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---
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title: About CentOS
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layout: aside
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---
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## CentOS Linux
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The CentOS Linux distribution is a stable, predictable, manageable and
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reproducible platform derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux
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(RHEL). We are now looking to expand on that by creating the resources needed
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by other communities to come together and be able to build on the CentOS Linux
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platform. And today we start the process by delivering a clear governance
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model, increased transparency and access. In the coming weeks we aim to publish
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our own roadmap that includes variants of the core CentOS Linux.
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Since March 2004, CentOS Linux has been a community-supported distribution
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derived from sources freely provided to the public by Red Hat. As such, CentOS
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Linux aims to be functionally compatible with RHEL. We mainly change packages
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to remove upstream vendor branding and artwork. CentOS Linux is no-cost and
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[free to redistribute](/legal).
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CentOS Linux is developed by a small but growing team of core developers. In
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turn the core developers are supported by an active user community including
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system administrators, network administrators, managers, core Linux
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contributors, and Linux enthusiasts from around the world.
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Over the coming year, the CentOS Project will expand its mission to establish
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CentOS Linux as a leading community platform for emerging open source
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technologies coming from other projects such as OpenStack. These technologies
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will be at the center of multiple variations of CentOS, as individual downloads
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or accessed from a custom installer. Read more about the [variants](/variants)
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and [Special Interest Groups](http://wiki.centos.org/SpecialInterestGroup) that
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produce them.
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## The CentOS Project
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The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused around
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the goal of providing a rich base platform for open source communities to build
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upon. We will provide a development framework for cloud providers, the hosting
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community, and scientific data processing, as a few examples. We work with
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several 'upstream' communities to help them layer and distribute their software
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more effectively on a platform they can rely on.
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### The Governing Board
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The CentOS Governing Board is made up of members of the CentOS Project, many of
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whom have been around since the creation of the Project, as well as new members
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from Red Hat who were instrumental in bringing the new relationship together.
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The focus of the Governing Board is to curate the CentOS Project, assist and
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guide in the progress and development of the various SIGs, as well as to
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promote CentOS Linux. For more information read the [governance
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page](/about/governance).
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### The Project Structure
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The CentOS Project is modelled on the structure of the [Apache
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Foundation](http://apache.org), with a governing board that oversees various
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semi-autonomous [Special Interest Groups or
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'SIGs'](http://wiki.centos.org/SpecialInterestGroup). These groups are focused
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on providing various enhancements, addons, or replacements for core CentOS
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Linux functionality. A few notable examples of SIGs are:
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* [Core](http://wiki.centos.org/SpecialInterestGroup/Core) - Building and releasing the core CentOS Linux platform.
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* [Xen4CentOS](http://wiki.centos.org/Manuals/ReleaseNotes/Xen4-01) - Providing Xen4 support for CentOS 6
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* [CentOS Design](http://wiki.centos.org/ArtWork) - Improving the user experience with high quality artwork
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