Which distribution should I use?¶

CERN supports both RHEL and AlmaLinux, and in addition some CentOS versions - so which distribution should I use?

Of the above options, there are also several different 'versions' (families such as '8' or '9') which can also make the decision more confusing.

In general we recommend to use the latest version available, as this will ensure that the choice you make lasts for the longest period of time.

If you need to use a specific family, please read on:

For the 8 or 9 families you have two choices, either RHEL or AlmaLinux.

AlmaLinux versus RHEL¶

Situation / Use case	Distribution to use
I use software that requires support from a vendor (eg: Oracle, WinCC OA)	RHEL should be used
I need to distribute a virtual machine or docker image to users outside of CERN	AlmaLinux must be used (please see the RHEL page for more details)
My machine is not at CERN	Unless you have your own Red Hat License Agreement, AlmaLinux must be used. Red Hat is a licensed product and CERN's license does not cover external usage (please see the RHEL page for more details)
My service provides interactive access to non CERN sites (eg: lxplus or lxbatch)	AlmaLinux should be used
My situation is not described above, can I use either ALMA or RHEL?	Yes, you may use either - the choice is yours!

Please refer to the dedicated ELS7 page for all details