Comparison between RHEL 9, CentOS Stream 10, and Fedora 42
Comparison between RHEL 9, CentOS Stream 10, and Fedora 42
| Feature/Aspect | RHEL 9 | CentOS Stream 10 | Fedora 42 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Model | Stable, enterprise-focused, fixed release cycle | Rolling release, preview of RHEL updates | Fast-moving, bleeding-edge release |
| Target Audience | Enterprises, organizations, and large-scale systems | Developers, system admins, upstream for RHEL | Developers, enthusiasts, cutting-edge users |
| Stability | Extremely stable, with long-term support (10 years) | Rolling release with relatively good stability | High stability with rapid innovation, but not as long-term as RHEL |
| Package Management | dnf (YUM) for package management |
dnf (YUM) for package management |
dnf (YUM) for package management |
| Kernel Version | Linux Kernel 5.x or 6.x (based on RHEL updates) | Linux Kernel 6.x (latest available version) | Linux Kernel 6.x (latest available version) |
| Release Frequency | Major releases every 3-5 years, point updates annually | Constant updates, upstream for RHEL | New versions every 6 months |
| Support Duration | 10-year support (5 years full, 5 years extended) | Rolling release (no fixed support duration) | ~13 months of support per release |
| Desktop Environment | GNOME (default) with RHEL customized version | GNOME (default) with CentOS customization | GNOME (default), KDE Plasma, others |
| Security Features | SELinux, firewalld, and security updates | SELinux, firewalld, frequent security updates | SELinux, firewalld, advanced security updates |
| Software Versions | Conservative, with enterprise-tested versions | Latest available versions, closely synced with RHEL | Latest stable versions, cutting-edge features |
| Focus | Enterprise applications, mission-critical workloads | Development, upstream testing for RHEL, community-driven | New technologies, innovation, bleeding-edge software |
| Support for Containers | Podman, Docker, and Kubernetes support | Podman, Docker, Kubernetes (as a preview for RHEL) | Podman, Docker, Kubernetes, and latest container tools |
| Cloud and Virtualization | Full cloud and virtualization stack (OpenStack, KVM, etc.) | Cloud and containerized apps, preview for RHEL | Latest tools for cloud and virtualization |
| Web and App Servers | Apache, Nginx, Tomcat, and others | Apache, Nginx, latest versions available | Apache, Nginx, latest versions, modern web stacks |
| File System Support | XFS, Btrfs, ext4, LVM, etc. | XFS, ext4, Btrfs | XFS, ext4, Btrfs, and newer filesystems |
| Updates and Patch Management | Managed via Red Hat Subscription, with backported patches | Frequent updates with the latest features | Frequent updates, rolling release model |
| Lifecycle | 10-year lifecycle with long-term support | Rolling, no fixed lifecycle | ~13-month lifecycle with continuous updates |
| Performance Tuning | Fine-tuned for enterprise environments | Not focused on enterprise performance | Focus on cutting-edge performance improvements |
| Support for Hardware | Broad support for enterprise hardware (servers, workstations) | Supports latest consumer and enterprise hardware | Supports cutting-edge hardware, including newer GPUs, CPUs |
| System Admin Tools | RHEL-specific tools, Red Hat Insights | RHEL-based tools, CentOS management tools | Standard Linux tools, Fedora-specific utilities |
| Community vs. Enterprise | Enterprise focus with paid support | Community-driven, upstream for RHEL | Community-driven, fast-paced, user-focused |
| Long-Term Enterprise Support | Yes, 10 years (5 years full support, 5 years extended support) | No, rolling release with no fixed end date | No, focused on innovation with short-term support |
| Upstream or Downstream | Downstream from upstream Fedora | Upstream from RHEL | Upstream, bleeding edge from upstream Fedora |
| Software Development Focus | Focus on stable, production-level apps | Focus on testing and preview for RHEL software | Focus on new, experimental, and latest software |
| Security Updates | Security patches backported for long-term support | Frequent and timely security updates | Latest security patches and updates |
| Networking Support | Extensive enterprise networking options, security, and VPN support | Extensive support, preview for RHEL networking tools | Latest networking protocols and features, experimental support |
| Documentation | Comprehensive, official RHEL documentation | Community-driven, RHEL-related documentation | Cutting-edge documentation with new tools and software |
| Server Use Cases | Large enterprise, cloud, and data center environments | Developer environments, staging for RHEL release | Innovation labs, personal servers, cutting-edge environments |
| Use in Cloud | Fully supported in major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, etc.) | Preview for cloud-based RHEL deployments | Supported in cloud environments, focuses on cloud-native applications |
| Enterprise Software Compatibility | High compatibility with commercial enterprise software | High compatibility, though sometimes lagging behind RHEL | Compatibility with a wide range of open-source tools, but may lack commercial support |
| Package Management Tools | DNF, YUM (with enterprise-specific tools) | DNF, YUM (with community-centric tools) | DNF, YUM (with cutting-edge support for modern tools) |
| Performance Metrics | Optimized for large-scale enterprise performance | Lighter, developer-focused performance | Optimized for latest hardware, and best performance for development tools |
| Compliance and Certification | Full enterprise compliance (FIPS, PCI, etc.) | Focus on testing RHEL certifications | Lacks formal compliance certification |
| System Requirements | More conservative, designed for enterprise hardware | Supports both enterprise and consumer hardware | Focus on modern, fast consumer and developer hardware |
| Desktop Focus | Primarily server-focused, with desktop options available | Desktop options available, but not main focus | Heavy focus on modern desktop experiences and user environments |
| Performance Benchmarks | Enterprise-class performance benchmarks | Performance close to RHEL, less optimized | Benchmarks vary based on bleeding-edge performance tests |
| Server Management | Red Hat Satellite for centralized management | CentOS-specific management tools for development | Standard management tools, Fedora-specific tools |
| Tooling for DevOps | Supports mature DevOps tools (Jenkins, OpenShift, etc.) | Tools for containerization and DevOps | Latest DevOps tools, continuous integration support |
| Customization | Extensive customization, but controlled within the enterprise ecosystem | Can be heavily customized, especially for testing RHEL | Highly customizable with bleeding-edge options |
| Resource Usage | Optimized for minimal overhead in enterprise environments | Balanced resource usage for developer systems | Designed for modern developer machines, slightly higher resource usage |
| Containerization | Fully integrated with OpenShift, Kubernetes, Podman | Support for containers as a preview for RHEL | Fully integrated with latest container tools (Podman, Docker) |
| System Reliability | Extremely high, designed for enterprise-critical workloads | Stable, but rolling release introduces some instability | High, but with some instability due to fast updates |
| Networking and Security Tools | Extensive firewall, VPN, and networking tools | Similar to RHEL, focused on developer needs | Latest security and network innovations |
| Monitoring Tools | Advanced monitoring tools (e.g., Red Hat Insights) | Basic monitoring tools for developers | Latest monitoring tools and technologies |
| Upstream/Downstream Relationship | Downstream of Fedora, upstream for CentOS Stream | Upstream for RHEL (development preview) | Upstream from Fedora, rolling release model |
Summary:
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RHEL 9 is the enterprise-focused OS with long-term support and stability, suitable for large-scale, mission-critical environments.
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CentOS Stream 10 is the rolling-release, community-driven OS that serves as a preview for RHEL 10, focused on testing new features before they reach RHEL.
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Fedora 42 is the fast-paced, cutting-edge OS with the latest features, aimed at developers and enthusiasts who want to experience the latest open-source innovations.
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