CentOS After End-of-Life: What Now?

The phrase “end-of-life” (EOL) is well known in enterprise technology, but it’s also a bit of a misnomer: the software in question isn’t actually dead.

The more accurate (and no less morbid) metaphor might be to say that EOL software is left for dead. It still exists, it (probably) still runs, but when it reaches its end-of-life date, that’s all she wrote – literally, if you’re referring to the codebase. No more updates, no more patches, no more integrations. It’s kind of like if you drove a car that you carefully maintained over the years, and then one day, the manufacturer or your mechanic said – that’s it, you can’t service this vehicle anymore. No more oil changes, no more brake pads, and good luck with that transmission.

We’ve reached that point with the popular Linux distro CentOS. Actually, we’re well past it – CentOS reached its end-of-life date on June 30, 2024. If you’re still running it, as many individuals and teams are, you’re exposed to increasing risks, including:

• Security threats: Hackers love outdated software because it’s more likely to include known vulnerabilities and be susceptible to established exploits. Unpatched or otherwise unmaintained systems are the root cause of approximately 60% of security breaches, according to the Ponemon Institute. The end of the CentOS lifecycle means it is already outdated. Updates and security patches ceased as of June 30 – greatly increasing its exposure to threats now and in the future.
• Compliance: Outdated and unsupported systems like CentOS also increase the probability of compliance headaches, if not outright violations, especially in heavily regulated sectors such as financial services, healthcare, or government.
• Performance & Compatibility: As other software vendors continue to deliver updates and new releases, there’s an increasing likelihood that CentOS users will run into compatibility or other issues due to running an unsupported OS. Similarly, don’t expect new integrations and other features that ensure everything in your stack runs smoothly.
• Support: When you run into problems that you can’t solve on your own, who are you going to call? Not the vendor, in the case of CentOS, because they’ve essentially closed up the support.  

So, is that it? Is it simply time to pull the plug and use something else?

Not necessarily. First of all, any veteran IT pro knows that’s just not the way it works in enterprise environments. You can’t just flip a switch and move from one OS or environment to another. Migration projects can be time-consuming and costly. Moreover, plenty of developers and other IT pros like CentOS – they don’t want to switch, but their hand is being forced by a vendor.

End-of-life doesn’t have to mean the end of the road, but you have to carefully evaluate CentOS alternatives – and fast, because every day that goes by ratchets up the urgency of each of the potential problems listed above. 

If you’re not ready or willing to switch off CentOS just yet, let’s consider some of your options for ensuring the system’s security, stability, and performance in the foreseeable future. Then we’ll highlight another path – one that essentially lets you have your cake and eat it, too.

Extended Support Services

Some vendors offer extended support (for a price) beyond a system’s EOL date. Customers who pay for extended support typically get continued security patches, bug fixes, and support beyond the original lifecycle.

Third-Party Support Services

You can also get support for CentOS EOL from third-party providers who can help ensure security (via patching and other support), compliance (by keeping the OS updated beyond its original lifecycle), and performance and compatibility (by issuing bug fixes and other needed updates.) These providers usually have experience and expertise in helping enterprises maintain legacy systems and extend their useful lifecycles.

Third-party providers offer some additional advantages, including:

• Potential cost-savings: Third-party support can be less expensive than extended support from the original vendor.
• Customized support: Third-party providers can tailor support packages to a particular enterprise’s needs instead of a single, one-size-fits-all approach. This means offering things like 24-7 support if needed or proactive monitoring for potential EOL issues.
• Increased flexibility: In general, third-party CentOS support providers can offer more flexibility to meet an enterprise’s unique environment and requirements.

A Robust Alternative: The Zero-Migration Approach

If you’re looking for a robust CentOS substitute – while maintaining your existing systems and environment and ensuring security, compliance, and performance – there’s another great option: SUSE multi-linux support.

SUSE multi-linux support offers a seamless, pain-free transition away from CentOS – with comprehensive support from SUSE’s deep bench of Linux experts. 

This solution allows you to keep using CentOS while still receiving updates and security patches, plus enterprise-grade performance, reliability, and support. 

Perhaps best of all, no migration is required – literally none. You simply remove the original vendor’s patch repositories and install SUSE channels. SUSE’s CentOS support allows you to keep running your existing infrastructure 100% compatible without changes. This ensures stability and functionality so your CentOS EOL transition doesn’t disrupt core business activities. 

You’ll receive timely, consolidated maintenance updates, security patches, and world-class support from a single provider – SUSE – who has your back and won’t lock you in or pull the rug out from underneath you. Your applications will continue to run as expected, ensuring continuity and giving you current and future flexibility.

Make your CentOS EOL strategy on your schedule, not the vendor’s. Learn more about SUSE Liberty Linux and the future of CentOS.