RHELbased

RHEL-based refers to operating systems that are derived from or closely compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). These distributions typically share the same core packages, package management system (RPM with DNF/YUM), and binary compatibility with RHEL. This means that software compiled and tested for RHEL often runs without modification on RHEL-based systems.

The primary advantage of using RHEL-based distributions is the availability of a vast ecosystem of enterprise-grade software and support. Many third-party vendors certify their applications to run on RHEL, and by extension, these applications are usually compatible with its derivatives. This simplifies deployment and maintenance for businesses and organizations.

Prominent examples of RHEL-based distributions include CentOS Stream, AlmaLinux, and Rocky Linux. Historically, CentOS Linux was a very popular free, community-supported RHEL derivative. However, its development model shifted to CentOS Stream, which is now an upstream, rolling-release development platform for RHEL. This led to the creation of AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, which aim to provide a stable, free, and community-driven RHEL-compatible experience.

These distributions leverage RHEL's robust security features, long-term support cycles, and extensive documentation. They are often chosen by users who need the stability and enterprise features of RHEL but prefer a different licensing model or community-driven development. The binary compatibility ensures that system administrators can transition between RHEL and its derivatives with minimal disruption.