The message "Aliyun Linux release 2.1903" refers to a specific version of the Alibaba Cloud Linux (formerly known as Aliyun Linux), which is a custom Linux distribution developed by Alibaba Cloud for use on their Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instances.
Let’s break it down:
✅ What is "Aliyun Linux release 2.1903"?
- Aliyun Linux is an enterprise-level Linux distribution provided by Alibaba Cloud.
- It is CentOS-compatible, meaning it behaves similarly to CentOS or RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) in terms of package management (
yum), system services, and directory structure. - The version 2.1903 means:
2: Major version number1903: Year and month of release — March 2019
This version was based on CentOS 7.x and includes optimizations and patches specifically tailored for Alibaba Cloud environments.
❓Is it CentOS?
While Aliyun Linux 2.1903 is compatible with CentOS 7, it is not exactly CentOS. It is a customized OS built from source RPMs, similar to CentOS but optimized for Alibaba Cloud infrastructure.
You can verify this by checking the contents of /etc/os-release or using the command:
cat /etc/redhat-release
It might show something like:
Aliyun Linux release 2.1903 (Lance)
Or:
CentOS Linux release 7.6.1810 (Core)
depending on how it’s configured.
🔧 Package Management
Since it’s CentOS-like, you can use yum to install packages:
sudo yum update
sudo yum install <package-name>
And it uses .rpm packages just like CentOS/RHEL.
🔄 Aliyun Linux 2 vs. Aliyun Linux 3
| Feature | Aliyun Linux 2 (1903) | Aliyun Linux 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | CentOS 7 | CentOS Stream / RHEL 8+ |
| Release | March 2019 | Later releases (e.g., 3.2019, 3.2020, etc.) |
| Support | Older, nearing EOL | Newer, actively supported |
| Use case | Legacy applications | Modern apps, containers |
If you’re using Aliyun Linux 2.1903, consider upgrading to Aliyun Linux 3 if long-term support and security updates are important.
💡 How to Check Your Current Version
Run:
cat /etc/alinux-release
or
cat /etc/os-release
🛠️ Summary
- Aliyun Linux 2.1903 is a CentOS 7-based Linux distro for Alibaba Cloud ECS.
- It’s compatible with CentOS but customized for performance and cloud integration.
- You can manage it using
yum, just like CentOS 7. - It’s an older version; newer versions like Aliyun Linux 3 are recommended for better support and features.
If you need help upgrading or checking what software is available on Aliyun Linux 2.1903, feel free to ask!
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