Scientific Linux

{{Infobox OS

| name = Scientific Linux

| logo = Scientific Linux logo and wordmark.svg

| logo_size = 80px

| screenshot = Scientific Linux 7.png

| screenshot_size = 300px

| caption = Scientific Linux 7.0 with GNOME

| developer = Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) / European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

| family = Linux (Unix-like)

| working_state = Discontinued

| source_model = Open source

| released = {{Start date and age|2004|05|10}}

| latest_release_version = {{wikidata|property|reference|P348}}

| latest_release_date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P577}}}}

| discontinued = yes

| marketing_target = Scientific purpose / High Performance Computing / Servers / Desktops{{r|LINUXCOM}}

| update_model = Yum (PackageKit)

| package_manager = RPM Package Manager

| supported_platforms = x86, x86-64

| kernel_type = Monolithic (Linux)

| ui = GNOME

| license = GNU GPL & Various others.

| website = {{URL|www.scientificlinux.org/}}

}}

Scientific Linux (SL) is a discontinued Linux distribution produced by Fermilab, CERN, DESY and by ETH Zurich. It is a free and open-source operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.{{cite web|url = https://www.scientificlinux.org/documentation/faq/faq-community/|title = General Questions about Scientific Linux (Community)|website = Scientific Linux}}

This product is derived from the free and open-source software made available by Red Hat, but is not produced, maintained or supported by them.

In April 2019, it was announced that feature development for Scientific Linux would be discontinued, but that maintenance will continue to be provided for the 6.x and 7.x releases through the end of their life cycles. Fermilab and CERN will utilize CentOS Stream{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Glenn |date=October 25, 2021 |title=Fermilab/CERN recommendation for Linux distribution |url=https://listserv.fnal.gov/scripts/wa.exe?A2=SCIENTIFIC-LINUX-USERS;4c8eeca4.2110 |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=listserv.fnal.gov}} and AlmaLinux{{Cite web|title=Fermilab/CERN recommendation for Linux distribution|url=http://news.fnal.gov/2022/12/fermilab-cern-recommendation-for-linux-distribution|website=news.fnal.gov|date=December 7, 2022 |access-date=December 7, 2022}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025}}{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2022 |title=Fermilab/CERN recommendation for Linux distribution |url=https://scientificlinux.org/category/uncategorized/fermilab-cern-recommendation-for-linux-distribution/}}{{Cite web |title=Which distribution should I use? |url=https://linux.web.cern.ch/which/ |access-date=6 June 2025}} for their deployment of 8.x release instead.

History

Fermilab already had a Linux distribution known as Fermi Linux, a long-term support release based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. CERN was creating their next version of CERN Linux, also based on RHEL. CERN contacted Fermilab about doing a collaborative release. Connie Sieh was the main developer and driver behind the first prototypes and initial release.{{r|LINUXCOM}} The first official release of Scientific Linux was version 3.0.1, released on May 10, 2004.

In 2012 Scientific Linux was maintained by a cooperative of science labs and universities. Fermilab was its primary sponsor.{{cite web |author=Carla Schroder |date=March 23, 2012 |title=Scientific Linux, the Great Distro With the Wrong Name |url=https://www.linux.com/learn/scientific-linux-great-distro-wrong-name |website=Linux.com}}

In 2015, CERN began migrating away from Scientific Linux to CentOS.{{cite web|url=https://linux.web.cern.ch/linux/slc-nextversion.shtml|title=Scientific Linux @ CERN: Next Version|publisher=CERN|access-date=January 15, 2017|archive-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221221503/https://linux.web.cern.ch/linux/slc-nextversion.shtml|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://linux.web.cern.ch/linux/centos7/ |title=CC7: CERN CentOS 7 |publisher=CERN |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707100649/http://linux.web.cern.ch/linux/centos7/ |url-status=dead }}

Design philosophy

The primary purpose of Scientific Linux is to produce a common Linux distribution for various labs and universities around the world, thus reducing duplicated effort. The main goals are to have everything compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux with only minor additions and changes, and to allow easy customization for a site, without disturbing the Linux base.{{cite web|url=https://www.scientificlinux.org/|title=Welcome to Scientific Linux (SL)|website=Scientifix Linux}} Unlike other distributions such as Poseidon Linux, it does not contain a large collection of scientific software as its name may suggest. However, it provides good compatibility to install such software.

Features

Scientific Linux is derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux without protected components such as Red Hat trademarks, thus making it freely available.{{cite web|url=http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Scientific-Linux-5-6-Live-released-1276856.html |title=Scientific Linux 5.6 Live released |website=The H |date=July 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208070002/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Scientific-Linux-5-6-Live-released-1276856.html |archive-date=December 8, 2013 }} New releases are typically produced about two months after each Red Hat release.{{r|LINUXCOM}} As well as a full distribution equal to two DVDs, Scientific Linux is also available in LiveCD and LiveDVD versions.

Scientific Linux offers wireless and Bluetooth out of the box, and it comes with a comprehensive range of software, such as multimedia codecs, Samba, and Compiz,{{cite web|url=http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux.html|title=Scientific Linux – It blinded me with science!|website=Dedoimedo|date=February 3, 2010}} as well as servers and clients, storage clients, networking, and system administration tools.{{r|LINUXCOM}}

It also contains a set of tools for making custom versions, thus allowing institutions and individuals to create their own variant.{{r|LINUXCOM}}

Release history

Historical releases of Scientific Linux are the following.{{cite web|url=https://www.scientificlinux.org/news/archive/|title=News Archives|website=Scientifix Linux|access-date=December 22, 2011|archive-date=March 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303020311/https://www.scientificlinux.org/news/archive|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scientificlinux.org/distributions/roadmap|title=S.L. Distribution Roadmap|website=Scientifix Linux|access-date=July 25, 2011|archive-date=July 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716025054/https://www.scientificlinux.org/distributions/roadmap|url-status=dead}} Each release is subjected to a period of public testing before it is considered 'released'.

class="wikitable"
Scientific Linux release ! Codename ! Architectures ! RHEL base ! Scientific Linux release date ! Red Hat Enterprise Linux release date ! Delay
3.0.1 \| Lithium \| rowspan="4" \| i386, x86-64 \| 3.1 \| 2004-05-10 \| 2004-01-16 \| 106d
4{{r\|LINUXCOM}} \| Beryllium \| 4 \| 2005-04-20 \| 2005-02-14 \| 65d
5[https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux.html Scientific Linux – It blinded me with science!], Dedoimedo[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20100426#feature DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 351, 26 April 2010] \| Boron \| 5 \| 2007-05-14 \| 2007-03-14 \| 61d
6[https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux-6.html Scientific Linux 6 – Another great distro, but], Dedoimedo[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20110822#feature DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 419, 22 August 2011][https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux-6sp1.html Scientific Linux 6.1 Carbon review – Almost there], Dedoimedo[https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux-6-5.html Scientific Linux 6.5 Carbon – Fast and dubious], Dedoimedo \| Carbon \| 6 \| 2011-03-03 \| 2010-11-10 \| 113d
7[https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux-7-1.html Scientific Linux 7.1 review – More fiasco], Dedoimedo[http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/Operating-Systems/Linux-Distributions/Scientific-Linux-2007.shtml Download Scientific Linux 7.5], Softpedia Linux \| Nitrogen \| x86-64 \| 7 \| 2014-10-13 \| 2014-06-10 \| 125d

class="wikitable"

Scientific Linux release

! Codename

! Architectures

! RHEL base

! Scientific Linux release date

! Red Hat Enterprise Linux release date

! Delay

3.0.1

| Lithium

| rowspan="4" | i386, x86-64

| 3.1

| 2004-05-10

| 2004-01-16

| 106d

4{{r|LINUXCOM}}

| Beryllium

| 4

| 2005-04-20

| 2005-02-14

| 65d

5[https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux.html Scientific Linux – It blinded me with science!], Dedoimedo[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20100426#feature DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 351, 26 April 2010]

| Boron

| 5

| 2007-05-14

| 2007-03-14

| 61d

6[https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux-6.html Scientific Linux 6 – Another great distro, but], Dedoimedo[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20110822#feature DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 419, 22 August 2011][https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux-6sp1.html Scientific Linux 6.1 Carbon review – Almost there], Dedoimedo[https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux-6-5.html Scientific Linux 6.5 Carbon – Fast and dubious], Dedoimedo

| Carbon

| 6

| 2011-03-03

| 2010-11-10

| 113d

7[https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/scientific-linux-7-1.html Scientific Linux 7.1 review – More fiasco], Dedoimedo[http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/Operating-Systems/Linux-Distributions/Scientific-Linux-2007.shtml Download Scientific Linux 7.5], Softpedia Linux

| Nitrogen

| x86-64

| 7

| 2014-10-13

| 2014-06-10

| 125d

=Support=

Security updates are provided for as long as Red Hat continues to release updates and patches for their versions.{{cite web|url=https://www.scientificlinux.org/distributions/roadmap|title=End of life dates for SL versions|website=Scientifix Linux|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716025054/https://www.scientificlinux.org/distributions/roadmap|archive-date=July 16, 2011}}

class="wikitable"
+ End of support schedule ! Scientific Linux release ! Full updates ! Maintenance updates
3 \| 2006-07-20 \| 2010-10-31
4 \| 2009-03-31 \| 2012-02-29
5 \| Q1 2014 \| 2017-03-31
6 \| Q2 2017 \| 2020-11-30
7 \| Q4 2019 \| 2024-06-30

class="wikitable"

+ End of support schedule

! Scientific Linux release

! Full updates

! Maintenance updates

| 2006-07-20

| 2010-10-31

| 2009-03-31

| 2012-02-29

| Q1 2014

| 2017-03-31

| Q2 2017