Fedora – Differences between Container Linux, Red Hat CoreOS and Fedora CoreOS

containercoreosfedorarhel

TL;DR

Is "Container Linux", "Red Hat CoreOS" and "Fedora CoreOS" basically the same? What are the differences in between?

TS; DR

I understood that "CoreOS" was renamed to "Container Linux by CoreOS". And then "Container Linux" and CoreOS' developers were acquired by Red Hat.

But I'm confused between "Container Linux", "Red Hat CoreOS" and "Fedora CoreOS".

First, they announced that "Container Linux" will be reborn as "Red Hat CoreOS", which I thought the name will be "Red Hat CoreOS".

But, then, they announced to launch "Fedora CoreOS" and they intend to maintain Container Linux at least into 2020.

So, currently, there are 3 types of "CoreOS" I think. The original "Container Linux", and "RedHat CoreOS" and "Fedora CoreOS".

I don't understand well what the ECO system of Red Hat they say are.

Is "Use it free with NO support" and "Fare-paying services with professional support"? Such like CentOS vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

If so, are the below right understanding? or am I fundamentally miss understanding?

  1. Container Linux
    • For general users. Free of charge but no professional support. Soon'll be deprecating.
  2. RedHat CoreOS
    • For corporate users. Charged for support and etc.
  3. Fedora CoreOS
    • For general users. Post Container Linux. Free of charge but no professional support.

Best Answer

I called the RED HAT agent in Japan and got the answers below.

  • Because of the other day's IBM acquisition, everything is not concrete, and anything might be changed.
  • They also have not much information what's going on. (to announce)
  • "Container Linux" will become "Fedora CoreOS".
  • "Container Linux" will end at least in 2020 or a year after the Fedora CoreOS' official release announcement.
  • "Fedora CoreOS" will be opensource, and will be maintained and supported by the Fedora community.
  • "Red Hat CoreOS" is for company usage and is the upper stream of "Fedora CoreOS".
  • The know-how, skills, and etc that "Fedora CoreOS" got, will reflect to "Red Hat CoreOS".
  • The basic echo system of Red Hat is:
    • To financially support the open source community and the changes made, some of them, mostly the security patches, will reflect their commercial products. Not all the feature made will reflect.

Therefore it might be said:

  • "Container Linux" IS "Fedora CoreOS" (or will be)
  • "Container Linux" and "Fedora CoreOS" are NOT "Red Hat CoreOS" but part of it.
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