Author
Home > Technology > What is the Difference Between Fedora and RedHat?

Guilherme Mazui

•4 minutes to read

What is the Difference Between Fedora and RedHat?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) are both open-source operating systems, but they cater to different user needs and are supported differently. Here are the key differences between Fedora and RHEL:

  • Community vs. Enterprise: Fedora is a community-driven project suitable for various types of users, while RHEL is an enterprise business-oriented software supported through commercial subscription options.
  • Support: Fedora is supported by a wide community of developers and users but is not commercially supported. Red Hat does sponsor the Fedora Project. On the other hand, RHEL is commercially supported by Red Hat, providing a service level that includes product assistance and prioritization of bug fixes, feature requests, certified hardware, and software.
  • Release Cycle: Fedora has a rapid development and release cycle, with new releases available about every six months and each release getting updates for about 13 months. RHEL has a longer release cycle, with new versions coming out every few years and support for up to 10 years.
  • Software Availability: Fedora offers a wide range of software, while RHEL provides a subset of the software available in Fedora, focusing on the packages enterprise customers need.
  • Hardware Support: Fedora often supports more hardware than RHEL because it is a little more bleeding edge, but when something is supported by RHEL, it should work.

In summary, Fedora is a cutting-edge distribution suitable for users who want the latest features and are willing to accept occasional instability. RHEL, on the other hand, offers stability, security, and quality support from expert Red Hat engineers, making it ideal for enterprise users.

On this page
  • What is the Difference Between Fedora and RedHat?
  • Comparative Table: Fedora vs RedHat

    • Comparative Table: Fedora vs RedHat

    Here is a table comparing the differences between Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL):

    Feature Fedora Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
    Target Audience Community-supported project suitable for different kinds of users, including developers and Linux enthusiasts Enterprise business-oriented software supported via commercial service level agreements
    Support Primarily community-based support through forums, email lists, and wikis Commercially supported by Red Hat, providing enterprise-level support and stability
    Release Cycle Rapid development and release cycle, providing the latest technology on current hardware platforms Longer release cycle with a focus on stability and maturity
    Packages and Features Includes a wide variety of open source packages and features, some of which may not be stable or fully tested Includes a selected subset of stable and tested packages, with a focus on enterprise-grade reliability and functionality
    Development Fedora serves as the upstream, community distro for RHEL, with features and improvements developed and tested in Fedora eventually being incorporated into RHEL RHEL is developed by Red Hat and is derived using stable versions of Fedora

    In summary, Fedora is a community-driven project with a focus on providing the latest features and technologies, while RHEL is an enterprise-oriented product with a focus on stability, support, and reliability.

    Read more:

    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.