The Advantages of Centos
- Centos is derived from the Linux-based Red Hat Enterprise Server, a commercial operating system. Centos offers a lot more operational stability to users than other freely distributed Linux systems because of design similarities with the commercially released system. Compared to other Linux-based operating systems, Centos only runs the most basic, stable versions of software programs, reducing the risk of system crashes. On the negative side, this does result in a lower degree of functionality compared to advanced software versions compatible with other Linux systems.
- Centos can operate much faster than similar Linux-based operating systems because it only runs basic versions of software. That way, the processor running the Centos system does not get bogged down trying to run a lot of different applications. Centos programs are also less likely to have security bugs or blocker bugs, which can reduce computing speeds or even cause other systems to crash.
- The Centos operating system can run a computer for quite a while without requiring any additional system upgrades. Hardware upgrades for Centos are developed to be concurrent with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux system upgrades that Centos is based on. The upgrade support cycle for Centos is about five years; other Linux-based systems have shorter support cycles, from three years down to about 18 months.
- Centos is just one of many widely available Linux-based operating systems that are available for free. Fedora is another Linux-based system based on the Red Hat commercial system that offers a wider degree of software compatibility, essentially operating as a beta version of Red Hat. Another type of Linux system in wide use is Ubuntu, which is also renowned for its security and has a much more developed user community than either Centos or Fedora.
