CentOS Stream as Server: What does the new rolling release model offer?

CentOS Stream marks an evolutionary development of the traditional CentOS project. As a rolling-release model, the new Linux distribution aims to bridge the gap between community development and the stable Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). This allows for continuous updates and insights into the future direction of RHEL, opening up new possibilities and perspectives for businesses and developers. The following article takes a closer look at what CentOS Stream offers as a server operating system.

What sets CentOS Stream apart?

CentOS Stream is a Linux distribution where members of the open-source community collaborate with Red Hat developers. In contrast to the traditional CentOS version, which was seen as a downstream version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and used exactly the same source code as a specific RHEL version, CentOS Stream positions itself slightly differently in the RHEL development cycle. CentOS Stream is positioned as a middle ground between Fedora (an upstream project) and RHEL (a downstream product). It provides developers and users with insights into what will come in future RHEL versions.

CentOS Stream aims to create a closer bond between the open-source community and RHEL. By incorporating feedback and contributions from the community, changes and innovations can be integrated into CentOS Stream, potentially making their way into future RHEL releases.

In late 2020, Red Hat announced that there would be no further traditional CentOS releases after CentOS 8, and the focus would shift to CentOS Stream. This decision sparked controversy within the community as many organisations have been using CentOS in its traditional form for production systems.

CentOS Stream follows a Rolling-Release model. This means it is continuously updated rather than being based on fixed, point-in-time releases. This allows for quicker innovation and the integration of new features.

What technical aspects make CentOS Stream servers stand out?

CentOS Stream combines the stability of RHEL with a Rolling-Release model, providing users with continuous updates, advanced security features, and active community support. It brings a range of technical aspects and features:

• Continuous Updates

With the Rolling-Release model, users receive ongoing updates and improvements, keeping them up to date with the latest technologies and security patches.

• Predictability and Transparency

As CentOS Stream serves as a kind of "preview" for RHEL, businesses and developers can see early on what technical changes and innovations to expect in future RHEL versions.

• Stability

Despite its Rolling-Release nature, CentOS Stream is built on the proven foundation of RHEL, one of the most stable and widely used server operating systems.

• Optimised Performance

CentOS Stream can benefit from the latest optimizations and performance improvements introduced in the kernel and other key components.

• Security Features

CentOS Stream utilises many of the security features of RHEL, including SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux), an advanced Mandatory Access Control System.

• DNF Package Manager

CentOS Stream uses DNF, an enhanced and modernised package manager that enables faster and more reliable software management.

• Interoperability

Like RHEL, CentOS Stream supports a variety of hardware and software platforms, ensuring broad compatibility.

• Modular Software Streams

These allow users to select and use specific software versions that meet their requirements, rather than relying on versions provided in the main repository.

• Innovative Technologies

As a bridge between Fedora and RHEL, CentOS Stream has access to innovative technologies and experiments introduced in Fedora, while also benefiting from the stability and reliability of RHEL.

In summary, CentOS Stream Server offers a combination of stability, performance, and innovation, making it an attractive option for many server environments.

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CentOS Stream Versions and Lifecycle

As a kind of "preview version" of RHEL, CentOS Stream follows a slightly different lifecycle and version approach compared to the traditional CentOS Linux Distribution.

CentOS Stream is released in relation to RHEL versions. This means, for example, there is a "CentOS Stream 8" preceding RHEL 8 and continuously receiving updates until RHEL 9 is released. Then there will be a transition to "CentOS Stream 9" and so on.

As CentOS Stream follows a Rolling-Release model, there are continuous updates and no set end-of-life date as with traditional versions of CentOS or RHEL. When a new major version of RHEL is on the horizon (e.g. RHEL 9), CentOS Stream will prepare for it and start moving towards this new version. After the release of RHEL 9, CentOS Stream 9 will become the main version of CentOS Stream.

By the end of 2020, Red Hat made changes to the CentOS project, shifting focus to CentOS Stream and discontinuing the traditional CentOS distribution. Therefore, the lifecycle and versioning of CentOS Stream are of particular interest to those considering CentOS for production environments.

What are the weaknesses of CentOS Stream as a server operating system?

While CentOS Stream offers many advantages, it also has some potential weaknesses, especially when compared to traditional CentOS or other stable server operating systems:

• Less predictability: As CentOS Stream follows a rolling-release model, things can change faster than in traditional point releases. This may be problematic for some production environments that value a very stable and predictable platform.

• Compatibility issues: The continuous updates could potentially cause compatibility issues with third-party software or specific hardware configurations.

• Shorter testing period: New features and changes in CentOS Stream may have a shorter testing period than those introduced in traditional releases. This could increase the risk of bugs or other issues.

• Considerations for the future: Red Hat's decision to discontinue traditional CentOS in favour of CentOS Stream has caused some uncertainty in the community. There are concerns about future decisions that Red Hat may make regarding the project.

• Migration challenges: For those migrating from traditional CentOS, challenges may arise in adapting to the rolling release model and other differences between the two distributions.

• Not ideal for all use cases: While some applications may benefit from the continuous updates in CentOS Stream, other use cases, especially those requiring an extremely stable environment, may be better served by an operating system that offers point releases and long support periods.

Despite these potential weaknesses, CentOS Stream also offers plenty of advantages and is suitable for many use cases. As with any technology decision, organisations and individuals should carefully assess their specific needs and requirements before making a choice.

CentOS Stream compared to other Server Operating Systems

When choosing the right server operating system, it is important to consider the differences and individual characteristics of each alternative:

CentOS Stream vs Debian

CentOS Stream is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and follows a rolling release model, while Debian has standalone regular releases with stable, testing, and unstable branches. CentOS Stream uses the RPM package manager and DNF for package management, whereas Debian uses APT with DEB packages. Although both distributions are open-source community projects, CentOS has a closer tie and alignment to a commercial company (Red Hat), while Debian is a completely independent project with no commercial alignment.

CentOS Stream vs Windows Server

CentOS Stream and Windows Server represent two fundamentally different operating system families: CentOS Stream is an open-source Linux distribution based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and follows a rolling-release model, while Windows Server is a proprietary operating system from Microsoft. They differ significantly in terms of user interface and system management, with CentOS primarily controlled through the command line, while Windows Server uses a graphical user interface and PowerShell. Additionally, CentOS Stream is based on the Linux kernel, whereas Windows Server uses the Windows NT kernel, leading to differences in performance, security, and compatibility.

Overall, the choice of server operating system heavily depends on specific requirements and context.

For more information on the differences between individual Linux distributions, you can also refer to the article: Best Linux for Servers: Which Distributions Are Suitable?

When Should a CentOS Stream Server Be Preferred?

CentOS Stream serves as a bridge between Fedora and RHEL. Those looking for an advantage in implementing new features from RHEL without compromising on the relative stability of RHEL can benefit from CentOS Stream.

For organisations seeking the benefit of an active open-source community but also wanting to benefit from the proximity to Red Hat's development direction, CentOS Stream offers an attractive balance.

For environments that prefer a rolling-release model to stay up to date and avoid migrating between major version jumps, CentOS Stream is suitable.

Developers and system administrators who develop or test applications and infrastructures for RHEL environments can use CentOS Stream as a testing ground to see how their applications will behave in future RHEL releases.

While RHEL is commercial and license-bound, CentOS Stream is free. For organisations looking for the benefits of RHEL without the associated license costs, CentOS Stream can be a good choice.

Our article is based on our own experiences and research as well as information from external sources.

Sources & further links on the topic:

https://www.centos.org/ (Official website of the CentOS project)

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