PHPWP博客No, Alibaba Cloud Linux 3 is not CentOS.
Here’s a clear breakdown:
✅ What is Alibaba Cloud Linux?
- Alibaba Cloud Linux is a Linux distribution developed by Alibaba Group, optimized for cloud environments (especially Alibaba Cloud ECS instances).
- It is based on open-source components, primarily derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and CentOS.
- There are two major versions:
- Alibaba Cloud Linux 2: Based on CentOS 7 / RHEL 7.
- Alibaba Cloud Linux 3: Based on CentOS Stream 8 and RHEL 8/9, with further optimizations.
❌ Why it’s NOT CentOS:
| Feature | CentOS | Alibaba Cloud Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Maintainer | CentOS Project (now part of Red Hat) | Alibaba Group |
| Base | Originally RHEL source code; now CentOS Stream | RHEL/CentOS Stream + Alibaba patches |
| Purpose | General-purpose server OS | Optimized for Alibaba Cloud performance, security, and compatibility |
| Package Management | Yum/DNF | Same as RHEL/CentOS (Yum/DNF) |
| Compatibility | Binary-compatible with RHEL | Binary-compatible with RHEL/CentOS |
✅ Key Points:
- Alibaba Cloud Linux is binary-compatible with RHEL/CentOS, so most commands, packages, and workflows work the same way.
- It includes additional kernel optimizations, security features, and tools tailored for cloud workloads.
- It is free to use on Alibaba Cloud ECS instances.
📝 Summary:
Alibaba Cloud Linux is inspired by and compatible with CentOS/RHEL, but it is a distinct operating system developed and maintained by Alibaba.
It is not CentOS, but it behaves like CentOS in terms of package management and user experience.
If you’re migrating from CentOS to Alibaba Cloud Linux, you’ll find it very familiar — just with cloud-specific enhancements.