CentOS 6 Download ISO x64: How to Get It and Why You Should
If you are looking for a stable, secure, and reliable Linux distribution for your server or desktop, you might have heard of CentOS 6. CentOS 6 is one of the most popular versions of the CentOS project, which is a community-driven enterprise operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). In this article, we will show you how to download CentOS 6 ISO x64, how to create a bootable media from it, and how to install it on your system. We will also explain why CentOS 6 is still widely used despite its end-of-life status.
What is CentOS 6 and why is it still popular?
CentOS 6 was released in July 2011 as the sixth major version of the CentOS project. It was based on RHEL 6, which introduced many new features and improvements, such as:
centos 6 download iso x64
CentOS 6 features and benefits
A new kernel version (2.6.32) with better performance, scalability, and hardware support.
A new init system (Upstart) that replaced the traditional SysV init.
A new default file system (ext4) that offered faster and more reliable data storage.
A new network manager (NetworkManager) that simplified the configuration and management of network connections.
A new graphical installer (Anaconda) that offered a more user-friendly and flexible installation process.
A new desktop environment (GNOME 2.28) that provided a familiar and intuitive user interface.
A new software management tool (YUM) that made it easy to install, update, and remove packages.
A new security framework (SELinux) that enforced mandatory access control policies on the system.
A new virtualization platform (KVM) that enabled running multiple virtual machines on a single host.
A new cloud computing platform (OpenStack) that enabled building and managing private and public clouds.
CentOS 6 also inherited the stability, security, and compatibility of RHEL 6, which made it a suitable choice for enterprise-level servers and applications. CentOS 6 was supported by the CentOS project until November 2020, when it reached its end-of-life (EOL) date. This means that no more updates or bug fixes were provided by the project after that date.
CentOS 6 end-of-life and security updates
Although CentOS 6 is no longer supported by the CentOS project, it does not mean that it is completely obsolete or unsafe to use. There are still some ways to get security updates and patches for CentOS 6, such as:
Using the Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS) service from Red Hat, which provides critical security updates for RHEL 6 until June 2024. However, this service requires a subscription fee and is only available for certain RHEL variants.
Using the CloudLinux Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS) service, which provides security updates for CentOS 6 until June 2024. This service is free for existing CloudLinux customers and requires a license fee for new customers.
Using the AlmaLinux OS ELS service, which provides security updates for CentOS 6 until November 2025. This service is free for all users and is based on the AlmaLinux OS project, which is a fork of CentOS 8.
Using the CentOS 6 Community Support service, which provides security updates for CentOS 6 until November 2025. This service is free for all users and is based on the contributions of the CentOS community and volunteers.
However, these services may not cover all the packages and features of CentOS 6, and may not provide the same level of quality and reliability as the official CentOS project. Therefore, it is recommended to upgrade to a newer version of CentOS or another Linux distribution as soon as possible, especially if you are running critical or sensitive applications on your system.
How to download CentOS 6 ISO x64
If you still want to use CentOS 6 for some reason, you will need to download the ISO image file that contains the installation files and packages. The ISO file can be burned to a CD or DVD, or copied to a USB flash drive, to create a bootable media that can be used to install CentOS 6 on your system.
There are several sources where you can download CentOS 6 ISO x64, such as:
Official CentOS mirrors
The official CentOS mirrors are the primary and most reliable sources for downloading CentOS 6 ISO x64. These mirrors are hosted by various organizations and institutions around the world, and are synchronized with the main CentOS server. You can find a list of official CentOS mirrors here: . You can choose a mirror that is closest to your location for faster download speed.
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Once you have selected a mirror, you will need to navigate to the directory that contains the CentOS 6 ISO x64 files. The directory name may vary depending on the mirror, but it usually follows this pattern: /centos/6/isos/x86_64/. In this directory, you will find several ISO files with different names and sizes, such as:
CentOS-6.10-x86_64-bin-DVD1.iso: This is the first DVD image that contains the core packages and features of CentOS 6. It is about 4.4 GB in size and is sufficient for most installations.
CentOS-6.10-x86_64-bin-DVD2.iso: This is the second DVD image that contains additional packages and features of CentOS 6. It is about 1.5 GB in size and is optional for most installations.
CentOS-6.10-x86_64-LiveCD.iso: This is the live CD image that allows you to run CentOS 6 from the CD without installing it on your system. It is about 690 MB in size and is useful for testing or troubleshooting purposes.
CentOS-6.10-x86_64-minimal.iso: This is the minimal image that contains only the essential packages and features of CentOS 6. It is about 463 MB in size and is suitable for minimal or custom installations.
CentOS-6.10-x86_64-netinstall.iso: This is the netinstall image that allows you to install CentOS 6 from the internet by downloading the packages from a remote repository. It is about 230 MB in size and requires a network connection during installation.
You can choose the ISO file that best suits your needs and preferences, and download it to your local system.
Alternative sources
If you cannot access or download from the official CentOS mirrors, you can try some alternative sources that may also provide CentOS 6 ISO x64 files, such as:
: This is an archive site that hosts older versions of Linux distributions, including CentOS 6.
: This is a vault site that hosts legacy versions of CentOS, including CentOS 6.
: This is a torrent site that allows peer-to-peer file sharing of Linux distributions, including CentOS 6.
However, these sources may not be as updated or reliable as the official CentOS mirrors, and may pose some security risks. Therefore, it is advisable to verify your ISO file before using it, as explained in the next section. How to verify your ISO file
Before you use your ISO file to create a bootable media or install CentOS 6, you should verify its integrity and authenticity. This will ensure that the file is not corrupted or tampered with, and that it matches the original file from the CentOS project. To verify your ISO file, you will need to use two tools: a checksum tool and a signature tool.
A checksum tool is a program that calculates a unique value for a file based on its contents. This value is called a checksum or a hash, and it can be used to compare two files and detect any differences. The CentOS project provides checksum files for each ISO file, which contain the expected checksum values for each file. You can download the checksum file that corresponds to your ISO file from the same source where you downloaded the ISO file. The checksum file has a name that ends with .sum, such as sha256sum.txt or md5sum.txt.
A signature tool is a program that verifies the identity and authenticity of a file based on a digital signature. A digital signature is a code that is generated by encrypting a file with a private key, which can only be decrypted with a matching public key. The CentOS project provides signature files for each ISO file, which contain the digital signatures for each file. You can download the signature file that corresponds to your ISO file from the same source where you downloaded the ISO file. The signature file has a name that ends with .asc, such as CentOS-6.10-x86_64-bin-DVD1.iso.asc.
To verify your ISO file, you will need to follow these steps:
Download the checksum file and the signature file that correspond to your ISO file.
Install a checksum tool and a signature tool on your system. For example, you can use on Windows.
Run the checksum tool on your ISO file and compare the output with the value in the checksum file. For example, you can use this command on Linux: sha256sum CentOS-6.10-x86_64-bin-DVD1.iso. If the values match, it means that the ISO file is not corrupted.
Run the signature tool on your ISO file and the signature file, and verify that the output shows a valid signature from the CentOS project. For example, you can use this command on Linux: gpg --verify CentOS-6.10-x86_64-bin-DVD1.iso.asc CentOS-6.10-x86_64-bin-DVD1.iso. If the output shows a good signature from CentOS, it means that the ISO file is authentic.
If both verification steps are successful, you can proceed to use your ISO file to create a bootable media or install CentOS 6. If either verification step fails, you should delete your ISO file and download it again from another source.
How to create a bootable media from CentOS 6 ISO x64
To install CentOS 6 on your system, you will need to create a bootable media from the ISO file that you downloaded and verified. A bootable media is a device that contains the installation files and packages of CentOS 6, and that can be used to start or boot your system into the installation mode. You can create a bootable media from CentOS 6 ISO x64 using either a CD or DVD, or a USB flash drive.
Using a CD or DVD
To create a bootable media from CentOS 6 ISO x64 using a CD or DVD, you will need:
A blank CD or DVD that has enough space to hold the ISO file (at least 4.7 GB for DVD or 700 MB for CD).
A CD or DVD burner device that can write data to the CD or DVD.
A CD or DVD burning software that can burn an ISO image to the CD or DVD.
To create a bootable media from CentOS 6 ISO x64 using a CD or DVD, you will need to follow these steps:
Insert the blank CD or DVD into the burner device.
Launch the CD or DVD burning software on your system.
Select the option to burn an ISO image to the CD or DVD.
Browse and select the CentOS 6 ISO x64 file that you downloaded and verified.Choose the burning speed and options according to your preference and the software instructions.
Start the burning process and wait until it is completed.
Eject the CD or DVD from the burner device.
You have now created a bootable media from CentOS 6 ISO x64 using a CD or DVD. You can use it to install CentOS 6 on your system by inserting it into the CD or DVD drive and booting from it.
Using a USB flash drive
To create a bootable media from CentOS 6 ISO x64 using a USB flash drive, you will need:
A USB flash drive that has enough space to hold the ISO file (at least 4.7 GB).
A USB port that can connect the USB flash drive to your system.
A USB image writing software that can write an ISO image to the USB flash drive.
To create a bootable media from CentOS 6 ISO x64 using a USB flash drive, you will need to follow these steps:
Insert the USB flash drive into the USB port of your system.
Launch the USB image writing software on your system.
Select the option to write an ISO image to the USB flash drive.
Browse and select the CentOS 6 ISO x64 file that you downloaded and verified.
Choose the writing speed and options according to your preference and the software instructions.
Start the writing process and wait until it is completed.
Eject the USB flash drive from the USB port of your system.
You have now created a bootable media from CentOS 6 ISO x64 using a USB flash drive. You can use it to install CentOS 6 on your system by inserting it into the USB port and booting from it.
How to install CentOS 6 from the bootable media
Once you have created a bootable media from CentOS 6 ISO x64, you can use it to install CentOS 6 on your system. To install CentOS 6 from the bootable media, you will need to follow these steps:
Insert the bootable media into the CD or DVD drive or the USB port of your system.
Restart your system and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings. You can do this by pressing a specific key during the startup process, such as F2, F10, F12, or Del. The key may vary depending on your system model and manufacturer.
Change the boot order or priority to make your system boot from the bootable media first. You can do this by navigating to the boot menu or section and selecting the appropriate option. Save and exit the BIOS or UEFI settings.
Your system will now boot from the bootable media and start the CentOS 6 installation process. You will see a welcome screen that asks you to choose your language and keyboard layout. Make your selections and click Next.
You will see a screen that asks you to choose your installation type. You can choose between Basic Server, Database Server, Web Server, Desktop, Minimal, or Custom. Each option will install a different set of packages and features according to your needs. You can also choose to modify or review the package selection later. Make your choice and click Next.
You will see a screen that asks you to configure your network and your hostname. You can enable or disable your network interfaces, assign them static or dynamic IP addresses, and set your hostname or domain name. You can also configure advanced network settings, such as DNS, gateway, proxy, or firewall. Make your configurations and click Next.
You will see a screen that asks you to partition your disk and select your file system. You can choose between automatic or manual partitioning, and between different file systems, such as ext4, ext3, xfs, or btrfs. You can also create or modify partitions, assign mount points, and set encryption or RAID options. Make your selections and click Next.
You will see a screen that asks you to set your root password and create a user account. The root password is the password for the administrator account of your system, which has full access and control over the system. The user account is the account that you will use to log in and perform regular tasks on your system. You can create one or more user accounts, and assign them different roles and permissions. Make your settings and click Next.
You will see a screen that shows the installation progress and the package selection. You can review or modify the packages that will be installed on your system, or add or remove additional packages. You can also view the installation log or reboot your system if needed. Wait until the installation is completed.
You will see a screen that congratulates you for installing CentOS 6 successfully. You can now eject the bootable media from your system and click Reboot to restart your system and log in to CentOS 6.
You have now installed CentOS 6 from the bootable media on your system. You can start using it and customize it according to your preferences and needs.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download CentOS 6 ISO x64, how to create a bootable media from it, and how to install it on your system. We have also explained why CentOS 6 is still popular despite its end-of-life status, and how to get security updates and patches for it. We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you.
If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Q: What are the system requirements for CentOS 6?
A: According to the official documentation, the minimum system requirements for CentOS 6 are:
Processor: 1 GHz or faster
Memory: 512 MB or more
Disk space: 5 GB or more
Network: Ethernet or wireless adapter
Display: VGA or higher resolution
Q: How can I upgrade from CentOS 6 to CentOS 7 or CentOS 8?
A: There is no direct or official way to upgrade from CentOS 6 to CentOS 7 or CentOS 8. The recommended way is to backup your data and settings, and perform a fresh installation of the newer version of CentOS on your system.
Q: How can I access the command line interface (CLI) or the graphical user interface (GUI) of CentOS 6?
A: By default, CentOS 6 boots into the GUI mode, which allows you to use the mouse and keyboard to interact with the desktop environment. To access the CLI mode, which allows you to use commands and text to interact with the system, you can press Ctrl+Alt+F1 to switch to a virtual console. To switch back to the GUI mode, you can press Ctrl+Alt+F7.
Q: How can I update or install new packages on CentOS 6?
A: The easiest way to update or install new packages on CentOS 6 is to use the YUM tool, which is a command-line software management tool that connects to online repositories and downloads the packages that you need. To update all the packages on your system, you can use this command: yum update. To install a specific package on your system, you can use this command: yum install package-name.
Q: How can I get help or support for CentOS 6?A: You can get help or support for CentOS 6 from various sources, such as:
The official documentation, which provides detailed and comprehensive information and instructions on how to use and configure CentOS 6. You can access the documentation here: .
The official forums, which provide a platform for users and developers to ask questions, share tips, and discuss issues related to CentOS 6. You can access the forums here: .
The official mailing lists, which provide a way for users and developers to communicate and exchange information and ideas about CentOS 6 via email. You can access the mailing lists here: .
The official IRC channels, which provide a way for users and developers to chat and interact in real-time about CentOS 6. You can access the IRC channels here: .
The unofficial blogs, wikis, tutorials, videos, podcasts, and books, which provide additional and alternative resources and guides on how to use and learn about CentOS 6. You can find some of these resources here: .
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