On openEuler, HCE OS, and EulerOS: My Judgment on the “Usage Boundary”
This post is not intended to disparage EulerOS, nor to undermine Huawei’s investment in the openEuler ecosystem. On the contrary, precisely because the relationship between Huawei, Huawei Cloud, the openEuler community, and related product lines is complex, many people tend to equate concepts that should not be mixed. That’s why I want to clearly articulate my understanding.
My core argument comes first:
Unless you’ve reviewed Huawei’s official documentation, you should not treat EulerOS as a general-purpose, freely interchangeable public release version of openEuler in other contexts.
The phrase “reviewed Huawei’s documentation” is not just a cautious disclaimer—it’s a concrete prerequisite:
- You are a Huawei or Huawei Cloud customer;
- You have access to relevant product, installation, and support documentation—even if it’s hosted in non-traditional “distribution-style” locations, such as enterprise product docs, Ascend ecosystem documentation, or even MindSpore-related materials;
- These documents explicitly recommend using EulerOS within a specific product, hardware, or solution context;
- You can obtain direct technical support from Huawei, Huawei Cloud, partners, or integration delivery teams.
Outside of this precondition, the relationship between EulerOS and openEuler should not be understood as that between Ubuntu and Debian.
If you’re using Huawei Cloud and want to adopt a domestic Linux distribution, I believe it’s safe to prioritize HCE OS over openEuler. If you’re outside Huawei Cloud and seeking a domestic distribution, I recommend directly using openEuler. Whether in self-hosted environments or other public clouds, openEuler—as an open community distribution—offers clearer, more predictable access, mirror availability, versioning cadence, community governance, and ecosystem positioning.
Below, I break this down into several sections.
I. Clarifying the Three Names: openEuler, HCE OS, and EulerOS Are Not the Same
Many debates become confused because people conflate these three names.
1) openEuler: The Public-Governed Upstream Community Distribution
openEuler is first and foremost a publicly governed community project. It has its own community processes, SIG organizations, defined roles for committers/maintainers, versioning schedules, and transparent release mechanisms. Even a major contributor like Huawei cannot bypass community procedures to unilaterally dictate the upstream direction.
Thus, the claim that “Huawei is the main contributor to openEuler, so it can change it however it wants” is inaccurate. A more precise statement is: Huawei can deeply participate in and influence openEuler, but openEuler as an upstream community still maintains its own governance boundaries.
2) HCE OS: A Downstream Distribution of openEuler Tailored for Huawei Cloud
HCE OS is better understood as: a downstream distribution of openEuler, specifically designed and delivered for cloud scenarios on Huawei Cloud.
Its purpose is not abstractly “another Euler-family OS,” but rather a cloud-ready solution. For users, the key point isn’t how closely it’s related to openEuler genetically, but whether:
- It has a clear image entry point on Huawei Cloud;
- It has official product documentation within Huawei Cloud’s documentation system;
- Its compatibility, maintenance, and issue resolution are tightly integrated with the cloud platform;
- It naturally aligns with Huawei Cloud’s default operations and maintenance workflows.
This is why I say: If you’re on Huawei Cloud and want to use a domestic distribution, you can safely prioritize HCE OS.
This isn’t to say openEuler can’t be used on Huawei Cloud—it’s just that HCE OS is closer to the “native answer” provided by the platform.
3) EulerOS: A More Ambiguous, Context-Dependent System
The issue with EulerOS isn’t whether it has technical value—it’s that its public-facing boundaries are unclear.
From publicly visible sources, EulerOS appears on Huawei Cloud documentation, but it also frequently serves as a base OS in Huawei’s enterprise software products, industry solutions, hardware ecosystems, and delivery documentation. Additionally, external users occasionally find EulerOS ISO links on MindSpore sites. As a result, many naturally conclude:
Since it’s publicly visible and downloadable, it’s probably a general-purpose distribution like openEuler, usable in any scenario.
I believe this inference is too quick.
Public visibility does not equal public availability for all use cases; the ability to download does not imply a general product support or lifecycle commitment.
II. Why I Believe EulerOS Should Not Be Treated as a “Public General Distribution”
This is the central point I want to clarify.
1) EulerOS’s Public “Appearance” Doesn’t Resemble a Typical Commercial Distribution
A typical commercial distribution clearly communicates:
- Who it is;
- Who it’s for;
- Where the public download is;
- Its version lifecycle;
- Where security advisories, update notes, and support policies are published;
- How external customers can purchase, get support, or submit requests.
EulerOS’s public presence, however, looks more like scattered system capabilities embedded in various product contexts:
- Sometimes you see it in Huawei Cloud docs;
- Sometimes it’s the base OS for an enterprise product;
- Sometimes it’s part of an Ascend/AI ecosystem solution;
- Sometimes you even find its ISO on MindSpore-related sites.
This doesn’t indicate “extra openness”—it suggests that its distribution channels, product ownership, and support boundaries have not been unified and clearly communicated as an independent OS product.
2) Public Repositories Don’t Mean Public Support Boundaries
Yes, EulerOS’s software repositories are publicly accessible, and Huawei Cloud’s mirror system includes related content. But this doesn’t automatically imply:
Anyone can use it as a standard public distribution, and expect support paths similar to those of typical commercial distributions.
In reality, many software products offer publicly accessible repositories, local mirrors, or dependency sources. Being able to access a repo only means there’s a public distribution channel—not that the product has a unified external commitment.
3) The Presence of Public ISO Links on MindSpore’s Site Itself Reveals a Lack of Standardization
This point is crucial.
MindSpore is Huawei’s open-source AI framework and part of the Ascend AI stack and AI software ecosystem. It’s related to Huawei Cloud and Huawei’s enterprise business, but it’s not a brand dedicated to releasing general Linux distributions.
If an OS’s ISO download link is more easily found on the MindSpore site than on a clearly user-facing OS release portal, this suggests at least two things:
- EulerOS’s public distribution boundary is not designed around an “independent OS product.”
- It’s more like a system provisioned incidentally within specific products, hardware, AI ecosystems, or solutions.
This leads to my key judgment:
Just because you can find an EulerOS ISO online doesn’t mean you should deploy it as a general-purpose public distribution.
Especially in forums, blogs, or chat groups, I strongly discourage anyone from recommending EulerOS simply because “I found a download link.”
III. What Does “Unless You’ve Read Huawei’s Documentation” Actually Mean?
This phrase isn’t meant to create mystery—it’s a practical, executable boundary judgment.
I’m not saying only internal employees can use it, nor that external users can never use it. Rather:
You Need “Complete Product Context”
You shouldn’t just have an ISO file in isolation. You should also have:
- Why this scenario requires EulerOS;
- Which products/hardware/components this version supports;
- The installation and upgrade path;
- Who is responsible for support if issues arise;
- The compatibility matrix with upper-layer software;
- Whether it must be used with a specific Huawei product or Ascend software stack.
Only in this context is EulerOS part of a solution—not a system you “picked up off the internet.”
So “reading the documentation” really means:
- You’ve been explicitly recommended to use it;
- You understand why it exists in your context;
- You know who supports it;
- You know who to contact if problems occur.
If these conditions aren’t met, I believe:
You’re not actually in EulerOS’s intended usage scenario.
At that point, treating EulerOS as an “alternative name” for openEuler—or as a “more commercial public version”—is likely to lead to misjudgment.
IV. Why I Say: On Huawei Cloud, Using HCE OS Instead of openEuler Is a Safer Choice
This conclusion is straightforward.
If you’re on Huawei Cloud, the question shouldn’t be “Should I use openEuler or look for an EulerOS to install?” A better question is:
What domestic distribution answer has Huawei Cloud already provided for cloud scenarios?
My answer: HCE OS is the more natural choice.
There are three main reasons.
1) Clearer Product Boundaries
HCE OS has clear documentation, a defined mirror entry point, and a well-articulated positioning on Huawei Cloud. For cloud users, this clarity matters more than “how closely related it is to openEuler.”
2) Support Chain Closer to the Cloud Platform
The biggest fear with cloud systems isn’t the lack of an ISO—it’s not being able to resolve issues. HCE OS’s value on Huawei Cloud isn’t just that it’s “also an Euler-family OS,” but that it’s tightly integrated with platform support, image management, and cloud service compatibility.
3) It Was Designed to Replace CentOS / EulerOS
So if you’re already on Huawei Cloud and want a domestic distribution, there’s no need to look elsewhere. Prioritizing HCE OS is usually more reasonable than debating EulerOS.
This isn’t a rejection of openEuler—it’s a matter of prioritizing context.
V. Why I Say: Outside Huawei Cloud, Prioritize openEuler
This is again a matter of clarity in boundaries.
Outside Huawei Cloud—whether in on-premise data centers, labs, enterprise intranets, or other public clouds like Tencent Cloud or Alibaba Cloud—openEuler is better suited as the default choice than EulerOS.
The reasons are simple.
1) openEuler’s Community Identity Is Public and Stable
You know what it is, where to download it, where to find version notes, community governance, mirrors, and issue reporting. As a public distribution, its external comprehensibility far exceeds that of EulerOS.
2) Standardized Mirror and Ecosystem Pathways
Not only does the official site provide downloads and mirrors, but many public mirror sites, cloud providers, and ecosystem partners also offer openEuler mirrors or software repository mirrors. This means users aren’t dependent on ambiguous distribution channels or forum-shared download links.
3) It’s Suited for Public Discussion, Recommendation, and Reproducibility
When recommending a system on a forum, you’re not just recommending a name—you’re endorsing its access method, upgrade path, documentation links, support boundaries, and ecosystem expectations. openEuler is “publicly recommendable”; EulerOS usually isn’t.
So my advice remains simple:
- On Huawei Cloud: Prioritize HCE OS;
- Off Huawei Cloud: Prioritize openEuler;
- Only use EulerOS when explicitly required by Huawei product, delivery, or support documentation.
VI. What’s the Relationship Between Huawei Cloud, Huawei Enterprise, and MindSpore?
Many people get confused by domains and websites.
1) huaweicloud.com: Huawei Cloud’s Public Entry Point
This hosts cloud services, products, documentation, images, and OS descriptions. HCE OS appearing here is natural—it’s Huawei Cloud’s native OS solution.
2) e.huawei.com: Huawei Enterprise Business’s Public Portal
This focuses on enterprise ICT products, industry solutions, enterprise software, hardware, delivery systems, and customer support. Many users encounter EulerOS here when dealing with products like eSight or NCE.
Thus, EulerOS often functions more as a system base for certain Huawei enterprise products—not a standalone public distribution.
3) MindSpore: Huawei’s Open-Source AI Framework and Part of the Ascend Ecosystem
MindSpore is not a “nickname for Huawei Cloud” or “a branch of enterprise business.” It’s more like an open community and technical gateway within Huawei’s AI ecosystem, connected to Ascend hardware, AI frameworks, training/inference toolchains, and cloud services.
Technically, it’s understandable that MindSpore’s site includes OS-related content. But from a product boundary perspective, publicly offering EulerOS ISOs still risks misleading external users into thinking EulerOS is a general-purpose, widely usable public distribution.
That’s why I find this situation “a bit odd”:
- Technically, it’s not impossible;
- But product boundaries are unclear;
- It easily leads users without context to incorrect conclusions.
VII. Don’t Assume EulerOS and openEuler Are Like Ubuntu and Debian
This is the key takeaway I hope forum readers remember.
Many people, seeing similar names, shared lineage, and Huawei ties, instinctively apply familiar models:
- Debian ↔ Ubuntu;
- Fedora ↔ RHEL;
- Upstream ↔ Commercial downstream;
- Community edition ↔ Enterprise edition.
But I believe it’s inappropriate to assume this relationship exists between EulerOS and openEuler without clear product documentation and support context.
Why? Because such analogies assume:
- Clear public boundaries for downstream products;
- Clear public download channels;
- Clear lifecycle and security announcements;
- Clear support paths for external users;
- No risk of misaligned expectations when recommending.
EulerOS does not present itself this way.
It’s more like:
- Very legitimate in certain contexts;
- Critically important within specific Huawei product ecosystems;
- Reasonable in certain compatibility and delivery matrices;
- But not an object that can be casually recommended as a “general-purpose, public Euler-family distribution” outside these contexts.
VIII. A More Practical Recommendation
To avoid endless conceptual debates, I make my suggestions as concrete as possible.
Scenario 1: You’re on Huawei Cloud and want a domestic distribution
Recommendation: Prioritize HCE OS.
Not out of loyalty—but because its boundaries and support are clearest. On the cloud, the first priority isn’t “how closely related it is to upstream,” but “is it the platform’s native, maintainable answer?”
Scenario 2: You’re not on Huawei Cloud but want a domestic distribution
Recommendation: Prioritize openEuler.
Simple reason: public, clear, accessible, reproducible, community-driven. Whether self-hosted or on another public cloud, openEuler is the better default.
Scenario 3: You’re using a Huawei enterprise product, Ascend hardware, AI solution, or delivery project
Recommendation: Follow the documentation strictly.
If the documentation explicitly requires or recommends EulerOS, use it—because you’re not using an abstract OS, but a component vetted for compatibility and supported within a specific solution.
Scenario 4: You just found an EulerOS download link online
Recommendation: Don’t decide to deploy EulerOS based on that alone.
Ask first:
- What product context does this link belong to?
- Who is it for?
- Who supports it?
- Why isn’t openEuler or HCE OS recommended instead?
- Do you have full documentation and support paths?
If you can’t answer these, you likely shouldn’t prioritize EulerOS in this scenario.
IX. How Should We Discuss This in the openEuler Forum?
I believe the forum should avoid two kinds of oversimplification.
One oversimplification is:
“EulerOS isn’t public, so we shouldn’t mention it at all.”
That’s incorrect. EulerOS clearly exists and has real value in certain Huawei products, Huawei Cloud, Ascend ecosystems, and enterprise delivery contexts.
The other oversimplification is:
“I found the ISO online, so everyone can use it as a commercial version of openEuler.”
This is even worse. Being able to find it doesn’t mean it should be broadly recommended.
If we’re discussing this in the openEuler forum, the most responsible stance is:
- openEuler is the public upstream community;
- HCE OS is the clearer, more defined downstream cloud solution for Huawei Cloud;
- EulerOS depends heavily on specific product documentation, delivery context, and support boundaries;
- For general users, EulerOS should not be treated as a freely interchangeable public alternative to openEuler.
X. My Conclusion
I summarize the entire article in a few sentences.
First, openEuler, HCE OS, and EulerOS each have distinct roles—they should not be conflated.
Second, on Huawei Cloud, prioritizing HCE OS over EulerOS is a more natural and safer choice.
Third, off Huawei Cloud, prioritize openEuler—because it’s the only one truly public, clear, and suitable for general recommendation.
Fourth, unless you’ve reviewed Huawei’s documentation and are in a clearly defined product, hardware, delivery, or support context, you should not treat EulerOS as a general-purpose public distribution elsewhere.
Fifth, outside of this context, the relationship between EulerOS and openEuler should not be seen as that between Ubuntu and Debian.
I believe clarifying these points serves not only to help ordinary users avoid pitfalls, but also to respect the real boundaries of different upstreams, downstreams, product lines, and support systems.
If someone asks in the forum in the future: “I want to use an Euler-family system—how should I choose?” My answer will be simple:
- On Huawei Cloud: Check HCE OS first;
- Off Huawei Cloud: Check openEuler first;
- Only consider EulerOS if explicitly required by documentation.
This is far more reliable than grabbing an EulerOS ISO from the web and imagining it’s a “more mysterious and advanced public version” of openEuler.