CentOS 6: A Guide for Beginners
CentOS 6 is a Linux distribution that provides a free and open-source platform for servers, desktops, workstations, and supercomputers. It is derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and aims to be functionally compatible with it. CentOS 6 was released in July 2011 and has been widely used by individuals and organizations for various purposes. However, CentOS 6 will reach its end of life (EOL) on November 30, 2020, which means it will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or support from the CentOS Project or Red Hat. In this article, we will explore the features, download, installation, and end of life of CentOS 6 and help you decide whether to use it or switch to a newer version.
Features
CentOS 6 has many features that make it a reliable and stable operating system for different use cases. Some of the notable features are:
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Kernel updated to 2.6.32 with support for Linux Containers, iSCSI and FCoE in kernel space, PTPv2, and 40G Ethernet Cards.
OpenJDK-6 as default JDK with support for Java EE 6.
In Place Upgrade from CentOS 5 to CentOS 6 using PreUpgrade tool.
LVM-snapshots with ext4 and XFS file systems.
Switch to Upstart, iptables, and GRUB as init system, firewall, and bootloader respectively.
XFS as an optional file system with support for up to 500 TB partitions.
Support for i386, x86_64, ARM32 (armhfp), IBM Power BE (ppc64), IBM Power LE (ppc64le), and IBM Z (s390x) architectures.
CentOS 6 also has some differences from CentOS 7, which was released in July 2014 and will be supported until June 2024. Some of the main differences are:
CentOS 7 uses kernel version 3.10 with support for Docker containers, Open vSwitch, OverlayFS, and Btrfs.
CentOS 7 uses OpenJDK-7 as default JDK with support for Java SE 7.
CentOS 7 does not support In Place Upgrade from CentOS 6 and requires a fresh installation or migration of data.
CentOS 7 uses LVM-thin provisioning with ext4 and XFS file systems.
CentOS 7 uses systemd, firewalld, and GRUB2 as init system, firewall, and bootloader respectively.
CentOS 7 uses XFS as default file system with support for up to 500 TB partitions.
CentOS 7 supports x86_64, ARM64 (aarch64), IBM Power LE (ppc64le), and IBM Z (s390x) architectures.
Download
To install CentOS 6 on your system, you need to download an installation ISO image from the CentOS website or a mirror site. The ISO images are available for different architectures and media types. The basic types of media are:
DVD ISO: This image contains the installer as well as a set of all packages that can be installed during an interactive installation. This is the recommended download for most users.
Everything ISO: This image contains the installer as well as a complete set of all packages that are available in the CentOS repositories. This is useful for offline installations or creating custom installations.
Minimal ISO: This image contains the installer and a minimal set of packages that are required to run CentOS. This is useful for advanced users who want to customize their installation or install only the essential components.
NetInstall ISO: This image contains the installer and a small set of packages that are required to start the installation process. This is useful for network installations or installing from a remote source.
You can download the ISO images from the provided by the CentOS Project.
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Installation
Once you have downloaded the ISO image of your choice, you need to create a bootable media such as a DVD or a USB drive. You can use various tools such as to mount the ISO image and install CentOS 6 on a virtual disk.
To start the installation process, you need to boot your system from the bootable media or the virtual machine. You will see a menu that allows you to choose between different installation modes such as graphical, text, basic video, rescue, or memory test. The graphical mode is the easiest and most user-friendly option, while the text mode is suitable for systems with low resources or no graphical interface. The basic video mode is useful for systems with unsupported video cards, while the rescue mode is helpful for troubleshooting or repairing an existing installation. The memory test mode allows you to check your system's RAM for errors.
After choosing the installation mode, you will be guided through a series of steps that will configure your system's language, keyboard, time zone, network, storage, security, and software selection. You can also customize your installation by adding or removing packages, creating users and passwords, setting up partitions and file systems, enabling services and firewall rules, and more. You can refer to the for more details and instructions on each step.
End of life
As mentioned earlier, CentOS 6 will reach its end of life (EOL) on November 30, 2020. This means that it will no longer receive any updates, patches, or support from the CentOS Project or Red Hat. This also means that it will become vulnerable to security risks, bugs, and compatibility issues with newer software and hardware. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you upgrade to a newer version of CentOS or switch to another Linux distribution before the EOL date.
If you want to continue using CentOS 6 after its EOL date, you have some options to consider. One option is to use , which is a paid service that provides security updates and patches for CentOS 6 until 2024. However, this option requires a subscription fee and may not cover all the packages and features that you need.
Conclusion
In this article, we have learned about CentOS 6, its features, download, installation, and end of life. We have also discussed some of the differences between CentOS 6 and CentOS 7 and some of the options for users who want to keep using CentOS 6 after its EOL date. We hope that this article has helped you understand more about this Linux distribution and make an informed decision about whether to use it or not.
If you have any questions or feedback about this article, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you and help you with your Linux journey.
FAQs
What is CentOS?
CentOS is a Linux distribution that provides a free and open-source platform for servers, desktops, workstations, and supercomputers. It is derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and aims to be functionally compatible with it. CentOS stands for Community Enterprise Operating System.
What is the difference between CentOS and RHEL?
RHEL is a commercial Linux distribution that is developed and supported by Red Hat, a leading company in the open-source software industry. RHEL provides enterprise-grade features, security, stability, and support for its customers who pay a subscription fee. CentOS is a community-driven Linux distribution that is based on the sources of RHEL and provides a free and open-source alternative for users who do not need or want to pay for RHEL. CentOS strives to maintain compatibility with RHEL and follows its release cycle and updates.
How can I upgrade from CentOS 6 to CentOS 7?
Unfortunately, there is no official or supported way to upgrade from CentOS 6 to CentOS 7 in place. This is because of the significant changes and differences between the two versions, such as the kernel, the init system, the file system, and the software packages. The recommended way to upgrade from CentOS 6 to CentOS 7 is to perform a fresh installation of CentOS 7 on a new or formatted disk and then migrate your data and configuration files from CentOS 6. You can use tools such as to copy your files over the network or a removable media.
How can I check the version of CentOS I am running?
There are several ways to check the version of CentOS you are running on your system. One of the simplest ways is to use the cat /etc/centos-release command in a terminal window. This will display the name and the version number of your CentOS distribution. Another way is to use the lsb_release -a command, which will show more information about your Linux system, such as the codename, the release number, and the description. You can also use the uname -r command to check the kernel version of your system.
How can I get help or support for CentOS?
CentOS is a community-supported Linux distribution, which means that you can get help or support from other users who are willing to share their knowledge and experience. There are several ways to get help or support for CentOS, such as:
Visiting the , which contains documentation, guides, tutorials, and FAQs about CentOS.
Joining the , which are email-based forums where you can ask questions, share tips, and discuss issues with other CentOS users and developers.
Participating in the , which are web-based forums where you can post questions, answers, comments, and feedback about CentOS.
Connecting to the , which are chat rooms where you can chat with other CentOS users and experts in real time.
Browsing the , which is a user-generated website that contains articles, how-tos, tips, tricks, and troubleshooting information about CentOS.
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