CentOS Stream 8 End of Life

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CentOS Stream 8 has reached its end of life (EOL) on May 31, 2024.

Post this date, no further updates, bug fixes, or security patches will be provided. This cessation implies that any vulnerabilities discovered after this date will not be addressed, leaving systems potentially exposed to security risks. Furthermore, after the EOL date all CentOS Stream 8 RPM packages will be archived on vault.centos.org.

For users facing the EOL of CentOS Stream 8, ProComputers’ public cloud image offerings listed below present an efficient and practical alternative:

All above mentioned images requires a fresh new virtual machine deployment and manual data migration. For an in-place CentOS Stream 8 live upgrade or migration, please read this article.

If you would still like to use your CentOS Stream 8 virtual machine after the EOL date, please update your repo files.

ProComputers continues to offer working CentOS Stream 8 images as well. The latest version of these images are pre-configured to use the CentOS vault repositories, so that you are able to install RPM packages out of the box.

1. CentOS Stream 9 images

For users looking to stay within the CentOS ecosystem, ProComputers offers images of CentOS Stream 9. This version continues the rolling-release model, providing ongoing updates and alignment with future RHEL developments.

ProComputers packaged CentOS Stream 9 images in AWS Marketplace

ProComputers packaged CentOS Stream 9 images in Azure Marketplace

2. AlmaLinux 8 images

As a community-driven, RHEL-compatible distribution, AlmaLinux is a popular choice for those seeking a stable and free alternative to CentOS. ProComputers offers pre-configured AlmaLinux images, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal disruption.

ProComputers packaged AlmaLinux 8 images in AWS Marketplace

ProComputers packaged AlmaLinux 8 images in Azure Marketplace

3. Rocky Linux 8 images

Another RHEL-compatible distribution, Rocky Linux, was created to provide a stable and reliable alternative following the changes in the CentOS development model. ProComputers’ Rocky Linux images are designed for easy deployment and high performance.

ProComputers packaged Rocky Linux 8 images in AWS Marketplace

ProComputers packaged Rocky Linux 8 images in Azure Marketplace

4. Oracle Linux images

Oracle Linux 8 is a strong alternative to CentOS Stream 8, offering enterprise-grade stability and performance with free access to updates and patches. It features the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel for optimized performance and reliability, and supports Ksplice for zero-downtime kernel updates. Oracle Linux 8 ensures compatibility with RHEL applications, providing a seamless transition for users.

ProComputers packaged Oracle Linux 8 images in AWS Marketplace

ProComputers packaged Oracle Linux 8 images in Azure Marketplace

5. RHEL 8 images

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 is a robust alternative to CentOS Stream 8, offering enterprise-grade stability and security. Designed for enterprise environments, RHEL ensures high performance and reliability with a predictable release cycle. RHEL’s commitment to compliance and regular updates makes it an ideal choice for organizations requiring a secure and stable operating system for mission-critical applications and workloads.

ProComputers packaged RHEL 8 images in AWS Marketplace

ProComputers packaged RHEL 8 images in Azure Marketplace

References

For any questions related to this article, please contact ProComputers Support.

Why choose ProComputers?

With over 10 years of experience working with Microsoft Azure, ProComputers provides open-source software bundled together into solutions ready to be launched on-demand in the cloud.

ProComputers is a proud sponsor of the AlmaLinux OS Foundation and the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation.

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