Stream 8 Or Stream 9 For New Server

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I’m replacing my ancient desktop home server
(CentOS 7, email, dns, backup) with a new mini-server.

I’ve been running stream 9 on the new toy for a couple of weeks and I find there are still a lot of incomplete or missing things. Enough to delay full implementation. Unless I do some workarounds or compile from source.

On the other hand I’ve read there will be no migration path from stream 8 to stream 9. It will require a complete reinstall.

Any guesses as to when the stream 9 repos (including epel) will be fairly complete? Just trying to decide whether to wait a bit or go with stream 8.

Jon

5 thoughts on - Stream 8 Or Stream 9 For New Server

  • I wouldn’t choose either – IMHO Stream is not suitable for production usage due to there being no guarantee regarding security updates (see recent polkit CVE for an example of why this is so). Why would you not use genuine RHEL? You can sign up for 16 free licences with Red Hat and use one of those, for either RHEL8 or RHEL9 once it is released.

    Alternatively, Rocky or Alma Linux may be a suitable drop in replacement for CentOS Linux for real world usage.

    Stream is great for getting an early look at what’s going to be in the next release of RHEL, and for developing software for the next release of RHEL, or if you are a software developer and wish to contribute to the next release of RHEL, but IMHO it’s not a suitable alternative to RHEL (or a clone) for production usage and their are better alternatives available.

  • As best I understand it: CentOS Stream’s repos are complete, and significant new additions are not expected.  There is no defined set of packages for EPEL, though.  That package set consists merely of what Fedora maintainers have decided to build for EPEL, or have been requested.  If there are packages that you need that aren’t currently present, make a request:
    https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/epel/epel-package-request/

  • Using Rocky or Alma isn’t going to result in a broader set of packages available on EPEL.  Can I politely suggest that such suggestions don’t actually address the question that was asked, and aren’t helpful?

  • Agreed, but the question that was asked is misplaced so re-framing the question is perhaps helpful to the OP.

    Also note Stream 8 now has little over 2 years of lifespan remaining
    (until May 2024), giving Stream 8 a *shorter* lifespan that the CentOS 7
    it will be replacing (June 30, 2024) – another reason why it may not be the best choice for a new server right now.