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Kevin Honde - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Solution Architect at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Apr 29, 2022
Useful for service applications that are Linux compatible but there could be more frequent updates
Pros and Cons
  • "Setup is straightforward. You can complete it in about 30 minutes."
  • "I would like to see more frequent updates."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for any server that needs the database, for any service applications that are Linux compatible.

We use a specific version for each user, but when we do a system, we use the latest. We deploy the latest version except when a vendor specifies a different version.

Usually, the developers request service for themselves and then the people using those servers will be varied. There are so many people using this solution that we cannot determine the exact number. There are some internal systems like finance or HR, for example. So, the numbers are not consistent.

As more products and requests come out, I think we are increasing the number of users.

The solution is deployed on-premises.

What is most valuable?

The good thing about it is that it's free.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see more frequent updates.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using CentOS for more than five years.

Buyer's Guide
CentOS
January 2026
Learn what your peers think about CentOS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's very stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's scalable.

How are customer service and support?

For support, we just use internal skills.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We were also using SUSE Linux in Windows.

How was the initial setup?

Setup is straightforward. You can complete it in about 30 minutes.

What about the implementation team?

Deployment was done in-house.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It's freeware, so we can use it without worrying about licensing.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution 7 out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Group CEO at a government with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Apr 1, 2022
An upstream open source development platform that allows you to alternate certain things and minimize admin features
Pros and Cons
  • "I like how you can alternate certain things and minimize admin features on there and just let it run on specific scripts. It's nice. Even if I had to put it in a container, I'd still do it. I prefer Linux over Windows any day."
  • "The price could be better. They could add more drivers in terms of peripherals and other things. Add more drivers for the Linux specifications in the next release. Right now, they are just pushing to have more drivers for Windows instead of Linux."

What is our primary use case?

I use CentOS for business applications and personal applications. Because Linux is an operating system, the use case will differ from person to person. We used it to host our scripting servers and infrastructure layout.

What is most valuable?

I like how you can alternate certain things and minimize admin features on there and just let it run on specific scripts. It's nice. Even if I had to put it in a container, I'd still do it. I prefer Linux over Windows any day.

What needs improvement?

The price could be better. They could add more drivers in terms of peripherals and other things. Add more drivers for the Linux specifications in the next release. Right now, they are just pushing to have more drivers for Windows instead of Linux.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using CentOS since 2010.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

CentOS is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

CentOS is a scalable solution.

How are customer service and support?

CentOS tech support is fine.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

At the time, there were quite a lot of options like Linux, Red Hat, and Ubuntu. But if you're already using these commands that work here, they will be the ones that work there. So, we chose CentOS.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The cost depends on how the organization or a specific person licenses it. If you want the free version, there's Ubuntu which is supported by forums. You can pay for the license yearly or pay for a specific version.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to potential users.

On a scale from one to ten, I would give CentOS a nine.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
CentOS
January 2026
Learn what your peers think about CentOS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
879,853 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Shaamil Ashraff - PeerSpot reviewer
Architect - Database Administration at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Top 5
Jun 13, 2024
A very robust tool that doesn't consume unnecessary resources
Pros and Cons
  • "The product's initial setup phase is very straightforward."
  • "I have had a tough time with the product's scalability, making it an area where improvements are required."

What is our primary use case?

I have set up some databases on CentOS, like MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and RabbitMQ.

What is most valuable?

Regarding the most valuable features of the product, I can say that an operating system is a very robust tool. The product doesn't consume unnecessary resources, and it is very lightweight as an operating system. In our company, we are able to do a lot with the limited or small amount of resources offered by the tool. The aforementioned area covers my favorite aspects of using a Linux-based product like CentOS.

What needs improvement?

I have had a tough time with the product's scalability, making it an area where improvements are required.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using CentOS for five to six years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a robust and stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Though it is scalable, the processes attached to it are not straightforward.

There are around four to five people who use the product.

How was the initial setup?

The product's initial setup phase is very straightforward. For a technical person, it can be very easy to install the tool.

One needs to follow a standard deployment process for CentOS. It has a few simple steps, and as long as we use the correct parameters, it will spin up the OS correctly.

What was our ROI?

My company gets regular updates on the product, which helps to save our company's costs.

What other advice do I have?

The product's security features are really good.

The integration capabilities of the product with other tools in the market are okay.

CentOS is a lightweight operating system that offers stability. I would recommend CentOS or any other Linux-based tools.

I have not used any AI with CentOS.

CentOS is an open-source product, so there are no licensing costs attached to the tool.

The value of using the solution is the fact that it is a lightweight product that is easy to implement.

I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Phat Chau - PeerSpot reviewer
Solution architect at a financial services firm with 51-200 employees
Real User
Nov 26, 2023
Cost-effective product with an easy setup process
Pros and Cons
  • "It is a scalable and cost-effective product compared to public cloud solutions."
  • "There could be more integration features included in the product."

What is our primary use case?

We use CentOS for repository features.

What needs improvement?

There could be more integration features included in the product.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using CentOS for five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have five CentOS customers. It is a scalable and cost-effective product compared to public cloud solutions.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup process is easy. It requires five executives for deployment, including managers, admins, engineers, and developers. It takes around a month to complete.

What about the implementation team?

We take the help of a reseller to implement the product.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We don’t have to pay for the system’s licenses.

What other advice do I have?

I rate CentOS a nine out of ten.

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1889697 - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Product Officer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Real User
Apr 26, 2023
Straightforward to set up, easy to use, and open-source
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is easy to troubleshoot."
  • "The solution could be more scalable."

What is our primary use case?

We deploy our products onto the solution. We use it as an OS. Our support team deploys it to customers. 

What is most valuable?

Overall, the solution works well. 

The team is very comfortable using it. 

It is very simple and straightforward to set up.

The solution is stable.

It's open-source.

The solution is easy to troubleshoot.

As a well-known product, it's easy to find people who know the solution well. 

What needs improvement?

I'm not an expert on the solution. I cannot pinpoint specific issues. 

The solution could be more scalable.

For how long have I used the solution?

The company has used the solution for more than ten years, and I have used the solution in the company for one year (since I came on board).

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is very good. I'd rate it eight or nine out of ten. There are no bugs or glitches. We haven't had any issues. There haven't been any crashes. It doesn't freeze. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability could be better. It doesn't scale that well. I'd rate the scalability seven or eight out of ten.

We have around 50 people, our support team, using the solution. 

Our support team deploys the solution on the customer side to assist customers, so the amount of usage would depend on the number of customers we have.

How are customer service and support?

We get support from a vendor. It's open source. We can figure out how to troubleshoot on our own. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I've also used Oracle Linux as well. We put deep packet processing on the Linux solution.

How was the initial setup?

We haven't had issues with the setup. The support team is comfortable handling the setup. 

The deployment isn't too long. I didn't get a sense that the deployment took too long. 

They mostly give you a file, and it's deployed in a single step. It's not a big project.

We have about five people who handle deployment and maintenance. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is open-source. We do not pay a licensing fee. 

What other advice do I have?

We may be using version nine of the solution. 

This is a very widely known solution that is very stable. It's easy to find engineers comfortable with it since its usage is common. 

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
Landry  Mbala - PeerSpot reviewer
Développeur applications at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Apr 26, 2023
A stable solution that helps to create applications
Pros and Cons
  • "The product is based on Red Hat and very stable."
  • "The tool has no official support."

What is most valuable?

The product is based on Red Hat and very stable. 

What needs improvement?

The tool has no official support. 

For how long have I used the solution?

The product helps us to create applications. 

How are customer service and support?

We had used support in the past and it was good. 

How was the initial setup?

The product's setup is simple. You can deploy the solution in one hour. 

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the product a nine out of ten. One admin is enough to maintain the product. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
SulaimanMustapha - PeerSpot reviewer
CRS at a non-profit with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Sep 26, 2022
A scalable, stable test and development solution that would benefit from notification features for upgrade deployment
Pros and Cons
  • "The latest version of this solution has everything built in, making it comprehensive and very easy to use."
  • "There is no notification before updates are applied to the solution, which occasionally means that new functionality isn't compatible with how the product is currently being used, and causes issues."

What is our primary use case?

This solution is mainly used for testing and development purposes.

What is most valuable?

The latest version of this solution has everything built in, making it comprehensive and very easy to use.

What needs improvement?

There is no notification before updates are applied to the solution, which occasionally means that new functionality isn't compatible with how the product is currently being used, and causes issues.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with this solution for around 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have found this solution to be stable during my time using it.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This solution is very scalable, you simply add a node and expand a cluster so that you can scale out on your containerization.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup for this solution is straightforward and very self-intuitive.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

This is an open-source solution, so there are no licensing costs involved.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Victor Sibanda - PeerSpot reviewer
Managing Director at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Sep 5, 2022
A very stable solution that can be mastered without much difficulty
Pros and Cons
  • "We particularly like that we can remove the graphic user interface to minimize attack settings for the operating system."
  • "We would like Red Hat to keep supporting the solution but they have decided to get rid of it and there isn't much we can do about it."

What is our primary use case?

We have a team of ten who use the solution for Linux-based SIEM and network monitoring. 

What is most valuable?

We particularly like that we can remove the graphic user interface to minimize attack settings for the operating system. We access applications on the operating system from our web interface and other machines. 

What needs improvement?

We would like Red Hat to keep supporting the solution but they have decided to get rid of it and there isn't much we can do about it. 

For how long have I used the solution?

Our company has been using the solution for three years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Our team loves working with the solution because it is very stable. 

We experienced a few crashes that were due to human error, not issues with the operating system. We experienced a crash when upgrading from version six to seven but managed to rectify it with assistance from the knowledge base. 

The bugs that we encountered were fixed with constant live updates that were quite straightforward and useful. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is very scalable. We started using one machine with two nodes but scaled it up to four nodes. 

How are customer service and support?

I utilized support when upgrading from version six to seven and experiencing kernel issues. The technical team was able to give us excellent service and assistance.

I rate support a six out of ten because there is always room for improvement in response time. If you make a request for immediate assistance, you might not get help until a day later but when the support comes it is quite good. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was a bit complex but workable after training, reading through distribution papers, and increasing knowledge base. The solution can be learned and mastered after some time without too much difficulty. 

What about the implementation team?

We deployed the solution in-house and sometimes got stuck but figured it out after a couple of weeks. 

The longest deployment took a month because we made a few errors. CentOS support helped us through the configuration of some applications so we managed to get it up and running. 

Setup of the solution is rated an eight out of ten. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We use the free, open-source solution because we cannot afford the price for Linux. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Because the solution is being depreciated, we are considering moving to Ubuntu but haven't made that decision yet. 

What other advice do I have?

The operating system is very good and stable. We hope to continue to work with it, but are not sure if that is possible because Red Hat has decided to depreciate it and not develop it further. 

Considering that there will not be further development, I recommend considering alternate solutions. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free CentOS Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: January 2026
Buyer's Guide
Download our free CentOS Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.