Blog / What is CentOS? O.S. Guide

What is CentOS? O.S. Guide

by SW Team

You may have heard that GNU/Linux consists of software distributions (also known as distro), based on the Linux kernel with packages to add features or functions. One of the most popular is CentOS.

What is CentOS?

CentOS (Community ENTerprise Operating System) is a completely free and open source operating system based on RedHat Enterprise Linux, also known by its acronym RHEL. As a package manager uses the RPM format, noted for its stability and support.

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Main features

  1. Stability and security: CentOS is known for its exceptional stability and security. It is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), which provides a solid architecture and a rigorous focus on security, making it less vulnerable to viruses and malware.

  2. Ease of use: Although CentOS is traditionally used in server environments and by system administrators, its interface and tools are also accessible to advanced users seeking a more controlled and customized experience.

  3. Free and open source software: One of the biggest advantages of CentOS is that it is an open source project, which means it is completely free to download and use. In addition, you have the freedom to access and modify its source code to suit your specific needs.

  4. Hardware compatibility: CentOS offers broad compatibility with various types of hardware, making it suitable for both modern servers and older equipment. This versatility is especially valued in enterprise environments.

  5. Long-term support: CentOS provides long-term support, which guarantees security updates and maintenance for several years. This is crucial for businesses looking for a stable and reliable long-term solution.

  6. Enterprise ecosystem: Being based on RHEL, CentOS benefits from an enterprise ecosystem, with access to a wide range of applications and tools optimized for corporate and server environments.

  7. Active community: CentOS has an active and vibrant community that offers support, documentation and resources to help users troubleshoot and optimize their experience with the operating system.

How do I get started with CentOS?

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Getting started with CentOS

  1. Create Users and Assign Permissions:

Create a New User: Use the adduser command followed by the username to create a new user.

sudo adduser new_user.

Assign Sudo Permissions: To grant administrator or superuser (sudo) permissions to a user, add the user to the wheel group.

sudo usermod -aG wheel new_user.

Deleting a User: If you need to delete a user, use the userdel command.

sudo userdel user_name userdel

Text Editors:

Nano: It is a simple and easy to use text editor in the terminal. It does not come by default, you must install it first.

nano filename.

Save and Exit in Nano:

  • When you have finished editing the file, press Ctrl + O to write the changes to the file.
  • You will be asked to confirm the file name. Simply press Enter if you are satisfied with the current name.
  • Then press Ctrl + X to exit Nano.

Vim: This is a powerful text editor with a steeper learning curve.

vim filename.

Save and Exit in Vim:

  • To save changes and exit Vim, first make sure you are in command mode by pressing the Esc key.
  • Type :wq and then press Enter. This saves the changes and closes the file.
  • If you just want to save the file without exiting Vim, you can use :w instead of :wq.

Exit without Saving Changes

  • If you want to exit Vim without saving your changes, you can use :q!. This will force exit without saving changes.

Package Management:

Update Package List: Before installing new packages, update the list of available packages.

sudo yum update

Install a New Package: Use the yum install command followed by the package name to install it.

sudo yum install package_name

Remove a Package: Use the yum remove command followed by the package name to remove the package.

sudo yum remove package_name

Network Configuration:

Static IP Configuration: Edit the /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-interface_name file and add the static network configuration.

DEVICE="interface_name"
ONBOOT=yes
TYPE=Ethernet
BOOTPROTO=static
IPADDR=[IP_address]
NETMASK=[netmask_mask]
GATEWAY=[gateway_address] GATEWAY=[gateway_address] GATEWAY=[gateway_address
IPV6INIT=no

Reset Network: Apply the configuration changes using the sudo systemctl restart network command.

sudo systemctl restart network.

Conclusion

This guide provides you with the basics of working with CentOS at the command line. If you come from operating systems like Debian or Ubuntu, you will notice quite a few differences. As you become more familiar with the operating system, you will be able to explore and learn more about its advanced features and functionality. Enjoy exploring and experimenting with CentOS from the command line interface (CLI)!

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