Background Analysis - OS Selection for the IPv6 RADV Router (Picking a Distro)

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Background Analysis: OS Selection for the IPv6 RADV Router (Picking a Distro)

As I continue building my lab, it's almost time to deploy the first virtual machine: a network appliance in the form of a Router Advertisement Daemon (RADV) router, which will be crucial for configuring an efficient IPv6-only network.

I'll be investigating how RADV, in combination with DHCPv6, can streamline the network setup. RADV will send out router advertisements, informing devices about the network prefix and configuration parameters, enabling them to auto-generate their own IPv6 addresses using Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC).

I have created virtual networks that I need and laid the foundations of the lab by looking at the complexities of the IPv6 address space that i will use,  I’ll deepen my understanding of Packer and Vagrant as I iterate through the VM build. This hands-on approach will help solidify my knowledge.  The RADV router is probably going to be the most complicated machince to configure but also the one I need first,  and it makes sense to pick an OS that I can use for all the Linux VMs in the lab.

Before diving into the installation I need to choose that OS,  as mentioned in a previous post there are many strong candidates.  I’ve chosen AlmaLinux. Why AlmaLinux? Buckle up, as there’s quite a saga behind this choice.

Why Learn RHEL?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has long been the gold standard for enterprise environments. It’s reliable, well-supported, and packed with features that large-scale businesses need. The demand for skilled RHEL administrators makes it the go-to Linux distribution for IT professionals aiming to work in enterprise settings.

Learning RHEL prepares you for various enterprise scenarios—whether you’re managing databases, running application servers, or building cloud infrastructure. RHEL’s consistency and robustness have made it the backbone of many organisations. Mastering RHEL ensures you’re well-versed in enterprise Linux administration and provides insights into its forks and alternatives, like AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, that have filled the CentOS gap.

The CentOS Gap: The Rise and Fall of CentOS

You might be wondering, what exactly is the CentOS gap, and what role does CentOS play in this story? Let’s dive in.

RHEL is a premier enterprise-grade Linux distribution with a price tag that reflects its market position. If you had a budget substantial enough to cover RHEL’s costs, you might be spending it on a tropical island, admiring your yacht! Yes, RHEL can be as pricey as an Oracle Database license.

CentOS was a favourite in the Linux community for those needing the power and stability of RHEL without the associated costs. It was a downstream rebuild of RHEL, providing the same binaries but without Red Hat’s support services. For many years, CentOS was the go-to choice for developers, small businesses, and large enterprises seeking RHEL’s reliability without the hefty price tag. Five years ago, it would have been an ideal choice for any test lab. I’ve used CentOS in previous iterations of my test labs.

In 2014, Red Hat began sponsoring CentOS, fostering closer collaboration and providing additional resources. However, in December 2020, Red Hat shifted CentOS from a direct rebuild to a rolling preview called CentOS Stream. This change left many users who relied on CentOS’s stability scrambling for alternatives.

Enter AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux

AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux emerged as the new heroes, stepping up to fill the void left by CentOS. AlmaLinux, backed by the non-profit AlmaLinux OS Foundation, offers a 1:1 binary-compatible fork of RHEL, ensuring long-term stability and predictability. Rocky Linux, led by one of CentOS’s original founders, also aims to provide a reliable RHEL clone, free from the uncertainties of CentOS Stream.

Honorable Mentions

While considering alternatives, several distributions stand out:

  • Debian: Known for its stability and extensive package repository, Debian is a solid choice for various server environments. However, I'm unsure about its official support for Oracle RDBMS, making it a less certain option for my lab.

  • openSUSE Leap and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES): openSUSE Leap is a free, community-driven version of SUSE that provides a familiar experience for those accustomed to SLES. While it's a good alternative, the SUSE platform is less common in enterprise settings, which could limit available resources and support. On the other hand, SLES offers excellent support and robust features but requires a subscription. As I'm operating with zero budget, SLES is not an option in the same way RHEL isn't.

  • Oracle Linux: Tailored specifically for Oracle products, this distribution provides optimised support for Oracle software. However, I prefer not to embed myself too deeply in the Oracle ecosystem for the entirety of my lab, as I want to explore a broader range of Linux environments.

  • Ubuntu Server: Known for its ease of use and strong community support, Ubuntu Server is popular among developers and system administrators. However, similar to Debian, I'm uncertain about its official support for Oracle RDBMS, which raises concerns about its suitability for my specific needs.

Overall, while these alternatives have their strengths, they don't align with my requirements or budget as effectively as AlmaLinux.

A Footnote About CERN, the Higgs Boson, and Brian Cox

CERN, renowned for its groundbreaking research—including the discovery of the Higgs Boson and invention of the World Wide Web—previously used Scientific Linux, another RHEL clone developed by CERN and Fermilab. With Scientific Linux’s development ending, CERN transitioned to AlmaLinux to maintain consistency and support for its massive computing needs.

If AlmaLinux is good enough for Brian Cox, it’s definitely good enough for us! While we might not be smashing particles at the speed of light, we’re still in good company. AlmaLinux offers the rock-solid stability of RHEL for our labs, without the big bucks—plus, it’s scientifically proven to enhance your test environments!

Next time, I’ll begin the process building theVMs with Packer.

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