CentOS Reviews

Name: CentOS
Brand: CentOS
Rating: 4 (67 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

67 reviews
97% willing to recommend

932 followers

What is CentOS?

CentOS is a versatile operating system with many use cases, including virtual spaces, scientific computing, data center servers, web-based applications, and more. Its valuable features include customization options, low memory consumption, performance, scalability, open-source nature, cost-saving, and compatibility with Red Hat packages.

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CentOS is the #6 ranked solution in top Operating Systems for Business. PeerSpot users give CentOS an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. CentOS is most commonly compared to Ubuntu Linux: CentOS vs Ubuntu Linux. CentOS is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 61% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 17% of all views.

Helped 814,528 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Mahender Nirwan

Software developer at TAIGLE LLC

One issue I recently faced, but I think it was due to my IT support guys, was that when the server storage gets full, the service crashes. It's very difficult to regain access and stability in that situation. That could be improved. So, the stability might be improved. But I don't think it's a CentOS-level issue. The system administrators need to come up with a solution for that, but I don't think it's CentOS's fault. I haven't done any research [R&D] on this issue. There's one thing for sure. We recently migrated from CentOS 7 to CentOS 9, and it was a bit difficult. For example, updating Windows is simple; you just download it, and it takes about 15-20 minutes. But that's not the case with migrating from CentOS 7 to 9. We had to back up the entire server, launch a new server, and then restore the backup to the new server. We couldn't directly migrate. I think that was a bit of a problem. The setup and updates are not that new in CentOS.

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MohammedThousif Ansari

Technical Lead at Tata Communications Ltd

CentOS is one of the standard platforms we use to perform jobs.There was a team of 15 people who were using this solution In Microsoft Windows, we store the data in a graphical way, but in CentOS we can store the data based on the command. That is the specialty of CentOS. In Windows, you can…

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Arif-Kundi

CEO at BazTech

There was nothing special that I liked about the product in terms of features that were positive for team management in our company. My company only needed a robust system that was also secure. Though my company knew about various Linux products, a major reason for opting for CentOS stemmed from the fact that it was closer to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. I don't know about the stability and security features of the product since it was an area involving technical decisions that were taken care of by the technical domain in my company. Presently, there is no support available for the product, and I believe that the updates should also stop shortly. We did not need any technical staff to take care of the product since everything was okay with it until our company took care of the updates and upgrades provided by the tool. I feel that the product shouldn't be stopped, and CentOS should focus on improving the tool. The management of updates in the product was straightforward, and it used to happen every week, after which it was usually promoted to production, but it was all manual work, and my company did not try to automate it. I rate the overall product a nine out of ten.

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CentOS mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of CentOS in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category stands at 7.8%, down from 9.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Aug 7, 2024

Valuable Features

CentOS offers compatibility with RedHat, low memory consumption, high customizability, and performance. Its stability, free open-source nature, cost efficiency, ease of configuration, and security are also appreciated. It's lightweight and user-friendly with strong community support. Users value its scalability, robust monitoring, and intuitive user interface. Its ability to handle thousands of users, ease of installation, and minimal resource consumption makes it a preferred choice. CentOS integrates easily with other applications and is ideal for virtualization.

"If I need to install a feature or fix a server issue, I can easily find answers online. The CentOS community is also vast and helpful."
"The vendor updates the tool regularly to solve vulnerabilities."
"We used the solution as an operating system."

Room for Improvement

CentOS needs improvement in filesystem compatibility, user-friendliness, and stability. Users suggest integrating a modern file system, enhancing the YUM install manager, and providing better security and coding tools. They also recommend improving scalability, graphical interfaces, updating mechanisms, and technical support. Lastly, there is concern about CentOS shifting away from stability and enterprise suitability, making them look for alternative Linux distributions.

"CentOS is pretty old now, so I wouldn't recommend anyone use it."
"The solution must improve its security."
"Currently, CentOS is not providing support, so you will not get new packages that are compatible with that operating system."

ROI

CentOS delivered a stable, reliable platform with low operational costs, positively impacting user satisfaction and system performance. Implementing CentOS reduced expenses on licensing and support compared to other operating systems. Users experienced high uptime and seamless scalability, contributing to significant efficiency gains. Its robust security features ensured data protection without incurring additional costs. Administrators found the user-friendly nature of CentOS beneficial in managing extensive server environments effectively.

Pricing

CentOS is free and open-source, requiring no licensing fees. Many organizations highlight its minimal one-time deployment costs. While some utilize subscription-based options, the majority use the free community version. Administrative costs are typically associated with additional infrastructure like VMware. CentOS is praised for being cost-effective, making it a suitable choice for companies with tight budgets and those preferring a scalable open-source solution without ongoing licensing expenses.

"The product is free."
"CentOS is an open source that is free of cost."
"CentOS is an open-source tool."

Popular Use Cases

CentOS is mainly used for deploying web applications, running Docker, setting up virtual spaces, scientific computing, and as an operating system for applications and databases. It is utilized for testing, development, server installations, VMs, hosting applications, and managing file systems. CentOS is a preferred choice for DNS servers, internal processes, telecommunications platforms, and repository features. Various organizations use it for personal and business applications, leveraging its compatibility with different environments and tools.

Service and Support

CentOS relies heavily on community-driven support. Many users prefer forums, blogs, YouTube, and community resources for troubleshooting. There is no official commercial support, but multiple users commend the informative documentation and community assistance. Few have interacted with support, rating it as decent but potentially slow in response. Most manage issues independently or through internal expertise. Red Hat support is suggested for formal assistance, as CentOS lacks direct technical support.

Deployment

Users largely found CentOS's initial setup straightforward, with some describing it as easy and quick, taking about 20-30 minutes. Automated installations and templates simplify the process. Those experienced with Linux faced no issues, while beginners might need guidance. The process can be complex if done manually or on servers. Deployment times vary from minutes to a few hours based on system speed and configuration, with some installations taking longer for complete configurations.

Scalability

CentOS is recognized for its strong scalability, supporting a wide range of users and applications across various environments. Many companies find it easy to expand usage, with some leveraging premium features to scale. It accommodates hundreds to thousands of users, proving effective for both small and large-scale deployments. CentOS enables flexible scaling, particularly in virtualized settings, although some users note challenges depending on deployment specifics. Overall, CentOS is considered a reliable choice for scalable infrastructure.

Stability

Users find CentOS to be highly stable, not experiencing bugs or crashes. Version 7, however, is noted to be more stable than recent versions. CentOS is reliable and provides good performance. Any crashes or issues were often linked to human error or updates. Stability ratings are consistently high, often eight to ten out of ten.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our CentOS Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

University

Comms Service Provider

Media Company

Healthcare Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Retailer

Insurance Company

Construction Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Transportation Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Legal Firm

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Outsourcing Company

Hospitality Company

Performing Arts

Consumer Goods Company

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Learn more about CentOS

The solution has helped organizations save money on licensing and improve testing capabilities for new implementations without spending additional resources. CentOS is a stable, reliable, and efficient operating system that is easy to use and integrate with other applications and services.