Differences Between CentOS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Month Read Expired: 2 Minute CentOS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) are two popular Linux-based operating system distributions. Both are open source and share many similarities, but there are some key differences. Source and Support: CentOS is developed based on RHEL’s source code. This means CentOS uses the same underlying code as RHEL, so their core structures are similar. However, CentOS is a community-supported project and is therefore free. On the other hand, RHEL is supported by Red Hat and offers paid, enterprise-level support. Update Process: CentOS updates are based on the source code it obtains from RHEL. However, its update process differs from RHEL’s. RHEL tests and certifies software updates for each release before providing them, offering an additional layer of security and reliability for enterprise users. CentOS’s update process is more flexible, often resulting in faster updates compared to RHEL. Licensing and Support: RHEL is a licensed product targeted at enterprise customers, providing professional support from Red Hat. Conversely, CentOS requires no licensing and typically operates under a community-supported model, making it attractive for small businesses and individual users. Additional Features and Services: RHEL offers extra features and services for enterprise customers, such as enhanced security, management tools, and specialized application support. CentOS is generally a basic Linux distribution and does not include some of the advanced features offered by RHEL. In summary, the main difference between CentOS and RHEL lies in their support model and licensing requirements. RHEL provides enterprise-level support and assurance, while CentOS generally relies on free community support. Depending on your business needs and budget, both distributions offer unique advantages. #CentOS #RedHat #RHEL #Linux #Comparison #FreeSupport #EnterpriseLinux #OpenSource #Distribution #Software #Technology #CentOSvsRHEL #LinuxComparison #OperatingSystem #IT #SoftwareDevelopment #CommunitySupport #EnterpriseSupport #UpdateProcess #LicensingModel Did you find it useful? Thank you for your feedback. Sorry about that :( We'll work to make it better. You voted before. (38 times viewed / 0 people found it helpful)