CentOS 8 yum update issue - is CentOS Stream the solution?

[Roberto]

Hello

I logged into my CentOS 8 VPS and run the yum update command and got this error:

yum update -y
CentOS-8 - Base                                                                            11 kB/s | 282  B     00:00
Errors during downloading metadata for repository 'BaseOS':
  - Status code: 404 for http://***my*server*provider*domain.com/centos/8/BaseOS/x86_64/os/repodata/repomd.xml (IP: x.x.x.x)
Error: Failed to download metadata for repo 'BaseOS': Cannot download repomd.xml: Cannot download repodata/repomd.xml: All mirrors were tried

I came across this page on CentOS:

https://www.centos.org/news-and-events/convert-to-stream-8/

Is my error because CentOS 8 went EOL 31/12/21? (end of life)

Should I be running the two suggested commands on my live DirectAdmin VPS server to convert from CentOS 8 to CentOS Stream to solve the yum update issue? Checking if anyone has done this already and this is safe to go ahead with? or is CentOS Stream not supported by DirectAdmin and not advisable?

Advice needed and welcomed?

If CentOS Stream is not advisable since it may not be stable enough for DA, then maybe Rocky Linux or one of the other alternatives below?:

https://haydenjames.io/what-centos-alternative-distro-should-you-choose/

 

[Yoshua]

You have several options to migrate your CentOS 8 EOL, much better than CentOS Stream.

For example:
Oracle Linux: https://linux.oracle.com/switch/centos/
Rocky Linux: https://docs.rockylinux.org/guides/migrate2rocky/
AlmaLinux: https://github.com/AlmaLinux/almalinux-deploy

I think all three are supported by Directadmin, they are 1:1 binary compatible with RH and CentOS pre-Stream.

This article comparing several versions can help you decide which one: https://computingforgeeks.com/rocky-linux-vs-centos-stream-vs-rhel-vs-oracle-linux/

I recommend AlmaLinux, I have migrated several dedicated and virtual servers without any problem, for now ?, it also has the support of CloudLinux.

Good luck

 

[Roberto]

You have several options to migrate your CentOS 8 EOL, much better than CentOS Stream.

For example:
Oracle Linux: https://linux.oracle.com/switch/centos/
Rocky Linux: https://docs.rockylinux.org/guides/migrate2rocky/
AlmaLinux: https://github.com/AlmaLinux/almalinux-deploy

I think all three are supported by Directadmin, they are 1:1 binary compatible with RH and CentOS pre-Stream.

This article comparing several versions can help you decide which one: https://computingforgeeks.com/rocky-linux-vs-centos-stream-vs-rhel-vs-oracle-linux/

I recommend AlmaLinux, I have migrated several dedicated and virtual servers without any problem, for now ?, it also has the support of CloudLinux.

Good luck

Hi Yoshua

Thanks for your response and good advice. Actually, I was aware of the alternative distros that were 1-1 compatible with Redhat, and the link I provided in my original post, mentions all of them.

The links to the scripts to convert that you provided should be useful. Although I do not know if converting on a live VPS will cause issues with the VPS provider in any way. Does the VPS container rely on the host box for updates? Would there be issues with the provider if it is a conversion and not a fresh install?

My VPS hosting provider provides Ubuntu, Windows, CentOS, FreeBSD, Debian, OpenSUSE, AlmaLinux, and Rockylinux. I would personally go for RockyLinux fork of CentOS as an alternative, as it's led by the original founder of CentOS, but AlmaLinux is just as good.

My issue is that to change to one of these alternate distros, would I have to install my VPS and DirectAdmin from scratch, or are the aforementioned scripts to convert fully compatible with my VPS provider's setup. I will contact their support and enquire with them about these conversion scripts? I can easily backup the DirectAdmin accounts and reinstall an OS from scratch and DirectAdmin from scratch, but it just takes time.

My original question is aimed at finding out whether CentOS Stream is considered stable enough because there are only two commands to convert. Also, is CentOS Stream fully compatible with DirectAdmin? It is not mentioned in the requirements for DirectAdmin at all, as far as I am aware. If CentOS Stream is compatible with DirectAdmin (and advisable to do so), then where is this officially mentioned in writing?

So in summary, my actual questions really are...

1) Is it advisable to convert to CentOS Stream from CentOS 8 on a live server?
2) if not, are the mentioned scripts to convert the existing distro on a live server to an alternative distro, e.g. Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux, (both of with my VPS provider support), stable and supported on a VPS as opposed to a bare-metal server.

Regards

 

[Richard G]

1.) Might be, but there is no say for the future, as CenOS Stream will be used as even more beta then they used Fedora for so imho the answer to this is no.
2.) I didn't test Rocky Linux. The conversion script to AlmaLinux works perfectly, we used this on our server change and various others did too. There is a good manual on the forums here.
Is it compatible and stable on a VPS? I wouldn't know why it would not, as your VPS provider supports it and also they are 1:1 Centos compatible.

I will contact their support and enquire with them about these conversion scripts?

That's always wise to do, just to be sure.

As for Centos Stream support in DA, as far as I know they do support it, but just like Alma, Rocky and Oracle linux, it's not stated in the docs.
There is an announcement topic somewhere here on the forums where it's acknowledged if I'm not mistaken.
Advisable? DA does not advises OS systems, that's something you have to decide for yourself.

There is a long discussion to be found about this, and if you read it, you won't find many hosters (if any) which want to choose for Centos Stream.

 

[Roberto]

1.) Might be, but there is no say for the future, as CenOS Stream will be used as even more beta then they used Fedora for so imho the answer to this is no.
2.) I didn't test Rocky Linux. The conversion script to AlmaLinux works perfectly, we used this on our server change and various others did too. There is a good manual on the forums here.
Is it compatible and stable on a VPS? I wouldn't know why it would not, as your VPS provider supports it and also they are 1:1 Centos compatible.


That's always wise to do, just to be sure.

As for Centos Stream support in DA, as far as I know they do support it, but just like Alma, Rocky and Oracle linux, it's not stated in the docs.
There is an announcement topic somewhere here on the forums where it's acknowledged if I'm not mistaken.
Advisable? DA does not advises OS systems, that's something you have to decide for yourself.

There is a long discussion to be found about this, and if you read it, you won't find many hosters (if any) which want to choose for Centos Stream.

@Richard G

Thanks for your input.

I'll be backing up all DA accounts, and trying the conversion script to Rocky Linux rather than AlmaLinux. Whilst they are both 1:1 100% compatible with RHEL, and therefore identical to each other at this time, Rocky Linux is Led by the founder of the CentOS project and therefore supported by a large community, whilst AlmaLinux is corporately owned by CloudLinux, who are not pioneers of free software. Hands down for me Rocky Linux.

Thanks

 

[BillyS]

I don't have any experience in terms of conversion, but I've been using DA / Rocky Linux since June of last year and have experienced zero compatibility issues and the server has met all of my expectations in terms of stability.

I chose Rocky for the same reason as you. I was with CPanel and the way they pushed CloudLinux was annoying. I also found the "free" CloudLinux offerings a joke, very much a stripped down (and useless) version of their paid service.

 

[Richard G]

Hands down for me Rocky Linux.

That is also a good choice. I know some people rather choose for Rocky solely for this reason. They are both great and since Rocky is also led by the Centos project founder I expect this to be just as stable as Centos itself.
So good choice either way, Alma or Rocky.