Serious question about Linux security...
-
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
-
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
CentOS is RHEL so from a technical standpoint your security risk is the same. If you're looking at it from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
-
How are updates for RHEL any different than the ones available for CentOS? Sounds like a sales pitch to me. The only reason to use RHEL is support, not updates.
-
@travisdh1 said in Serious question about Linux security...:
How are updates for RHEL any different than the ones available for CentOS? Sounds like a sales pitch to me. The only reason to use RHEL is support, not updates.
That's what I'd figure... Updates are made available within a few days. That's a pretty darn good time frame in my opinion for free software.
https://wiki.centos.org/FAQ/General#head-cea9337e6513cc1567c4d05afbd693f1f7038ccb
-
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
Definitely valid. Rarely do we ever contact RHEL though.
-
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
Definitely valid. Rarely do we ever contact RHEL though.
Right, and if you are running anything on Windows you would run into the same issues as you do with CentOS.
-
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
Definitely valid. Rarely do we ever contact RHEL though.
Right, and if you are running anything on Windows you would run into the same issues as you do with CentOS.
We can call Microsoft and pay a flat fee if there was an issue with something Windows Server related. Can you elaborate?
Not to say that Windows is more secure than CentOS for that reason though.
-
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
Definitely valid. Rarely do we ever contact RHEL though.
Right, and if you are running anything on Windows you would run into the same issues as you do with CentOS.
We can call Microsoft and pay a flat fee if there was an issue with something Windows Server related. Can you elaborate?
Not to say that Windows is more secure than CentOS for that reason though.
That's it though, you call Microsoft and you pay a flat rate. The same as you would get for CentOS. RHEL includes that support fee in the cost of the license.
-
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
Zero. It's all Red Hat at this point. RHEL and CentOS updates are minutes apart normally.
-
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess.
News to me. When did this change?
-
@travisdh1 said in Serious question about Linux security...:
How are updates for RHEL any different than the ones available for CentOS? Sounds like a sales pitch to me. The only reason to use RHEL is support, not updates.
Red Hat would not make that sales pitch.
-
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@travisdh1 said in Serious question about Linux security...:
How are updates for RHEL any different than the ones available for CentOS? Sounds like a sales pitch to me. The only reason to use RHEL is support, not updates.
That's what I'd figure... Updates are made available within a few days. That's a pretty darn good time frame in my opinion for free software.
https://wiki.centos.org/FAQ/General#head-cea9337e6513cc1567c4d05afbd693f1f7038ccb
And important ones are at the exact same time - like when there is an SSL breach.
-
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
Definitely valid. Rarely do we ever contact RHEL though.
The question is not how often... but do you ever? How much risk is there is not being able to?
-
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
Definitely valid. Rarely do we ever contact RHEL though.
Right, and if you are running anything on Windows you would run into the same issues as you do with CentOS.
Which is a big selling point for RHEL, Suse and Ubuntu (and Solaris, AIX, HP-UX) - total vendor support.
-
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
Definitely valid. Rarely do we ever contact RHEL though.
Right, and if you are running anything on Windows you would run into the same issues as you do with CentOS.
We can call Microsoft and pay a flat fee if there was an issue with something Windows Server related. Can you elaborate?
It's a different kind of support. You have to purchase support for that one issue, they don't always decide to accept the support scenario, they are under no obligation to fix the issue, etc. It's support, but it is not what IT people mean when they say that something is supported. It's a half-way kind of support. It's not comparable to any enterprise support system like other OSes have.
-
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
Definitely valid. Rarely do we ever contact RHEL though.
Right, and if you are running anything on Windows you would run into the same issues as you do with CentOS.
We can call Microsoft and pay a flat fee if there was an issue with something Windows Server related. Can you elaborate?
Not to say that Windows is more secure than CentOS for that reason though.
That's it though, you call Microsoft and you pay a flat rate. The same as you would get for CentOS. RHEL includes that support fee in the cost of the license.
RHEL includes a support SLA. CentOS and Windows do not.
-
@scottalanmiller said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess.
News to me. When did this change?
I've been under the impression that's how it always was... Red Hat patches a vulnerability or changes something, then CentOS does.
https://wiki.centos.org/FAQ/General#head-cea9337e6513cc1567c4d05afbd693f1f7038ccb
-
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
I've been under the impression that's how it always was... Red Hat patches a vulnerability or changes something, then CentOS does.
It's how it was when CentOS wasn't part of Red Hat. Now CentOS isn't a company, just a product of Red Hat. So Red Hat is patching both. So your statement above can be rephrased to...
I've been under the impression that's how it always was... Red Hat patches a vulnerability or changes something.
It's true that the RHEL repos always get the updates first, but there isn't a long delay. Everyone has an interest in getting everything patched quickly. There is no intentional delay.
-
@scottalanmiller said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@coliver said in Serious question about Linux security...:
@BBigford said in Serious question about Linux security...:
We have a bunch of RHEL servers, some CentOS, a couple Debian, and lots of Windows servers. We're looking to drop RHEL costs from Enterprise to Standard, but still keep RHEL because "updates are more reliable and quick to release". So there are a couple servers we're looking to keep on RHEL like our public DNS servers, but transition some of the other stuff to CentOS or move them to RHEL Standard.
I mean it's fairly well known that CentOS updates come down the pike after RHEL updates are released I guess. My question is, how much validity is there in saying that CentOS is a security risk?
from a business standpoint there is risk in not having some of your major server supported by a vendor.
Definitely valid. Rarely do we ever contact RHEL though.
The question is not how often... but do you ever? How much risk is there is not being able to?
Good point. I'm not sure if any of our contracts require it so I can't speak to that. But having the option to hold someone accountable and have a resolution quickly could be important in some situations.
-
@BBigford Nothing in that screen cap talks about the time AFTER RHEL getting stuff, it talks about how long the updates take to show up in repos. RHEL has the same issues.
