什么 Linux 系统可以替换生产环境的 Linux 服务器上的 CentOS 8
CentOS
CentOS 是世界上最流行的服务器发行版之一。它是<ruby> 红帽企业 Linux <rt>  Red Hat Enterprise Linux </rt></ruby>（RHEL）的一个开源分支，提供了 RHEL 的优点，却没有 RHEL 的相关成本。


然而，最近情况发生了变化，[红帽正在将稳定的 CentOS 转换为滚动发布模式，即 CentOS Stream的形式](/article-12902-1.html)。CentOS 8 本来应该支持到 2029 年，但现在到 2021 年底就被迫停止了。


如果你的服务器使用的是 CentOS，这可能会让你不知道该何去何从。


你看，取代 CentOS 8 的首要选择就是 CentOS Stream。将 CentOS 8 升级到 CentOS Stream 的[过程很简单](https://linuxhandbook.com/update-to-centos-stream/)，你不用担心需要重新安装任何东西。


不过，由于 CentOS Stream 是滚动发布性质的，你可能要考虑一些对生产服务器来说更稳定的东西。我将在本文中会推荐一些 Linux 系统来帮助你做出这个决定。


### 基于 RHEL 的服务器 Linux 发行版，你可以考虑用来取代 CentOS


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114910aykqmq8kfknvekv4.png)


我将从一些正在开发的 RHEL 分支版本开始列举，其唯一目的是取代 CentOS 8。之后，我会列出你可以马上使用的服务器发行版。


#### Rocky Linux（正在开发中）


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114910rjdo3cx35acxx5f5.png)


就在红帽宣布计划用滚动发布的 CentOS Stream 取代稳定的 CentOS 8 的同一天，CentOS 的原开发者宣布了一个新项目，为 CentOS 用户提供 RHEL 分支。


这个新项目名为 [Rocky Linux](https://rockylinux.org)。它的名字是为了纪念原 CentOS 项目的共同创始人之一。它是从 RHEL 8 分支出来的，目标是“100% 与 RHEL 兼容”。


该项目正在快速开发中，目前可能无法使用。但这是在 2021 年底 CentOS 8 支持结束时取代它的首选之一。


#### Lenix 项目（开发中）


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114910d8cehixxy8qe8z3e.png)


这是在宣布 CentOS Stream 成为默认版本一天后创建的又一个 RHEL 分支。


[Lenix 项目](https://www.reddit.com/r/ProjectLenix/)是由 CloudLinux 创建的，CloudLinux 是一家面向企业的服务机构，多年来一直在提供定制化的 CentOS 服务器，鉴于他们在 CentOS 和企业服务器方面的多年经验，Lenix 项目应该是一个很有前途的 RHEL 分支，可以取代 CentOS Stream。


#### Oracle Linux


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114910bzxmypf61yvn6mcf.png)


这可能是该列表中唯一能以最佳方式使用的 RHEL 分支。不仅可以随时使用，你甚至可以[从现有的 CentOS 安装迁移到 Oracle Linux](https://github.com/oracle/centos2ol)，而无需重新安装。


Oracle Linux 自 2006 年起推出。它的应用二进制 100% 兼容 RHEL，并且它提供了与每个 RHEL 版本相对应的版本。而且，你不需要与 Oracle 签署任何协议来使用 Oracle Linux。


Oracle Linux 有两种 Linux 内核可供选择：Oracle Linux 的<ruby> <a href="https://docs.oracle.com/en/operating-systems/uek/">  坚不可摧企业级内核 </a> <rt>  Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel </rt></ruby>（UEK）或<ruby> 红帽兼容内核 <rt>  Red Hat Compatible Kernel </rt></ruby>（RHCK）。


只是，甲骨文在开源项目上有些黑历史，可能这也是为什么选择 CentOS 这种真正的社区分支形式而不是甲骨文 Linux 的原因。随着 CentOS 被 CentOS Stream 所取代，也许现在正是给 Oracle 一个机会的时候？


#### ClearOS（来自惠普）


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114910vt6nyb8yy8mi7l67.jpg)


[ClearOS](https://www.clearos.com) 是惠普在其 HPE ProLiant 服务器上提供的。虽然他们的网站上没有明确提到，但 ClearOS 是基于 RHEL 和 CentOS 的。


[Clear Center](https://www.clearcenter.com) 和 HPE 在这个项目上进行了合作。开源的 ClearOS 免费提供给社区。他们有自己的应用市场，混杂了免费和付费应用。你不需要为操作系统付费，但如果你选择了付费应用，你可能需要为该应用付费。


它可能没有那么流行，但随着 CentOS Stream 成为默认，如果惠普能抓住这个时机，ClearOS 应该能获得一些用户。他们会这么做吗？我不太确定。甲骨文正在努力吸引 CentOS 用户，但我没有看到惠普的这种努力。


#### Springdale Linux（普林斯顿大学的学术项目）


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114910k2swws1n505x4sc2.png)


一个由院士维护的红帽分支？这就是 Scientific Linux 吧？但 Scientific Linux 已经死了一年多了。


[Springdale Linux](https://puias.math.ias.edu)（SDL）是普林斯顿大学的另一个这样的项目。它之前被称为 PUIAS Linux（<ruby> 普林斯顿大学高级研究所 <rt>  Princeton University Institute for Advanced Study </rt></ruby>）。


目前还没有 RHEL 8 对应的 Springdale Linux，我觉得他们的开发速度可以加快一些。


### 不基于红帽的服务器发行版


好吧，到目前为止，列表中已经提到了基于红帽的发行版。现在是时候看看一些与 RHEL 无关，但仍然是生产服务器的上好选择的服务器发行版了。


#### YunoHost（专门为 Web 服务器定制的）


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114910ik5wa5c9accbad65.png)


[YunoHost](https://yunohost.org#/) 是基于 Debian 定制的，目的是为你提供一个托管 Web 服务器的系统。


你可以在[树莓派等 ARM 板](https://itsfoss.com/raspberry-pi-alternatives/)、旧台式机和计算机上使用它，当然也可以在虚拟专用服务器（VPS）上使用。


YunoHost 还提供了一个基于 Web 的管理界面（灵感来自于 [Webmin](https://linuxhandbook.com/use-webmin/)？），这样你就可以用图形化的方式来管理系统。这对于一个想托管 Web 服务器但又不太会命令行的人来说，是一个很大的安慰。


#### Debian Linux


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114910ajrfb3jccqbujrz4.png)


这个通用操作系统提供了一个坚如磐石的服务器发行版。对于那些想要一个稳定系统的人来说，是一个理想的选择。


如果你在 CentOS 上投入了太多的时间和技术，你可能会发现 [Debian](https://www.debian.org) 略有不同，尤其是软件包管理系统。不过，我相信，对于一个经验丰富的 Linux 系统管理员来说，这应该不是什么大问题。


#### openSUSE


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114911azehtmqbwmownieo.jpg)


SUSE 是红帽的直接竞争对手之一。他们以 [SUSE Linux Enterprise](https://www.suse.com/download/sles/) 的形式提供企业级产品。他们的开源产品 openSUSE 也相当受欢迎，无论是在桌面还是服务器领域。


[openSUSE](https://www.opensuse.org) 是一个服务器 Linux 发行版的好选择。现在的人不会明白 [SUSE 的 YAST 工具](https://yast.opensuse.org)在上世纪 90 年代和 2000 年初给用户带来了怎样的解脱。它仍然是管理 SUSE 系统的一个方便的工具。


openSUSE 有两种形式：滚动发布的 Tumbleweed 和稳定的点发布版的 Leap。我猜测你追求的是稳定性，所以 Leap 是你应该追求的目标。


#### Ubuntu


![](/data/attachment/album/202012/15/114911id7hoq4qd54kv5oa.jpg)


[Ubuntu](https://ubuntu.com/download/server) 是世界上最流行的发行版，[在服务器上](https://www.datanyze.com/market-share/operating-systems--443/ubuntu-market-share)和台式机上都是如此。这就是为什么没有 Ubuntu 这份清单就不完整的原因。


因为我已经使用 Ubuntu 很长时间了，所以我觉得在 Ubuntu 上托管我的 Web 服务器很舒服。但这只是我个人的想法。如果你是从 RHEL 领域过来的，这里的包管理系统和一些网络和管理组件是不同的。


[Ubuntu LTS 版](https://itsfoss.com/long-term-support-lts/)带有五年的支持，这是 CentOS 版本提供的一半长短。如果你不想升级版本，你可以选择为过时的 LTS 版本购买付费的扩展支持。


#### 你的选择是什么？


我已经列出了一些基于 RHEL 的发行版以及通用服务器发行版的顶级推荐。


现在轮到你了，在上面列出的发行版中，你最喜欢哪个？你有什么其他的建议可以添加到这个列表中吗？请在评论区留言。




---


via: <https://itsfoss.com/rhel-based-server-distributions/>


作者：[Abhishek Prakash](https://itsfoss.com/author/abhishek/) 选题：[lujun9972](https://github.com/lujun9972) 译者：[wxy](https://github.com/wxy) 校对：[wxy](https://github.com/wxy)


本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译，[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出


OK
CentOS is one of the most popular server distributions in the world. It is an open source fork of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and provides the goodness of RHEL without the cost associated with RHEL.

However, things have changed recently. [Red Hat is converting the stable CentOS to a rolling release model in the form of CentOS Stream](https://itsfoss.com/centos-stream-fiasco/). CentOS 8 was supposed to be supported until 2029, but it is now forced discontinued by the end of 2021.

If you are using CentOS for your servers, it may make you wonder where to go from here.

See, the first choice for replacing CentOS 8 is CentOS Stream. The [process to upgrade CentOS 8 to CentOS Stream is simple](https://linuxhandbook.com/update-to-centos-stream/), and you don’t have to worry about reinstalling anything here.

However, since CentOS Stream is of rolling release nature, you may want to consider something more stable for a production server. I’ll help you with that decision by suggesting some recommendations in this article.

## RHEL-based server Linux distributions you may want to consider for replacing CentOS

![Replace Centos](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/12/Replace-centos.png)

I’ll start the list with some of the RHEL forks to replace CentOS 8. I’ll also list some server distributions that aren’t precisely RHEL forks but should come in handy.

### Rocky Linux

![Rocky Linux](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/12/rocky-linux.png)

The same day Red Hat announced its plans to replace stable CentOS 8 with rolling release CentOS Stream, the original developer of CentOS announced a new project to provide RHEL fork to CentOS users.

This new project is called [Rocky Linux](https://rockylinux.org). It is named in the memory of one of the co-creators of the original CentOS project. It’s been forked from RHEL 8 and aims to be “100% bug-for-bug compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux”.

It offers easy migration, is supported by the community, and acts as a downstream to RHEL. So, this is one of the obvious choices to replace CentOS.

### AlmaLinux OS

![almalinux](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2021/12/almalinux.png)

[AlmaLinux](https://almalinux.org) (initially known as Project Lenix) is a CentOS alternative backed by the team behind CloudLinux OS.

While it is an initiative by a well-known organization, it also adopts the same principle of building for the community with their help.

The team behind AlmaLinux is an enterprise-oriented service that has been providing customized CentOS servers for several years now. So, their experience should reflect with AlmaLinux OS and should give you confidence in choosing AlmaLinux for your servers.

### Oracle Linux

![Oracle Linux](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/12/oracle-linux.png)

Probably the only RHEL fork in this list that is ready to use in the best possible manner. Not only ready to use, but you can also even [migrate from an existing CentOS installation to Oracle Linux](https://github.com/oracle/centos2ol) without reinstalling it.

Oracle Linux has been available since 2006. It is 100% application binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and it provides an equivalent to each RHEL release. And no, you don’t need to sign an agreement with Oracle for using Oracle Linux.

Oracle Linux comes with two choices of Linux kernels: the [Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel](https://docs.oracle.com/en/operating-systems/uek/) (UEK) for Oracle Linux or the Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK).

It’s just that the track record of Oracle is not very good with open-source projects, and probably this is the reason a true community fork in the form of CentOS was preferred over Oracle Linux. With CentOS being replaced with CentOS Stream, perhaps it is the right time to give Oracle a chance?

### ClearOS (by HP)

![Clear Os](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/12/clear-os.jpg)

[ClearOS](https://www.clearos.com) is offered by HP on its HPE ProLiant servers. Though it is not clearly mentioned on their website, ClearOS is based on RHEL and CentOS.

[Clear Center](https://www.clearcenter.com) and HPE have partnered on this project. The open source ClearOS available for free to the community. They have their app marketplace with a mix of free and paid applications. You don’t pay for the OS, but you may have to pay for the apps if you opt for a paid one.

It might not be that popular but with CentOS Stream becoming the default, ClearOS stands to gain some user base, if HP plays its cards right. Will they do it? I am not so sure. Oracle is trying to lure CentOS users, but I have seen no such efforts from HP.

### Springdale Linux (academic project from Princeton University)

![Springdale Linux](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/12/springdale-linux.png)

A Red Hat fork maintained by academicians? That’s Scientific Linux, right? But Scientific Linux has been dead for over a year.

[Springdale Linux ](https://puias.math.ias.edu)(SDL) is another such project by Princeton University. It was previously known as PUIAS (Princeton University Institute for Advanced Study).

There is no RHEL 8 equivalent of Springdale Linux yet, which gives some hint about the speed of development here.

## Server distributions that are not based on Red Hat

Alright! So far, the list mentions the distributions based on Red Hat. It’s time to look at some of the server distributions that have nothing to do with RHEL, but they are still a good choice for your production server.

### YunoHost (Specially customized for web servers)

![Yunohost](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/12/yunohost.png)

[YunoHost](https://yunohost.org/) is based on Debian and customized for the purpose of providing you with a system for hosting your web servers.

You can use it on [ARM boards like Raspberry Pi](https://itsfoss.com/raspberry-pi-alternatives/), old desktops, and computers on virtual private servers.

YunoHost also provides a web-based admin interface (inspired by [Webmin](https://linuxhandbook.com/use-webmin/)?) so that you can manage the system graphically. This is a great relief for someone who wants to host a web server without getting too much into the command line stuff.

### Debian Linux

![Debian Linux](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/12/debian-linux.png)

The universal operating system provides a rock-solid server distribution—an ideal choice for those who want a stable system.

If you had invested too much time and skill in CentOS, you might find Debian slightly different, especially the package management system. Though, I believe it should not be much of a trouble for a seasoned Linux sysadmin.

### openSUSE

![Opensuse](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/12/opensuse.jpg)

SUSE is one of the direct competitors of Red Hat. They have the enterprise offering in the form of [SUSE Linux Enterprise](https://www.suse.com/download/sles/). Their open-source offering openSUSE is also quite popular, both as desktop and server.

[openSUSE](https://www.opensuse.org) makes up a good choice for a server Linux distribution. People these days won’t understand what a relief [YAST tool of SUSE](https://yast.opensuse.org) brought for users in the last 90s and early 2000s. It is still a handy utility for managing the SUSE system.

openSUSE comes in two formats: the rolling release Tumbleweed and the stable point release Leap. I am guessing you are looking for stability, so Leap is what you should be aiming for.

### Ubuntu

![Ubuntu](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/12/ubuntu.jpg)

[Ubuntu](https://ubuntu.com/download/server) is the most popular distribution in the world, [both on servers](https://www.datanyze.com/market-share/operating-systems--443/ubuntu-market-share) and desktops. This is why this list could not have been completed without Ubuntu.

Since I have been using Ubuntu for a long time, I feel comfortable hosting my web servers on Ubuntu. But that’s just me. If you are coming from the RHEL domain, package management is different here, along with a few networking and management components.

[Ubuntu LTS version](https://itsfoss.com/long-term-support-lts/) comes with five years of support, which is half of what a CentOS release provided. You may opt for paid extended support for an outdated LTS version if you want to avoid upgrading versions.

### What’s your choice?

I have listed some top recommendations for RHEL based distributions as well as for generic server distributions.

Now it’s your turn. Which of the above-listed distributions do you like the most? Do you have any other suggestions to add to this list? The comment section is all yours.