What is CentOS?
CentOS is a freely-available operating system that is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. This rebuild project strives to be 100% binary compatible with the upstream product and, within its mainline and updates, not to vary from that goal. Additional software archives hold later versions of such packages, along with other Free and Open Source Software RPM-based packages. CentOS stands for Community ENTerprise Operating System.
What is its Structure?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is largely composed of free and open source software, but is made available in a usable, binary form (such as on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM media or download) only to paying subscribers. As required, Red Hat releases all source code for the product publicly under the terms of the GNU General Public License and other licenses. CentOS developers use that source code to create a final product that is very similar to Red Hat Enterprise Linux; the logos must be changed, because Red Hat does not allow them to be used for redistribution. CentOS is freely available for download and use by the public, but is not maintained or supported by Red Hat. There are other distributions derived from RHEL's source as well, but they have not attained the surrounding community that CentOS has built; CentOS is generally the one most current with Red Hat's changes.
CentOS's preferred software updating tool is based on yum, although support for use of an up2date variant exists. Each may be used to download and install both additional packages and their dependencies, and also to obtain and apply periodic and special (security) updates from repositories on the CentOS Mirror Network.
CentOS refers to the source as "PNAELV" (Prominent North American Enterprise Linux Vendor), which means Red Hat, coined in response to questions raised by Red Hat's legal counsel in a letter to project members regarding possible trademark issues.
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