CentOS Stream

CentOS Stream at a glance

CentOS Stream is the rolling-preview distribution that sits just upstream of RHEL — a continuously delivered midstream between Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It receives continuous updates through the repos; understanding its position is key to using it well.

For admins CentOS Stream is not the old rebuild-of-RHEL: it tracks the next RHEL minor release, so it moves continuously rather than offering point releases. Updates are routine (dnf) but arrive steadily; there are no long-frozen point versions. Each major Stream has a support window tied to the RHEL major. For production teams wanting a frozen RHEL rebuild, AlmaLinux or Rocky are the successors; Stream suits those who want to track upstream or build against the next RHEL. Before larger changes, check third-party compatibility. Track the major version's end-of-support; patchletter surfaces new CentOS Stream updates.