Aliyun Linux release 2.1903 LTS centos?

No, Aliyun Linux release 2.1903 LTS is NOT CentOS.

Key Facts:

  1. Origin:
    Aliyun Linux is a Linux distribution developed by Alibaba Cloud (Aliyun), specifically optimized for cloud environments and Alibaba Cloud services.

  2. Base:

    • Aliyun Linux 2.x is based on CentOS 7 (specifically CentOS 7.6/7.9 kernel and user-space components).
    • However, it has been significantly modified, stripped of non-essential packages, and customized for performance, security, and compatibility with Alibaba Cloud infrastructure.
  3. Not Officially CentOS:

    • It is not maintained by the CentOS Project or Red Hat.
    • It does not receive updates from CentOS/RHEL repositories directly.
    • After CentOS 8 was discontinued in December 2021, Alibaba continued to maintain Aliyun Linux 2 with long-term support (LTS) independently.
  4. Compatibility:

    • Aliyun Linux 2 is binary-compatible with CentOS 7 in most cases, so RPMs built for CentOS 7 generally work.
    • But it is not identical to CentOS, and some dependencies or behaviors may differ.
  5. Future:

    • Alibaba has been transitioning newer versions (e.g., Aliyun Linux 3) toward AlmaLinux/Rocky Linux or other community-driven RHEL clones, especially after the CentOS Stream shift.

Summary:

✅ Aliyun Linux 2.1903 LTS is derived from CentOS 7, but it is not CentOS itself. It is an independent, cloud-optimized distribution by Alibaba Cloud.

If you need a direct CentOS replacement today, consider AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux, which are community-backed successors to CentOS.