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CentOS vs Rocky Linux

Versions, support lifecycles and key facts side by side. Dates update automatically from the release data.

AttributeCentOSRocky Linux
TypeLinux distributionLinux distribution
Project statusDiscontinuedActive
DeveloperThe CentOS ProjectRocky Enterprise Software Foundation
Based onRed Hat Enterprise LinuxRed Hat Enterprise Linux
First release20042021
Release cadenceFollowed RHEL major releases (ended 2024)Follows RHEL: minor releases about every 6 months
Newest releaseCentOS 8 · released Sep 2019Rocky Linux 10 · released Jun 2025
Latest LTS——
Supported versionsNone3
Longest support—Rocky Linux 10 — until May 2035
OS familyLinuxLinux
Package formatRPM (YUM, later DNF)RPM (DNF)
Init systemsystemd (CentOS 7 and 8)systemd
Architecturesx86_64, aarch64, ppc64lex86_64, aarch64, ppc64le, s390x, riscv64
SuccessorsCentOS Stream, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux—
LicenseFree softwareFree software
Support—10 years per major version, matching RHEL
Compatibility—Bug-for-bug compatible with RHEL
Guides on TecAdmin124 guides105 guides

Supported versions today

CentOS

No supported versions.

Rocky Linux

  1. 10 Until May 2035
  2. 9 Until May 2032
  3. 8 Until May 2029

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