With CentOS reaching End-of-life (EOL) on June 30, 2024, customers running CentOS in Azure will have to migrate to a new operating system to continue receiving security updates, patches, and new features. After the EOL date, CentOS will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or other updates, which means that any vulnerabilities or issues that are discovered will not be patched. This can leave workloads open to security threats and other problems.
This blog provides an overview of the migration considerations and options for navigating the upcoming CentOS EOL in Azure. Check out our CentOS EOL guidance documentation for additional details.
Migration considerations
There are several options for Azure customers to move from CentOS to an alternate Linux distribution. The decision of where and how to migrate depends on the following considerations:
Retaining compatibility with CentOS - Do you want to continue using a Linux distribution that is compatible with CentOS? Does your development and tooling have certain requirements?
Community vs commercial distribution - Do you want to continue using a community supported (unpaid) distribution or move to a commercial (paid) distribution?
Configuration and image source (s) of your CentOS estate in Azure – Was your Azure VM running CentOS created using a custom image or an image from the Azure Marketplace?
You will also need to consider whether performing an in-place conversion is preferable to starting fresh with a new VM, OS, or image. Microsoft recommends starting with a new VM and OS for best results. we recommend taking this opportunity to start with a clean slate by redeploying with a new VM and OS image.
If you need more time to migrate, there are several solutions for extended support for CentOS 7:
Migration options
Remaining CentOS compatible
If you're planning to stick with a CentOS-compatible distribution and have already chosen one, you'll need to decide whether to perform an in-place conversion or start from scratch with a new virtual machine (VM). Some CentOS-compatible distributions offer conversion tools that evaluate your system and replace binaries while updating the content source.
If you decide to switch to a commercial distribution, you may require a valid subscription and license to carry out the conversion. Additionally, when deciding whether to convert your VM in-place or redeploy it, it's worth considering how you originally created your VM in Azure.
Changing distributions
If you're moving to another distribution, you will need to redeploy your workloads on new VMs. Check out the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for additional guidance, best practices and templates for deploying your workloads in Azure.
Moderinize your applications
This may also be an opportunity for you to consider modernizing your applications with fully managed solutions, such as Azure Kubernetes Services and Azure Database for PostgreSQL, to accelerate application development, improve customer and employee experiences, and increase application security and reliability
Guidance for specific Linux distributions
For more guidance on migrating from CentOS to a specific Linux distribution, check out the following resources from our partners:
Red Hat
Ubuntu
SUSE
AlmaLinux
Additional resources
