Download CentOS Stream: official images and preparation
English edition published on .
Information checked on against official sources.
Before downloading CentOS Stream
Check maintenance periods, processor requirements and necessary applications before choosing an image. A device labelled “64-bit” does not necessarily meet CentOS Stream 10’s requirements.
Choose according to remaining support
The official download page showed the following deadlines on the source-check date:
| Branch | Deadline |
|---|---|
| CentOS Stream 9 | 31 May 2027 |
| CentOS Stream 10 | 31 May 2030 |
These dates do not mean five new years of support from the download date. For a lasting deployment, also check application support and time needed for a future migration. CentOS Linux 7 and 8 are discontinued older branches; do not confuse them with Stream.
CentOS Stream 10 needs more than a 64-bit processor
The official Stream 10 notes specify x86-64-v3 for AMD/Intel CPUs. They also list ARMv8.0-A, POWER9 and IBM Z z14 for other supported architectures. Choose the image for your platform.
On Linux systems with the command available, ld.so --help shows levels recognised by the system loader, as the notes explain. Read the levels actually supported; x86_64 alone is insufficient. If the command is unavailable or its result ambiguous, check the processor’s documentation.
In a virtual machine, also check CPU capabilities exposed to the guest. Try installation on a test machine before changing a server in use. Separately check memory, storage, networking, drivers and application compatibility.
Verify the file before preparing media
The official Stream 10 x86_64 ISO directory contains boot and dvd1 images with .SHA256SUM files. Choose a format for your installation method and obtain the checksum matching exactly the same image and generation.
On Linux, calculate the hash using this example, replacing the name with the downloaded file:
sha256sum "exact-image-name.iso"Compare the entire value with the official reference. If it differs, do not use the image. The CentOS checksum guide explains this principle; its older-version examples are archived. A matching checksum checks integrity against the obtained reference; it does not replace signature verification where an official signature is provided.
Back up USB and disk data before writing. To understand the project’s position, return to the CentOS profile or read the Fedora and Red Hat family guide.
How can you download CentOS for free?
Downloading CentOS for free requires understanding how the project has changed. The former CentOS Linux, long used as a community alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, is no longer maintained. CentOS Linux 8 reached end of life on 31 December 2021, followed by CentOS Linux 7 on 30 June 2024. For a new project, consider CentOS Stream, now the CentOS project’s main development direction.
Start downloads from the project’s official website, then verify the image as described above. The website provides CentOS Stream images for different uses: conventional installation, cloud, containers and test environments. Choosing an official source does not replace checking the exact release and file.
CentOS Stream is a free, open-source Linux distribution positioned immediately upstream of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It follows developments in the RHEL ecosystem before their integration into RHEL minor releases. It can interest developers, integrators, testers and contributors working with enterprise technologies.
Which CentOS version should you download?
For a new download, consider CentOS Stream. At the source-check date, CentOS Stream 10, code-named Coughlan, was the newest project release. It belongs to the generation associated with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 and has an approximately five-year lifecycle overall. Use the fixed end-of-life date above when calculating remaining support.
CentOS Stream 9 is also available for environments working with the RHEL 9 generation. Choosing between Stream 9 and Stream 10 primarily depends on compatibility needs, infrastructure and applications.
Downloading CentOS Linux 7 or 8 for a new server is not recommended. These versions are end of life and no longer receive official security updates. They may still appear in archives or mirrors but are unsuitable starting points for exposed systems or new deployments.
If you want a distribution closer to the former CentOS Linux model with longer-term stability as a goal, compare Stream with Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux or Red Hat Enterprise Linux. If your goal is contributing to RHEL development or testing upcoming ecosystem changes, CentOS Stream serves that purpose.
Prepare your server before downloading
Define your use case before downloading CentOS. Stream can run on physical servers, virtual machines, cloud environments or test platforms. The image choice depends on that infrastructure.
For a conventional server or virtual-machine installation, an installation ISO is appropriate. For public or private cloud deployment, use a purpose-built cloud image. In containerised environments, official container images may be more practical.
Back up data before installation. Installing an operating system may change or delete existing partitions. For a production server, prepare a migration plan, check application compatibility and test the procedure in a separate environment before switching over.
Create a bootable CentOS Stream USB drive
After downloading and verifying the ISO, create bootable USB media with a tool such as Rufus on Windows, balenaEtcher on Windows, macOS or Linux, or dd on Linux for experienced users. Check the destination carefully before writing; its contents will be replaced.
After creating the drive, restart the computer or server and open its boot menu. The key depends on the manufacturer; F12, F9, F8, Escape and Delete are common examples. Select USB to start CentOS Stream installation.
The installer lets you choose language, keyboard, partitions, installation disk, networking, software and core system settings. For a server, carefully configure networking, storage, users and required services.
Install CentOS Stream after downloading
CentOS Stream uses an installer familiar from the Red Hat ecosystem. Choose a minimal installation for a small server or software groups according to your needs. A minimal server installation can reduce unnecessary packages.
After installation, update the system using DNF. Updates provide the fixes, improvements and versions available in Stream. Then install the services you need: web server, database, monitoring, firewall, containers or administration components.
CentOS Stream uses familiar Red Hat ecosystem technologies such as RPM, DNF, SELinux, firewalld and systemd. Administrators familiar with RHEL, Fedora or older CentOS versions will recognise much of the environment, while still needing to check version-specific changes.
Why download CentOS for free?
A free CentOS Stream download provides a community, open-source Linux distribution oriented towards enterprise technology. It is particularly relevant to developers, system administrators, integrators and contributors following Red Hat Enterprise Linux development.
Stream can provide a test platform, development environment, internal server or starting point for learning the RHEL ecosystem. It allows experimentation with packages and changes that feed into future RHEL releases.
For organisations and administrators, it can also support validation work: anticipating changes, testing applications and contributing to development. For more conservative change policies or commercial support, assess Red Hat Enterprise Linux or suitable RHEL-compatible distributions against the specific requirements.
Choosing a download for your project
For a new CentOS deployment, the relevant branch is CentOS Stream. The former CentOS Linux is no longer maintained. Stream represents the project’s direction as a continuously developed, open distribution close to RHEL development.
Use the official website to identify supported images and perform the verification checks above. Depending on the image, Stream can serve a server, virtual machine, cloud deployment or container environment. Match that choice to your application compatibility, maintenance and recovery requirements before installing.