CentOS Stream and Implications of Change
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April 23, 2021
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SLF6: Scientific Linux Fermi 6
SL7: Scientific Linux 7
C8: CentOS Linux 8
Thanks to Ben Morrice of CERN for the calendar format idea.
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On December 12, 2020, CentOS announced:
“The future of the CentOS Project is CentOS Stream, and over the
next year we’ll be shifting focus from CentOS Linux, the rebuild of
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), to CentOS Stream, which tracks
just
ahead
of a current RHEL release. CentOS Linux 8, as a rebuild of
RHEL 8, will end at the end of 2021.”
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SLF6: Scientific Linux Fermi 6
SL7: Scientific Linux 7
C8: CentOS Linux 8
CS8: CentOS Stream 8
CS9: CentOS Stream 9
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What is CentOS Stream, exactly?
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Implications of this change
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Possible options, pros and cons
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Path forward
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Not a beta version: Each package that goes into Stream has
gone through Red Hat’s QA process and will appear as-is in
the next RHEL minor version release.
•
Key differences from CentOS Linux:
–
5-year life cycle (vs. 10 years for CentOS Linux 7)
•
Matches “Full Support” phase of RHEL
–
More frequent, smaller updates: Once they pass QA, new
versions of packages are released immediately to CentOS
Stream. For CentOS Linux (and RHEL), they’re collected
internally until the next minor (dot) version is released.
–
Adds a mechanism to feed changes into RHEL
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What do you need in a Linux operating system?
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Lifetime: Is 5 years enough?
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Support for architectures other than x86, e.g., ARM?
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Stability (lack of change) vs. recent software (more change)?
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Options currently considered:
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Use CentOS Stream
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Use a different RHEL rebuild, similar to the original CentOS
Linux: Springdale Linux, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, …
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Other options can be considered for the long term, but aren’t
feasible in the next 1–few years.
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With any of the above: Aggressive containerization—run
everything in containers, or as much as possible. Then the
underlying OS will matter less.
With Stream (especially, though not exclusively): Further push
for CI/CD to mitigate more frequent changes in OS.
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Pros:
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Supported by Red Hat & CentOS
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Very similar to CentOS Linux
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Quick availability of new package versions
Cons:
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5-year life cycle
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Loss of trust in RH/CentOS
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Possible compatibility questions for applications: If a 3
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application is certified for RHEL, will it work on Stream (and
vice versa)?
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Pros:
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10-year life cycle, matching RHEL (assuming Red Hat
continues to release software as they have)
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We (FNAL, CERN, HEP) could contribute and have influence
Cons:
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Still depend on Red Hat
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Except for Springdale, no track record, so hard to judge
stability and support
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Where 8 is needed now, run CentOS Stream 8
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Many experiments may be able to go directly from SL7 to
Stream 9
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Watch progress of rebuilds (Rocky, Springdale, Alma, …), do
some testing
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Migrate to either Stream 9 or a rebuild, depending on our
experience with Stream and on how the rebuilds have
developed.
Longer-term plan: Consider more fundamental changes
(Debian? A new HEP build from sources? Other distributions?)
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Main Stream download page:
https://www.centos.org/centos-stream/
Goes to a list of mirrors, including:
http://linux-mirrors.fnal.gov/linux/centos/8-stream/isos/x86_64/
Fermilab customizations (Kerberos, etc.):
https://linux-mirrors.fnal.gov/linux/fermilab/centos/8/notes.html
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CentOS Stream is a new iteration focusing on leading-edge technology with a 5-year life cycle. It offers more frequent updates, aligning closely with Red Hat's QA process. This shift has implications on stability, support for different architectures, and the overall software landscape. Explore the pros and cons and the path forward in this evolving Linux environment.
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Presentation Transcript
Linux Options April 23, 2021
The Plan as of November 2020 2020 H1 2020 H2 2021 H1 2021 H2 2022 H1 2022 H2 2023 H1 2023 H2 2024 H1 2024 H2 2025 H1 2025 H2 2026 H1 2026 H2 2027 H1 2027 H2 2028 H1 2028 H2 2029 H1 SLF6 SL7 C8 SLF6: Scientific Linux Fermi 6 SL7: Scientific Linux 7 C8: CentOS Linux 8 Thanks to Ben Morrice of CERN for the calendar format idea. 2 3/5/2025 Linux Options
CentOS Change On December 12, 2020, CentOS announced: The future of the CentOS Project is CentOS Stream, and over the next year we ll be shifting focus from CentOS Linux, the rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), to CentOS Stream, which tracks just ahead of a current RHEL release. CentOS Linux 8, as a rebuild of RHEL 8, will end at the end of 2021. 3 3/5/2025 Linux Options
So, as of December 2020: 2020 H1 2020 H2 2021 H1 2021 H2 2022 H1 2022 H2 2023 H1 2023 H2 2024 H1 2024 H2 2025 H1 2025 H2 2026 H1 2026 H2 2027 H1 2027 H2 2028 H1 2028 H2 2029 H1 SLF6 SL7 C8 CS8 CS9 SLF6: Scientific Linux Fermi 6 SL7: Scientific Linux 7 C8: CentOS Linux 8 CS8: CentOS Stream 8 CS9: CentOS Stream 9 4 3/5/2025 Linux Options
For discussion today: What is CentOS Stream, exactly? Implications of this change Possible options, pros and cons Path forward 5 3/5/2025 Linux Options
CentOS Stream Not a beta version: Each package that goes into Stream has gone through Red Hat s QA process and will appear as-is in the next RHEL minor version release. Key differences from CentOS Linux: 5-year life cycle (vs. 10 years for CentOS Linux 7) Matches Full Support phase of RHEL More frequent, smaller updates: Once they pass QA, new versions of packages are released immediately to CentOS Stream. For CentOS Linux (and RHEL), they re collected internally until the next minor (dot) version is released. Adds a mechanism to feed changes into RHEL 6 3/5/2025 Linux Options
Requirements What do you need in a Linux operating system? Lifetime: Is 5 years enough? Support for architectures other than x86, e.g., ARM? Stability (lack of change) vs. recent software (more change)? 7 3/5/2025 Linux Options
Options We are working with CERN to arrive at a common decision. Options currently considered: Use CentOS Stream Use a different RHEL rebuild, similar to the original CentOS Linux: Springdale Linux, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, Other options can be considered for the long term, but aren t feasible in the next 1 few years. 8 3/5/2025 Linux Options
Optionscomments With any of the above: Aggressive containerization run everything in containers, or as much as possible. Then the underlying OS will matter less. With Stream (especially, though not exclusively): Further push for CI/CD to mitigate more frequent changes in OS. 9 3/5/2025 Linux Options
Discussing Options CentOS Stream Pros: Supported by Red Hat & CentOS Very similar to CentOS Linux Quick availability of new package versions Cons: 5-year life cycle Loss of trust in RH/CentOS Possible compatibility questions for applications: If a 3rd-party application is certified for RHEL, will it work on Stream (and vice versa)? 10 3/5/2025 Linux Options
Discussing Options RHEL rebuilds/clones Pros: 10-year life cycle, matching RHEL (assuming Red Hat continues to release software as they have) We (FNAL, CERN, HEP) could contribute and have influence Cons: Still depend on Red Hat Except for Springdale, no track record, so hard to judge stability and support 11 3/5/2025 Linux Options
Near-term Plan Where 8 is needed now, run CentOS Stream 8 Many experiments may be able to go directly from SL7 to Stream 9 Watch progress of rebuilds (Rocky, Springdale, Alma, ), do some testing Migrate to either Stream 9 or a rebuild, depending on our experience with Stream and on how the rebuilds have developed. Longer-term plan: Consider more fundamental changes (Debian? A new HEP build from sources? Other distributions?) 12 3/5/2025 Linux Options
Discussion? 13 3/5/2025 Linux Options
Extra slides 14 3/5/2025 Linux Options
Installing CentOS Stream 8 Main Stream download page: https://www.centos.org/centos-stream/ Goes to a list of mirrors, including: http://linux-mirrors.fnal.gov/linux/centos/8-stream/isos/x86_64/ Fermilab customizations (Kerberos, etc.): https://linux-mirrors.fnal.gov/linux/fermilab/centos/8/notes.html 15 3/5/2025 Linux Options
