CentOS vs RedHat Server 5

[sourceninja]

I have a project that requires redhat (in the system specs) for functionality. Rather then buy redhat we have been looking at just using CentOS.

The vendor will have no way of knowing we are not running RedHat unless we tell them (they have no direct access to the system). Is there any technical reasons why CentOS will not behave exactly like RedHat 5? I don't want them to tell me to use a command only to find out that command does not exist or to install some redhat only package that does not exist for cent. (in the event we even need support)

I am just investigating at this point. Chances are if the edu pricing is right we are just going to use RedHat. But I want to make sure I cover my bases. Most of our current servers are Debian and ubuntu linux and we have never needed OS support in the last 5 years.

 

[n0cmonkey]

It should work just fine. I've seen things about bugs being fixed in Centos before making it to RHEL, but not many. And I would hope the vendor doesn't rely on those bugs.

I think it's sad vendors don't support Centos when they support RHEL. Drives me crazy.

 

[crontab]

Since you mention EDU pricing, I will throw in another option, look at Oracle Enterprise Linux. Same as RH/Cent, but provide a better quality of support in our experience. Surprisingly much much cheaper too, about 50% off our RH EDU pricing. And RH support has been pretty much useless lately unless you have a TAM, but that quality of the support also depends on the TAM themselves.

We were a RH shop and are now cutting everything over to Oracle EL.

Even though software will most likely work on Cent, it is not a good idea to risk the business or institution on unsupported hardware/software. It's not worth it when it hits the fan.

Another way to force the vendor to support CentOS is to look at other vendors (if competitors exist). Pit them against each other.

 

[sourceninja]

Unfortunately, there is really no chance of us switching vendors and they know it. We are talking a million dollar piece of software (sungard banner). It runs everything (like skynet) and they know they have us by the balls. It's solaris 10, windows, openvms (actually that is being discontinued) or redhat.

 

[sciencewhiz]

/etc/redhat-release specifies that it is CentOS

 

[Fear No Evil]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
/etc/redhat-release specifies that it is CentOS

Change it to say Redhat, I do, and it tricks programs that check for it (HP Tools are one of them).. Centos is code identical to Redhat.. they remove all references to Redhat and remove trademarked graphics. Otherwise its nearly identical.