Red Hat has suggested that if customers are concerned about the upcoming end of support for CentOS 7, they might consider migrating to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) through its Insights service.
Support for CentOS Linux 7 will end on June 30, 2024, a decision made by Red Hat towards the end of 2020. Now, the IBM subsidiary is concerned about the fate of those still relying on the non-commercial Linux distribution.
CentOS followed in the footsteps of RHEL and was an alternative to paying for a Red Hat subscription for its software, if the customer was willing to forgo official support. In 2020, the project steered customers toward CentOS Stream, which is based on a development branch of RHEL and not ideal for production workloads.
The demise of CentOS spurred the creation of RHEL alternatives like Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux. However, Red Hat took steps to suppress RHEL clones earlier this year by closing access to the RHEL source code for such purposes.
What should all these CentOS 7 users do when end of support arrives? Red Hat listed several FAQs on the matter, which, oddly enough, did not include the obvious “Why did you do this?”
While Red Hat has long provided a Convert2RHEL tool, the addition of Red Hat Insights Tasks for system analysis and conversion is specifically targeted at customers looking to convert CentOS 7 systems to RHEL. The IBM subsidiary stated, “This guided experience reduces the complexity, risk, and time required for your RHEL conversion.”
Customers likely won't see a reduction in costs. Programmers can get a developer subscription to RHEL for free – if it's for independent use rather than for use in an organization – and there's a chance a subscriber could qualify for a developer subscription at no cost. However, to use RHEL in production, a “competitively priced” subscription is required.
Red Hat Insights simplifies the conversion process, although we doubt "how will I migrate?" will be the primary concern for users facing the upcoming end of support date. Alternatives like AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux exist, and for a fee, SUSE will keep the CentOS 7 lights on for a while longer.
This conversion tool is primarily for moving from CentOS 7 to RHEL, although Red Hat has stated that a future improvement would be to "consider additional, compatible Linux distributions as needed." It will be interesting to see what these distributions will be.
Are you still running CentOS 7 and worried about its end of support in 2024? Now's the right time to consider upgrading to a compatible and more advanced Linux version. Whether you're considering Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), AlmaLinux, or Rocky Linux, we're here to guide you through the migration process, ensuring a smooth and secure transition for your system. Don't let CentOS 7's end of support compromise the security and efficiency of your IT infrastructure. Contact us today to discuss your options and start your CentOS 7 Upgrade with our expert assistance. Our team of Linux system specialists is ready to provide you with the best solutions to keep your IT environment up-to-date, secure, and performing. Don't wait, act now and prepare for the future with our professional assistance!
