrieved 2010-05-15. 
  41. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (Tikanga) announcement mailing-list (2010-03-31). "[rhelv5-announce] Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.5 GA Announcement". http://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv5-announce/2010-March/msg00000.html. Retrieved 2010-05-15. 
  42. ^ a b "Release for CentOS-5.6 i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-April/017282.html. Retrieved 2011-04-08. 
  43. ^ "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.6 Now Available". http://press.redhat.com/2011/01/13/red-hat-enterprise-linux-5-6-now-available/. Retrieved 2011-01-13. 
  44. ^ "Release for CentOS-5.7 i386 and x86_64". 2011-09-13. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-September/017727.html. Retrieved 2011-09-13. 
  45. ^ "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.7 Release Notes". http://docs.redhat.com/docs/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/5/html/5.7_Release_Notes/index.html. Retrieved 2011-07-21. 
  46. ^ "Release for CentOS-6.0 i386 and x86_64". 2011-07-10. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-July/017645.html. Retrieved 2011-07-10. 
  47. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2010-11-10). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Now Available". http://www.redhat.com/archives/rhelv6-announce/2010-November/msg00000.html. Retrieved 2010-11-10. 
  48. ^ "Release for CentOS-6.1 i386 and x86_64". 2011-12-09. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-December/018312.html. Retrieved 2011-12-09. 
  49. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2011-05-19). "Red Hat Delivers Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.1". http://www.redhat.com/about/news/prarchive/2011/Red-Hat-Delivers-Red-Hat-Enterprise-Linux-6-1. Retrieved 2011-05-19. 
  50. ^ a b "Release for CentOS-6.2 i386 and x86_64". 2011-12-20. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-December/018335.html. Retrieved 2011-12-20. 
  51. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team (2011-12-06). "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 Release Notes". http://docs.redhat.com/docs/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/6/html/6.2_Release_Notes/index.html. Retrieved 2011-12-06. 
  52. ^ Red Hat Enterprise Linux team. "Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle". https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/. Retrieved 2012-02-02. 
  53. ^ Karanbir Singh (2008-10-17). "CentOS 4.7 Server CD — i386 Released". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2006-May/012927.html. Retrieved 2009-01-23. 
  54. ^ Patrice Guay (2008-02-18). "CentOS 5 i386 - The CentOS-5.1 i386 Live CD is released". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2008-February/014688.html. Retrieved 2009-03-25. 
  55. ^ Patrice Guay (2008-07-17). "CentOS 5 i386 - The CentOS-5.2 i386 Live CD is released". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2008-July/015148.html. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 
  56. ^ "[CentOS-announce CentOS 5 i386 - The CentOS-5.3 i386 Live CD is released"]. CentOS mailing list. http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2009-May/015944.html. Retrieved 2009-06-22. 
  57. ^ Karanbir Singh (2011-07-25). "Release for CentOS-6.0 LiveCD i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-July/017658.html. Retrieved 2011-07-25. 
  58. ^ Karanbir Singh (2011-07-27). "Release for CentOS-6.0 LiveDVD i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-July/017659.html. Retrieved 2011-07-28. 
  59. ^ Karanbir Singh (2011-07-28). "Release for CentOS-6.0 Minimal i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-July/017660.html. Retrieved 2011-07-29. 
  60. ^ Karanbir Singh (2011-12-09). "Release for CentOS-6.1 LiveCD i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-December/018313.html. Retrieved 2011-12-10. 
  61. ^ Karanbir Singh (2011-12-09). "Release for CentOS-6.1 LiveDVD i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-December/018314.html. Retrieved 2011-12-10. 
  62. ^ Karanbir Singh (2011-12-09). "Release for CentOS-6.1 Minimal i386 and x86_64". http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2011-December/018315.html. Retrieved 2011-12-10. 
  63. ^ a b "CentOS 6.2 Release Notes". 2011-12-20. http://wiki.centos.org/Manuals/ReleaseNotes/CentOS6.2. Retrieved 2011-12-20. 
  64. ^ "About CentOS". CentOS. http://www.centos.org/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=2. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  65. ^ "Red Hat Enterprise Linux server details". Red Hat. http://www.redhat.com/rhel/server/details/#architectures. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  66. ^ "Retirement of TaoLinux". CentOS Project. http://www.centos.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=135. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
  67. ^ Perlow, Jason. (2 August 2009). CentOS: Getting Their S#!t Together is a Top Priority. ZDNet

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links
Red Hat Enterprise Linux derivatives
Fedora derivatives
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