Scientific Linux — an alternative to CentOS?
18/08/2011 – 10:43 amAs CentOS is currently in a bit worrying situation with security updates arriving late, and major and point releases being months behind, it’s probably a good idea to have a look around and check what else is out there that claims to be binary compatible with RHEL. With more than 100 active installations of CentOS, I just have to make sure that we’re ready for the worst case. Obviously purchasing subscriptions with RHEL for all those installations is not an option; the customers can’t possibly agree to the significantly higher costs that would force on them.
Now, I don’t want to spread rumours or create unnecessary panic. I don’t really doubt that the CentOS team will somehow manage to increase their pace a little bit, and their latest announcement regarding continuous releases (essentially “backported” security updates) goes into the right direction, if they can for once stick to their promised timelines.
Nonetheless, I need stability and consistency. That absolutely entails security updates, quite obviously. From my personal and professional experience, if it has to be Linux, RHEL-derivates are by far the best bet for enterprise environments. So, just in case, what else is in store for paranoid people like me who have committed to using RHEL and its forks/clones? (where FreeBSD sadly isn’t an option)
