It's Time to Say Goodbye to CentOS 7


CentOS 7 goes end-of-life on 30th June 2024. 


This is a significant deadline for a number of reasons, and if you're currently using CentOS 7 in your inventory then you should be aware of and understand what this really means: cruically, it means that critical security updates and bug fixes will cease, leaving your system potentially vulnerable to all sorts of malicious behaviours and software issues. Additionally, a reasonable majority of third party software providers have already released their final versions for CentOS 7, signalling just how important it is to consider upgrading to another operating system.


However, AlmaLinux has emerged as a stable and secure alternative, and comes approved by many systems administrators (including our own). Built on the same foundation as CentOS 7 (Red Hat Enterprise Linux), upgrading to AlmaLinux ensures continued security releases, software compatibility, and long-term support for your systems, without compromising on your servers current functionality.


AlmaLinux comes in two main releases: version 8 (end-of-life in 2027) and 9 (end-of-life in 2032). Both have proven to be more than capable successors to the reliable workhorse that CentOS 7 came to be.


Please note that if you are using CentOS 8 then this is also end-of-life. Much of this article applies to both CentOS 7 and 8. If you require further information specific to CentOS 8 then please contact our support team or your sales representative.



In-Place Upgrades: A Streamlined Approach


Upgrading to a new operating system can be daunting. In-place upgrades offer a solution by transforming your existing CentOS 7 system directly into AlmaLinux. This minimises downtime and streamlines the process compared to a full reinstall.


Whilst convenient, in-place upgrades are not without risk. It's crucial to ensure that you have up-to-date backups of your data. If you've subscribed to one of our management packages then great news: you're covered already. If you are not currently subscribed to a management package with us then let us know and we can offer a temporary backup solution whilst you transition between operating systems.


In-place upgrades are available for most CentOS 7 server configurations. Whether you are using Plesk, cPanel/WHM, or a CLI-only system, we have options available to you and are here to help guide you through the in-place migration process. However, as per any major system change some hardware or software might require adjustments after the upgrade.



Practical Considerations


Whilst a newer operating system comes with an enormous amount of benefits, it will be leaving behind some of the software packages and versions that you've come to rely on. You may find that some of the custom scripts or plugins you've employed over the years to help you do what you need to no longer work work quite like they used to (or at all).


You'll also need to ensure that your CentOS 7 system is healthy and updated to the latest version (7.9 Final). This ensures maximum compatibility with the upgrade tools that are available, which minimises any remaining risk.


Below are some of the main considerations that you must consider before approaching an upgrade:



If you are using Plesk or cPanel/WHM on your server, then you must also consider the below:


  • Plesk version requirements
    • AlmaLinux 8 requires minimum version of 18.0.35
    • AlmaLinux 9 requires minimum version of 18.0.48
  • cPanel/WHM version requirements 
    • AlmaLinux 8 requires minimum version of 110   
    • AlmaLinux 9 requires minimum version of 114
  • Plugin/software compatibility (both panels)


We recommend that you discuss the above with your site/application developer and/or software vendor before proceeding to the upgrade stage itself. If you get stuck or need some direction then our support teams are on-hand to assist and answer any wider queries you may have.


The last thing to bear in mind is how much downtime the upgrade process involves, and working out when you can tolerate this. We recommend allowing for a 60 minute downtime window. In reality it will take less time than this, but this will allow our support teams to perform the upgrade, address any unforeseen issues that may arise, and provide time in which to perform vital post-upgrade checks.


Please note that if you're looking to upgrade to AlmaLinux 9 then this must be carried out as two upgrades, first to AlmaLinux 8 and then to Almalinux 9. If this is the case then please make our support teams aware of this before the scheduling stage.



Ready, Set...


You've done all your pre-upgrade checks, your CentOS 7 installation has been upgraded to the latest release, and now you're ready to upgrade to AlmaLinux. You can either start your own upgrade process, or engage our support services to do it for you - whichever works best for you.


If you have a managed support package for your server then we can take it from here. Simply get in touch with our support or sales teams to get started. From there we'll gather all the necessary information about your server and then confirm a time and date. Our main upgrade window is between 01:00 and 05:00 (BST) 7 days a week, but if you have special requirements for upgrade(s) outside of those hours then let us know and we'll do what we can to accommodate your needs.


From here, the upgrade process itself will compromise of the following steps - all of which will be handled by our support team from start to finish:


  1. A complete backup image of your server will be taken
  2. Where eligible a virtual snapshot of your server will be taken
  3. Our support team will process the upgrade accordingly, as well as any post-upgrade checks as agreed
  4. We will confirm the upgrade outcome and provide post-upgrade support (should you require it)
  5. Schedule any further works or upgrades


At any point during the process we can abort and rollback to CentOS 7 with minimal additional downtime and zero data loss, meaning that you're safely covered going forward.


If you do not have a management package with your server but would like our professional advice, guidance, a complete server backup, or complete upgrade handling from our support team, then we can help. Simply raise a request for assistance via our support channels and someone will be available to discuss options with you.



Greener Grass


Once you've upgraded to AlmaLinux you will continue to enjoy all the benefits of our management packages and platform support, safe in the knowledge that your operating system is receiving the latest security updates and bug fixes. You'll continue to recieve Plesk, cPanel updates, and MySQL/MariaDB patches, have access to the latest new PHP versions, and be able to levarage a wealth of new software and applications. It's long lifecycle and extended support period means that you can confidently rest assured that your new operating system will live as long (and burn as brightly) as your CentOS 7 operating system did. 


Upgrading your system’s operating system can appear to be a daunting task, especially for complex or critical environments, but there are many practical steps that can be taken to ensure the smoothest transition possible to put you in a stronger and more secure position.


Whether you’re looking for expert assistance or have just a few questions, our sales and support teams are here to help.