The big caveat for Oracle Linux is that it’s not supported by cPanel. These tools aren’t installed by default, but they are designed and optimized to run on Oracle Linux. These tools are all based on open standards, defined by the Open Container Initiative and Cloud Native Computing Foundation, and have been tested for interoperability. Oracle Linux might be one of the only RHEL-clones that can stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Ubuntu Server when it comes to upgrade/update performance.Īnd for cloud native developers, there’s always Oracle Linux Cloud Native Environment, which is a fully integrated suite for the development and management of cloud native applications and services. And because Oracle Linux has been around for some time, it’s as rock-solid a server distribution as you’ll find. This might be one of the only RHEL-clones that can stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Ubuntu Server when it comes to upgrade/update performance. Oracle Linux is one of the best performing CentOS clones on the market. So many feared that the same would happen to MySQL that the codebase for that database system was forked to create MariaDB.īut if you can set aside the notion that Oracle hasn’t always been the biggest champion of open source software, it does have a server-based distribution that’s pretty outstanding. Oracle’s lackluster management of OpenOffice (acquired when Oracle purchased Sun Microsystems in 2009) arguably led to the fork of LibreOffice. Now might be the perfect time for your company to take a look at this alternative distribution.īefore you do, you might want to ask yourself, “How deep is my connection with open source?” You see, Oracle has had a rather up and down relationship with open source over the years. Oracle Linux has been around for quite some time but seems to have existed in the shadows of CentOS - indeed it is pretty much a RHEL clone for Oracle shops. If you’ve used CentOS, you will be immediately familiar with AlmaLinux - it even defaults to the GNOME desktop, just like your favorite data center Linux distribution has for years. If you’ve used CentOS, you will be immediately familiar with AlmaLinux - it even defaults to the GNOME desktopįor those who rely on cPanel and WHM, rest assured that both technologies are supported on AlmaLinux, with the makers of cPanel going so far as to say, “We have made the commitment to support the RHEL fork by CloudLinux,” Jackson said. One of the more important aspects of AlmaLinux (especially for larger companies) is that you can purchase enterprise-grade support, through TuxCare, according to Jim Jackson, president, and chief revenue officer at CloudLinux. This CentOS replacement is already enjoying its second release (with 8.4, which is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4) and is production-ready for the enterprise. This distribution is backed by the likes of AWS, ARM, Open Source Lab, cPanel, CHEF, Pleak, Mattermost, and more. Upon the announcement of CentOS jumping into the stream, CloudLinux decided to take up the mantle and release AlmaLinux.ĪlmaLinux is 1:1 binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and is not only “forever free,” but developed by the command and for the community. CloudLinux already had its CloudLinux OS, which is purpose-built for shared hosting environments. Born from CloudLinux, a company that is well known for hosting and provides thousands of data centers worldwide. AlmaLinuxĪlmaLinux is one of the first of the CentOS clones to have been released after the dust settled. They should because they are pretty much spot-on clones of the CentOS you’ve grown to know and depend on.īut which one of these available Linux server-specific distributions should you turn to? Let’s take a look at each of them and see if we can help you figure that out. You might be surprised that some of these options feel quite familiar. So no matter if you have servers powered by CentOS 7, 8, or even Stream, you have options. Do they risk sticking with a platform that could become unstable? And what about those who depend upon cPanel? Where do they go?īecause this is open source, you knew it was only a matter of time before developers (or teams of developers) stepped in to solve the problem before it became a serious issue. Switching from the regular releases to a rolling release, the change brought about a domino effect that rendered many admins with a rather confusing path forward. By now you are beyond well aware that Red Hat‘s changes to its CentOS community distribution has made it a less than an ideal for many use cases.