Why CentOS Is Shifting and Which Linux Distributions Are Viable Replacements

CentOS History and Evolution

Linux has spawned hundreds of distributions, with the most popular ones such as Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat, SuSE, and CentOS. Distributions fall into two groups: commercially maintained (e.g., Red Hat Enterprise Linux) and community‑maintained (e.g., Debian). In China, CentOS enjoys the highest market share because it sits at the bottom of the Red Hat ecosystem: Fedora → RHEL → CentOS.

Fedora serves as the testing ground for new features, which Red Hat later incorporates into RHEL. CentOS rebuilds RHEL’s source code after removing trademarked material, offering the same capabilities for free. In 2019, Red Hat introduced CentOS Stream, moving the community effort upstream: Fedora → CentOS Stream → RHEL. This shift changes the role of CentOS for downstream users.

Current Status of CentOS

CentOS Linux 8 stopped receiving updates at the end of 2021. CentOS Linux 7, still widely used, will reach end‑of‑support on 30 June 2024. No new CentOS Linux releases will appear; only CentOS Stream will continue to evolve.

Common Replacement Options

Ubuntu/Debian – Ideal for internet‑scale services that need frequent feature updates (AI, compilation environments, big data). Ubuntu releases LTS versions every two years with nine‑year support, and regular releases every six months.

Oracle Linux – A RHEL‑compatible clone that provides early security updates, suited for traditional production environments.

OpenSUSE – Offers three package managers (ZYpp, YaST, RPM). Minor releases appear annually; major releases every 3–4 years, similar to Ubuntu’s cadence.

Rocky Linux – Initiated by CentOS co‑founder Gregory Kurtzer to deliver a 100 % RHEL‑compatible distribution.

Red Hat recommends migrating CentOS users to CentOS Stream, but notes it is not intended for production workloads.

Domestic Linux Opportunities

Chinese open‑source communities are rapidly advancing alongside hardware development, creating OSes that are tightly integrated with local chips and cloud platforms:

OpenEuler – Optimized for core kernel functions (scheduling, memory, I/O) and adds container, virtualization, confidential computing, and JDK features.

Anolis OS – Fully open‑source, neutral, and 100 % compatible with the CentOS 8 ecosystem; provides migration guides for CentOS users.

Alibaba Cloud Linux 3 – Built on Anolis OS and tuned for Alibaba Cloud infrastructure.

TencentOS Server Kernel (Tlinux) – Tailored for cloud scenarios with performance and security enhancements.

KylinOS (Galaxy Kylin) – Supports domestic CPUs (FeiTeng, KunPeng, Loongson, etc.) and targets enterprise workloads such as virtualization, cloud, big data, and industrial IoT.

Red Flag Linux – Desktop‑oriented, supports multiple architectures (x86, ARM, MIPS, SW) and domestic CPUs, based on Debian 10.6 with a commercial‑maintained kernel.

Each distribution has a dedicated user base, and the broader ecosystem continues to mature, driven by the need for fully autonomous, hardware‑agnostic solutions in data centers and personal devices.

Conclusion

Enterprises seeking a CentOS replacement should consider Red Hat Enterprise Linux for maximum compatibility, while internet‑scale companies often prefer Ubuntu for its rapid innovation cycle. CentOS Stream remains a viable option for those who can tolerate its upstream‑focused development model. Domestic OSes such as OpenEuler, Anolis OS, and KylinOS present compelling alternatives for organizations prioritizing local hardware support and open‑source sovereignty.