It's normally next to our operating system, which helps us to install our servers, et cetera.
Manager server admin and security at Vivaconnect
Easy to set up with nice UI and good performance
Pros and Cons
- "You can work with the UI or in command line, if you prefer."
- "It would be ideal if Red Hat would continue the CentOS versions in an open-source format. They seem to be moving away from that. Now only paid versions are available."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
I'm satisfied with the product. It fulfills our desired needs.
We haven't had any issues with performance. The stability is good.
The initial setup is easy.
You can work with the UI or in command line, if you prefer.
It is scalable.
What needs improvement?
It would be ideal if Red Hat would continue the CentOS versions in an open-source format. They seem to be moving away from that. Now only paid versions are available.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for six to seven years. I've used it since CentOS 5.
Buyer's Guide
CentOS
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about CentOS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
824,053 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable, and the performance is good. For years, we have had no complaints. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze. It is reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution scales well.
We have about 50 or more systems set up in our organization. I'm not sure how many users are on it.
I'm not sure if we have plans to increase usage right now.
How are customer service and support?
I've never used technical support. If we need to troubleshoot, we look at blogs and forums.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously used Windows.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. It's very easy to set up. We did not find it complex in any way.
The UI makes it very easy. You just go through it step by step. Of course, if you like, you can also do command line as well.
How long it takes to deploy depends on the speed of the system. It's got very good capacity and a nice configuration setup. It can usually be installed in 20 minutes to half an hour. If a person has experience with Linux, they can likely install a server in 15 minutes.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We used it as an open-source solution. We did not have to worry about licensing.
What other advice do I have?
We are using the latest available version, which is on the cloud only.
My understanding is that CentOS is a Red Hat product now, so CentOS is now converted to CentOS Stream. It's not open-source anymore.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Cloud solution architect at 0
All the commands are user-friendly, and it provides good stability and security
Pros and Cons
- "CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly."
- "The solution’s stability could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
Many of my customers use Linux as their client operating system because it is more secure. Since it doesn't have a UI and there are a lot of anomalies and viruses affecting the UI-related applications, some customers prefer to have an operating system without a UI. I have seen most people use CentOS, Red Hat, or Ubuntu as a client operating system or server.
What is most valuable?
CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly. Installing any package or application is pretty easy with CentOS. Security-wise, most of the latest security software and applications are compatible with CentOS. Updating the patches for CentOS is very easy.
CentOS is a stable, consistent, and secure solution.
What needs improvement?
The solution’s stability could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using CentOS for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
CentOS is a very stable solution.
I rate the solution an eight out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is very scalable. CentOS is very good for any microservices or any application that has an auto scalability mechanism available. The number of users usually depends on how many users can access the OS through the network based on the bandwidth.
How are customer service and support?
The solution provides good technical support for all flavors of Linux.
How was the initial setup?
The solution’s initial setup is very straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
The solution’s deployment takes hardly 10 to 15 minutes. You can use the image to manually deploy the solution, or you can use the DevOps or any automation methods to deploy it.
What other advice do I have?
CentOS provides very good cost efficiency. It is a very efficient operating system without any hassle or inconsistencies. I don't see much difference between CentOS and Ubuntu. Ubuntu has a few more user-friendly commands than CentOS. Once you are familiar with the flavors, CentOS is also very user-friendly. For a new user of Linux, Ubuntu is a little bit easier.
Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
CentOS
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about CentOS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
824,053 professionals have used our research since 2012.
DevOps and Automation Lead | Technical Expert at a comms service provider with 5,001-10,000 employees
Easy to use with good performance and a robust community
Pros and Cons
- "The community and knowledge base are very robust."
- "The support could be a bit better."
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use the solution for personal and testing purposes. It's used as an operating system.
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to use. The performance is good.
The community and knowledge base are very robust.
It has a lot of great features.
It is stable and reliable.
I have found the solution to be scalable.
What needs improvement?
The support could be a bit better. They should be more customer friendly. They could also be a bit faster.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for many years. I've used it for almost five years at this point.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's stable. I'd rate it nine out of ten for reliability. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. The performance has been fine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable. I'd rate the scalability nine out of ten.
I'm not sure how many people are using the solution in my company.
How are customer service and support?
Support could be faster and more responsive. However, support is okay.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I'm also using Ubuntu.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very straightforward. It is not complex. I deployed both on-premises and cloud options. It only takes a few hours.
I followed the documentation for preparing the nodes and the administration. There's good documentation for configuring time zones, networks, et cetera. The steps are pretty standard.
We had development and infrastructure teams on the solution. However, only one person can handle the deployment. I only have details on just my team and area. I'm not sure what it was like across the company.
What about the implementation team?
I handled the implementation in-house by myself.
What was our ROI?
I've never looked into the ROI of the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I do not handle licensing. It's not in my scope of work.
What other advice do I have?
I've used the latest version of the solution.
I would recommend the solution to others. I'd advise people to have a clear view of how they will use the solution and take care to consider how they would like to scale.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Project Engineer at CDAC
Used as an operating system and easily integrates with other systems
Pros and Cons
- "We used the solution as an operating system."
- "Currently, CentOS is not providing support, so you will not get new packages that are compatible with that operating system."
What is our primary use case?
We used the solution as an operating system. We were using CentOS because it supported the Red Hat flavor. Now that CentOS has stopped providing the support, we have switched to Alma OS.
What is most valuable?
We used the solution as an operating system. The solution is simple to use.
What needs improvement?
Currently, CentOS is not providing support, so you will not get new packages that are compatible with that operating system.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution provides good stability.
I rate the solution’s stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Around 70% of our organization is using CentOS.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used Ubuntu. We switched to CentOS because it was a business requirement, and our clients demanded it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
CentOS is an open source that is free of cost.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend CentOS to other users because it supports the Red Hat flavor. It is easy to integrate the solution with other tools and systems.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Aug 6, 2024
Flag as inappropriateHead of IT Infrastructure at a non-tech company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Easy to set up and reliable, but the licensing structure has recently changed
Pros and Cons
- "There's lots of great documentation available."
- "We are aware that the licensing has shifted, and it's not a change we've liked."
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution as a web application server. I use it with Apache.
How has it helped my organization?
It's saved us a lot of money on licensing.
What is most valuable?
I like that the updating is very easy.
It's saved us a lot of money based on the licensing structure.
The solution is stable and reliable.
There's lots of great documentation available.
The initial setup was easy for me.
What needs improvement?
I do not need any extra features. Nothing is missing from the solution.
We are aware that the licensing has shifted, and it's not a change we've liked.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution since 2017.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a very stable product. There are no bugs or glitches, and it doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I've never scaled or clustered in any way, although I do have it in multiple systems.
I do not have plans to increase usage since that changed the way the licensing works.
How are customer service and support?
The documentation is excellent. I've never actually reached out to technical support. I've needed to leverage support services since the documentation is so strong.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Since they have changed their licensing strategy, we are using more Ubuntu.
How was the initial setup?
I have the solution in Red Hat Linux. It's easy if you understand what to do. You do have to have some level of knowledge, however. It's not for non-technical users.
I've had it deployed on-premise and on the cloud.
What was our ROI?
We have witnessed a strong ROI. It manages our web applications very well.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'm not well-versed in licensing. It's almost free. The cost is very, very low.
What other advice do I have?
I started with version seven, and now I'm on version eight.
Now that the licensing has changed, I'd advise potential users to be aware of this.
I'd rate the solution seven out of ten. The stability and security are good.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Senior Unix System Administrator at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Easy to install and manage
Pros and Cons
- "It's easy to install."
- "Updates are going to a streaming version."
What is our primary use case?
We have very varied, different uses. Mostly it's an appliance for applications.
How has it helped my organization?
It's required for some of the applications we have. In order to run those applications, we have to have CentOS.
What is most valuable?
It's easy to install.
What needs improvement?
They're changing how they're working, and I really enjoy the easy updates. Now they're going to a streaming version, which I don't like. We want to control the updates manually. We have an application that we don't want to be updated without our knowledge.
If you want to do something special on install, you can. But when they have 68 questions about how you want to install, you answer each one of them. A very simple, default install would be nice.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using CentOS for more than 12 months.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is extremely scalable. We have about 200 people using it at this point, mostly engineers or database guys.
We'll probably have a minor increase in usage, but not a huge increase in how many nodes we'll have.
How are customer service and support?
CentOS has no technical support. You just look it up if you have a problem.
Red Hat is the paid version of Linux. They take out all the Red Hat stuff and make CentOS Linux with no support. But a lot of people use it, and a lot of people post. So if you have a problem, you just look online and it's fine.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I did use Red Hat a long time ago, and I switched because they couldn't seem to decide how they wanted to charge for their service. I was perfectly happy to just pay them, but it would range by huge amounts. I couldn't maintain that.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is in between straightforward and complex. It could be easier. There are too many options, and I'd like a lot less.
What about the implementation team?
Deployment takes a half-hour, and we did it in-house. One person, myself, takes care of deployment and maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There are zero licensing costs for the solution.
There are admin costs. We run it on VMware, so there has to be VMware cost.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
There were a few other options, but CentOS is heavily used and that helps.
What other advice do I have?
Just be aware of the changes they're about to make, which is from the regular updates to streaming. That's major.
I would rate the solution nine out of ten. It's easy to install, it's easy to manage, it's free.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Architect - Database Administration at Mitra Innovation
A very robust tool that doesn't consume unnecessary resources
Pros and Cons
- "The product's initial setup phase is very straightforward."
- "I have had a tough time with the product's scalability, making it an area where improvements are required."
What is our primary use case?
I have set up some databases on CentOS, like MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and RabbitMQ.
What is most valuable?
Regarding the most valuable features of the product, I can say that an operating system is a very robust tool. The product doesn't consume unnecessary resources, and it is very lightweight as an operating system. In our company, we are able to do a lot with the limited or small amount of resources offered by the tool. The aforementioned area covers my favorite aspects of using a Linux-based product like CentOS.
What needs improvement?
I have had a tough time with the product's scalability, making it an area where improvements are required.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using CentOS for five to six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a robust and stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Though it is scalable, the processes attached to it are not straightforward.
There are around four to five people who use the product.
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup phase is very straightforward. For a technical person, it can be very easy to install the tool.
One needs to follow a standard deployment process for CentOS. It has a few simple steps, and as long as we use the correct parameters, it will spin up the OS correctly.
What was our ROI?
My company gets regular updates on the product, which helps to save our company's costs.
What other advice do I have?
The product's security features are really good.
The integration capabilities of the product with other tools in the market are okay.
CentOS is a lightweight operating system that offers stability. I would recommend CentOS or any other Linux-based tools.
I have not used any AI with CentOS.
CentOS is an open-source product, so there are no licensing costs attached to the tool.
The value of using the solution is the fact that it is a lightweight product that is easy to implement.
I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Jun 13, 2024
Flag as inappropriateData Solution Architect at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe
Useful for service applications that are Linux compatible but there could be more frequent updates
Pros and Cons
- "Setup is straightforward. You can complete it in about 30 minutes."
- "I would like to see more frequent updates."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for any server that needs the database, for any service applications that are Linux compatible.
We use a specific version for each user, but when we do a system, we use the latest. We deploy the latest version except when a vendor specifies a different version.
Usually, the developers request service for themselves and then the people using those servers will be varied. There are so many people using this solution that we cannot determine the exact number. There are some internal systems like finance or HR, for example. So, the numbers are not consistent.
As more products and requests come out, I think we are increasing the number of users.
The solution is deployed on-premises.
What is most valuable?
The good thing about it is that it's free.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see more frequent updates.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using CentOS for more than five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable.
How are customer service and support?
For support, we just use internal skills.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We were also using SUSE Linux in Windows.
How was the initial setup?
Setup is straightforward. You can complete it in about 30 minutes.
What about the implementation team?
Deployment was done in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's freeware, so we can use it without worrying about licensing.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution 7 out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Download our free CentOS Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: December 2024
Product Categories
Operating Systems (OS) for BusinessPopular Comparisons
Ubuntu Linux
Oracle Linux
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Rocky Linux
Windows Server
SUSE Linux Enterprise
openSUSE Leap
Windows 10
Oracle Solaris
Google Chrome Enterprise
Kali Linux
Flatcar Container Linux
Debian
Buyer's Guide
Download our free CentOS Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Quick Links
Learn More: Questions:
- Which would you choose - RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) or CentOS?
- What change management solution do you recommend for users to adapt to Windows 10 updates?
- What operating system do you use in your business?
- When evaluating Enterprise Linux, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
- What is the best Windows MSI installer?
- Which operative system would be a good alternative for DevOps?
- What features do you look for in an operating system?
- What operating system will be a good alternative for SLES?
- Why is Operating Systems (OS) for Business important for companies?