CentOS Successor: What can AlmaLinux?

AlmaLinux was designed as a direct successor to CentOS. It is a free and stable Linux variant. This Linux system is very interesting for businesses and private users, as it is binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and has a dedicated community.

What is AlmaLinux?

The AlmaLinux Open Source Foundation promotes its operating system as a community product. From the community, for the community is the motto. However, it is increasingly common for Linux, unlike Windows, to be supported by a developer community and provided to users for free. AlmaLinux, however, deserves special attention. Since its initial release in 2021, the Linux distribution has managed to attract numerous users. Users have the ability to track all work processes on the server. The CentOS successor stands out for its transparency. Users can even actively intervene in the design if needed. On the other hand, AlmaLinux's history also explains why it has spread so quickly. After all, a very popular Linux system served as the inspiration for the CentOS successor.

Success Story of a CentOS Successor

When the popular free RHEL clone CentOS came to an end, many developers turned to the CentOS successor AlmaLinux. This Linux variant is binary-compatible with RHEL, which is a unique feature. Red Hat announced the end of support for CentOS in late 2020, replacing it with CentOS Stream, which no longer guarantees binary compatibility with RHEL. CentOS Stream is a rolling release designed to test commercial innovations for RHEL. Consequently, the demand for an alternative successor on CentOS VPS hosting and CentOS Dedicated Servers quickly arose.

Alternatives as CentOS Successors

With Rocky Linux, named after CentOS co-founder Rocky McGaugh, and AlmaLinux, there are now two CentOS successors to choose from. Fundamentally, the core idea of CentOS is also upheld by the successors on the server. The Linux distribution is intended to remain completely free. At the same time, emphasis is placed on binary compatibility with the current RHEL version. A beta version of AlmaLinux was released in February 2021. The stable version for servers was then launched at the end of March 2021. Support is expected to be guaranteed at least until 2029.

For more information on the differences between the various Linux distributions, you can also check out the article: Best Linux for Servers: Which Distributions are Suitable?

AlmaLinux and its Advantages

As appealing as the idea of a free Linux distribution may be, ultimately, AlmaLinux's usefulness and usability are what matter. Therefore, it's worth taking a look at the list of advantages of this Linux variant. Primarily, the Linux system offers benefits to those users who are forced to switch from CentOS. AlmaLinux certainly fulfils the promise of being an alternative and functional CentOS successor.

Simple and Easy - Transitioning from CentOS to AlmaLinux

The transition is not only facilitated by the provision and binary compatibility with RHEL, but also by its user-friendly nature. Those who have enjoyed working with CentOS in the past will quickly find their way around and feel comfortable with the CentOS successor, AlmaLinux. In terms of handling and appearance, the fork of RHEL differs only marginally from the CentOS variant. With a script, existing CentOS installations on the server can even be easily migrated.

AlmaLinux - the Community

The idea of collaboration in a growing community brings about positive effects. In the future, the community spirit will become increasingly important. Changes and improvements can be worked on collaboratively and made available to the community more quickly. AlmaLinux is strongly oriented towards the needs of actual users. The operating system meets all requirements. A strong support system is provided to assist with the transition. The highly praised community will be very important in the coming years for documentation and regular updates. The community will ensure that the Linux variant continues to evolve in line with administrators' needs.

Stability and Source Code of the Linux Variant

The source code of AlmaLinux is based on RHEL. However, it has the advantage that users can adapt and optimise it to their own needs. Necessary changes can be integrated in close collaboration with the community. Furthermore, the operating system runs very stably, making it a secure solution for servers. This is positively noticeable compared to other CentOS successors. While new software versions are initially available for CentOS Stream as a Rolling Release, minor errors can still occur. After the initial testing phase, these are usually rectified and the commercial Red Hat Linux Enterprise version receives the update. AlmaLinux then benefits from this. Although it may take a little longer, the advantage lies in the tested version.

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Licences and Costs

AlmaLinux is completely free. Nevertheless, the cost factor should not go unmentioned. After all, the operating system offers many features that commercial solutions also provide. However, no charges or fees apply for such features. There is also no need to register, enter into service contracts, purchase licenses, or accept usage restrictions for the server. This CentOS successor is one hundred percent open source. Therefore, this Linux variant represents a worthwhile alternative to paid operating systems.

Conclusion on the CentOS successor AlmaLinux

The launch of AlmaLinux was promising. The ambition to become a user-friendly, secure Linux system for servers is certainly justified so far. The dedicated, large community ensures that a recommendable alternative to CentOS will continue to be available in the future.

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

Sources & further links on the topic:
https://almalinux.org/ (official AlmaLinux website)
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=alma (AlmaLinux on distrowatch.com)
https://rockylinux.org/ (official Rocky Linux website)
https://www.centos.org/ (official CentOS project website)

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Gerd Altmann on Pixabay