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Rocky Linux

{{short description|Operating system by Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation}}

{{Infobox OS

| name = Rocky Linux

| logo = Rocky Linux wordmark.svg

| logo size =

| logo caption =

| logo alt =

| screenshot = File:Rocky Linux 9.5 screenshot.png

| caption = Rocky Linux 9.5, showing its desktop environment GNOME 40.

| screenshot_alt = Rocky Linux 9.5, showing its desktop environment GNOME 40.

| collapsible =

| developer = Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation

| family = Linux (Unix-like)

| working state = Current

| source model = Open source

| released = {{Start date and age|2021|05|01|df=yes}}

| latest_release_version = {{multiple releases

| branch1 = 9:

| version1 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q104102686|P348|P548=Q2804309}}

| date1 = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q104102686|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}

| branch2 = 8:

| version2 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q104102686|P348|P548=Q6736813}}

| date2 = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q104102686|P348|P548=Q6736813|P577}}}}

}}

| repo = {{URL|https://git.rockylinux.org/}}

| marketing target = Desktop computers, servers, supercomputers

| language =

| language count =

| language footnote =

| package manager = RPM (DNF), Flatpak — graphical front-ends: GNOME Software, dnfdragora

| supported platforms = x86-64-v2, ARM64, ppc64le, s390x

| kernel type = Monolithic (Linux)

| userland = GNU

| ui = GNOME Shell, Bash

| license = 3-clause BSD and various free software licenses, plus proprietary firmware files

| preceded by = CentOS

| succeeded by =

| website = {{official URL|https://rockylinux.org/}}

}}

Rocky Linux is a Linux distribution developed by Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation, which is a privately owned benefit corporation that describes itself as a "self-imposed not-for-profit".{{cite web | url=https://rockylinux.org/about/charter | title=RESF Foundation Charter & Bylaws | Rocky Linux | access-date=2024-05-24 | archive-date=2024-05-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524162200/https://rockylinux.org/about/charter | url-status=live }} It is intended to be a downstream, complete binary-compatible release using the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) operating system source code.{{Cite web|last=Tim Anderson|title=Rocky Linux is go: CentOS founder's new project aims to be 100% compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux|url=https://www.theregister.com/2020/12/10/rocky_linux/|access-date=2020-12-17|website=www.theregister.com|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210153249/https://www.theregister.com/2020/12/10/rocky_linux/|url-status=live}} The project's aim is to provide a community-supported, production-grade enterprise operating system. Rocky Linux, along with RHEL and SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE), has become popular for enterprise operating system use.{{Cite web|last=Tung|first=Liam|title=CentOS replacement Rocky Linux 8.4 arrives, and proves instantly popular|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/centos-replacement-rocky-linux-8-4-arrives-and-proves-instantly-popular/|access-date=2022-01-20|website=ZDNet|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129112720/https://www.zdnet.com/article/centos-replacement-rocky-linux-8-4-arrives-and-proves-instantly-popular/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Tim Anderson|title=Rocky Linux release attracts 80,000 downloads as ex-CentOS users mull choices|url=https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/02/rocky_linux_80000_downloads/|access-date=2022-01-20|website=www.theregister.com|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120002152/https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/02/rocky_linux_80000_downloads/|url-status=live}}

The first release candidate version of Rocky Linux was released on April 30, 2021, and its first general availability version was released on June 21, 2021. Rocky Linux 8 will be supported through May 2029{{cite web|url=https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/what-is-eol-of-rl8/3316/3|title="What is EOL of RL8"|publisher=Brian Clemens|date=June 30, 2021|access-date=August 5, 2021|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025205539/https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/what-is-eol-of-rl8/3316/3|url-status=live}} and Rocky Linux 9 through May 2032.{{cite web | url=https://rockylinux.org/download/ | title=Download Rocky | Rocky Linux | access-date=2023-06-02 | archive-date=2023-07-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705103256/https://rockylinux.org/download/ | url-status=live }}

History

On December 8, 2020, Red Hat announced that they would discontinue development of CentOS, which had been a production-ready downstream version of RHEL, in favor of a newer upstream development variant of that operating system known as CentOS Stream.{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/red-hat-resets-centos-linux-and-users-are-angry/ |title=Red Hat resets CentOS Linux and users are angry |author=Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. |publisher=ZDNet |date=December 9, 2020 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409034310/https://www.zdnet.com/article/red-hat-resets-centos-linux-and-users-are-angry/ |url-status=live }} In response, Gregory Kurtzer, CEO of CIQ{{cite web |title=CIQ Rocky Linux |url=https://ciq.co/products/rocky-linux/ |website=CIQ.co |date=7 September 2022 |access-date=20 February 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413163531/https://ciq.co/products/rocky-linux/ |url-status=live }} (a Rocky Linux support provider) and one of the original founders of CentOS, announced that he would start a new project to achieve the original goals of CentOS.{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/goodbye-centos-hello-rocky-linux/ |title=Goodbye CentOS, hello Rocky Linux |author=Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. |publisher=ZDNet |date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420021400/https://www.zdnet.com/article/goodbye-centos-hello-rocky-linux/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/12/centos-shifts-from-red-hat-unbranded-to-red-hat-beta |title=CentOS Linux is dead—and Red Hat says Stream is "not a replacement" |author=Salter, Jim |publisher=Ars Technica |date=December 10, 2020 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210133117/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/12/centos-shifts-from-red-hat-unbranded-to-red-hat-beta |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://fossbytes.com/centos-8-about-to-die-creator-new-rocky-linux |title=With CentOS 8 About To Die, Its Creator Gives Birth To Rocky Linux |author=Kumar, Sarvottam |publisher=Fossbytes |date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214011831/https://fossbytes.com/centos-8-about-to-die-creator-new-rocky-linux |url-status=live }} Its name was chosen as a tribute to early CentOS co-founder Rocky McGaugh. By December 12, the code repository{{cite web |url=https://github.com/rocky-linux/rocky |title=GitHub - Rocky Linux |publisher=GitHub |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210191639/https://github.com/rocky-linux/rocky |url-status=live }} of Rocky Linux had become the top-trending repository on GitHub.{{cite web |url=https://github.com/trending |title=GitHub: Trending |publisher=GitHub |date=December 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212220049/https://github.com/trending |access-date=December 12, 2020|archive-date=2020-12-12 }}

On December 22, 2020, Rocky Linux community manager Jordan Pisaniello announced that the target for an initial release was anywhere between March and May of 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/rocky-linux-first-release-is-coming-in-q2-2021-say-developers/ |title=Rocky Linux: First release is coming in Q2 2021 say developers |author=Tung, Liam |publisher=ZDNet |date=December 24, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2021}} On January 20, 2021, it was announced that a test repository would be made available to the public by the end of February, and a release candidate was on target for the end of March 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Rocky-Linux-Aiming-For-Q2 |title=Rocky Linux Making Progress Towards Their First Release In Q2 As A Free RHEL Alternative |author=Larabel, Michael |publisher=Phoronix |date=January 20, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121223223/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item |url-status=live }} However, that date was slightly pushed back,{{Cite web|date=2021-03-31|title=Community Update - March 2021|url=https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/community-update-march-2021/2232|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Rocky Linux Discourse|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629154554/https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/community-update-march-2021/2232|url-status=live}} and on April 30, 2021, the first release candidate was officially released.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-30|title=Rocky Linux 8.3 RC1 Available Now|url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-3-rc1-release/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=Rocky Linux|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011121804/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-3-rc1-release/|url-status=live}} The second release candidate, of version 8.4, the last before the stable release, was released on June 4, 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-04|title=Rocky Linux 8.4 RC1 Available Now|url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-4-rc1-release/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Rocky Linux|language=en|archive-date=2022-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509224812/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-4-rc1-release/|url-status=live}} The high version number is based on the designation of RHEL. Rocky Linux is a clone of RHEL, which is also binary-compatible and is already supported by numerous large, financially strong sponsors.{{Cite web |title=Sponsors |url=https://rockylinux.org/sponsors |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=Rocky Linux |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705153436/https://rockylinux.org/sponsors/ |url-status=live }} On June 21, 2021, the stable release of Rocky Linux 8.4 was released,{{Cite web|date=2021-06-21|title=Rocky Linux 8.4 Available Now|url=https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-linux-8-4-available-now/3015/1|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Rocky Linux|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628052414/https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-linux-8-4-available-now/3015/1|url-status=live}} with the code name "Green Obsidian".{{Cite web |url=https://git.rockylinux.org/original/rpms/rocky-release/-/blob/r8/code |title=rocky-release code |author=Abel, Louis |date=2021-05-24 |website=Rocky Linux GitLab Server |access-date=2021-05-24 |archive-date=2023-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517075644/https://git.rockylinux.org/original/rpms/rocky-release/-/blob/r8/code |url-status=live }}

Rocky Linux 9.0 was released on July 14, 2022, alongside a new reproducible build system called "Peridot", created to ensure the community can easily create new RHEL forks if Rocky Linux ever were to be discontinued, and to allow the Rocky Linux project to make new releases faster.{{Cite web |last=Krill |first=Paul |date=2022-07-14 |title=Rocky Linux 9.0 rocks new build system |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3667308/rocky-linux-90-rocks-new-build-system.html |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=InfoWorld |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717061641/https://www.infoworld.com/article/3667308/rocky-linux-90-rocks-new-build-system.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Rocky Linux 9 arrives with everything you need to replicate the distro on your own |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/rocky-linux-9-arrives-with-everything-you-need-to-replicate-the-distro-on-your-own/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=ZDNet |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717075010/https://www.zdnet.com/article/rocky-linux-9-arrives-with-everything-you-need-to-replicate-the-distro-on-your-own/ |url-status=live }} Rocky Linux 9.0 is also the first version to support little-endian PowerPC processors and IBM Z (s390x) mainframes.{{Cite web |title=Current Release 9.0 - Documentation |url=https://docs.rockylinux.org/release_notes/9_0/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=docs.rockylinux.org |archive-date=2022-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717081451/https://docs.rockylinux.org/release_notes/9_0/ |url-status=live }}

Releases

Some of the ISO images released by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation have no direct upstream equivalents. They are created for specific purposes, such as for providing a live bootable image, or for providing a reduced-size installation medium.{{cite web |title=installing rocky linux guide |first=Bangar |last=John |url=https://thelinuxterminal.com/install-rocky-linux-8/ |location=London |access-date=2021-08-16 |archive-date=2023-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513035659/https://thelinuxterminal.com/install-rocky-linux-8/ |url-status=live }}

class="wikitable collapsible sortable"

! scope="col" | Rocky Linux version

! scope="col" | Code Name

! scope="col" | Architectures

! scope="col" | RHEL base

! scope="col" | Kernel

! scope="col" style="min-width: 9em;" | Rocky Linux release date

! scope="col" style="min-width: 9em;" | RHEL release date

! scope="col" | Delay (days)

scope="row" {{Version|o|8.3}}

| rowspan="8" | Green Obsidian

| rowspan="8" | x86-64, ARM64

| 8.3

| 4.18.0-240

| 2021-05-01{{Cite web |url=https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-linux-8-3-rc1-available-now/2393 |title=Rocky Linux 8.3 RC1 Available Now |author=jorp |date=2021-05-01 |website=forums.rockylinux.org |access-date=2021-05-01 |archive-date=2023-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524044143/https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-linux-8-3-rc1-available-now/2393 |url-status=live }}

| 2020-11-03{{Cite web |url=https://access.redhat.com/articles/3078 |title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Release Dates |date=17 May 2023 |publisher=Red Hat |access-date=21 June 2021 |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120224845/https://access.redhat.com/articles/3078 |url-status=live }}

| 179{{refn|group=note|Rocky Linux was announced {{Start date|2020|12|8|df=yes}}, first beta release was 143 days later.}}

scope="row" {{Version|o|8.4}}

| 8.4

| 4.18.0-305

| 2021-06-21{{Cite web |url=https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-linux-8-4-available-now/3015 |title=Rocky Linux 8.4 Available Now |author=jorp |date=2021-05-26 |website=forums.rockylinux.org |access-date=2021-06-21 |archive-date=2022-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110193535/https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-linux-8-4-available-now/3015 |url-status=live }}

| 2021-05-18

| 34

scope="row" {{Version|o|8.5}}

| 8.5

| 4.18.0-348

| 2021-11-15{{Cite web |url=https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-linux-8-5-available-now/4561 |title=Rocky Linux 8.5 Available Now |author=nazunalika |date=2021-11-15 |website=forums.rockylinux.org |access-date=2021-11-16 |archive-date=2021-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116023222/https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-linux-8-5-available-now/4561 |url-status=live }}

| 2021-11-09

| 6

scope="row" {{Version|o|8.6}}

| 8.6

| 4.18.0-372.9.1

| 2022-05-16{{Cite web |url=https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-linux-8-6-available-now/6056 |title=Rocky Linux 8.6 Available Now |author=nazunalika |date=2022-05-16 |website=forums.rockylinux.org |access-date=2022-05-16}}

|2022-05-10

| 6

scope="row" {{Version|o|8.7}}

|8.7

|4.18.0-425.3.1

|2022-11-14{{Cite web|url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-7-ga-release/|title=Rocky Linux 8.7 Available Now|date=2022-11-14|access-date=2022-11-16|archive-date=2022-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209193909/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-7-ga-release/|url-status=live}}

|2022-11-09

|5

scope="row" {{Version|o|8.8}}

|8.8

|4.18.0-477.10.1

|2023-05-20{{Cite web|url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-8-ga-release/|title=Rocky Linux 8.8 Available Now|date=2023-05-20|access-date=2023-05-22|archive-date=2023-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519195622/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-8-ga-release/|url-status=live}}

|2023-05-16

|4

scope="row" {{Version|o|8.9}}

|8.9

|4.18.0-513.5.1

|2023-11-22{{Cite web|url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-9-ga-release/|title=Rocky Linux 8.9 Available Now|date=2023-11-22|access-date=2023-11-23|archive-date=2024-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501123340/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-9-ga-release|url-status=live}}

|2023-11-14

|8

scope="row" {{Version|co|8.10}}

|8.10

|4.18.0-553

|2024-05-30{{Cite web|url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-8-10-ga-release|title=Rocky Linux 8.10 Available Now|date=2024-05-30|access-date=2024-06-03|archive-date=2022-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802080802/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-0-ga-release|url-status=live}}

|2024-05-22

|8

scope="row" {{Version|o|9.0}}

| rowspan="7" | Blue Onyx

| rowspan="7" | x86-64-v2, ARM64, ppc64le, s390x

| 9.0

| 5.14.0-70.13.1

| 2022-07-14{{Cite web |url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-0-ga-release/ |title=Rocky Linux 9.0 Available Now |author=Rocky Linux team |date=2022-07-14 |website=rockylinux.org |access-date=2022-07-14 |archive-date=2022-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802080802/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-0-ga-release |url-status=live }}

| 2022-05-17

| 58

scope="row" {{Version|o|9.1}}

| 9.1

| 5.14.0-162.6.1

| 2022-11-26{{Cite web |url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-1-ga-release/ |title=Rocky Linux 9.1 Available Now |author=Rocky Linux team |date=2022-11-27 |website=rockylinux.org |access-date=2022-11-27 |archive-date=2022-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209010721/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-1-ga-release/ |url-status=live }}

| 2022-11-15

| 11

scope="row" {{Version|o|9.2}}

| 9.2

| 5.14.0-284.11.1

| 2023-05-16{{Cite web |url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-2-ga-release/ |title=Rocky Linux 9.2 Available Now |author=Rocky Linux team |date=2023-05-16 |website=rockylinux.org |access-date=2023-05-16 |archive-date=2023-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517032718/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-2-ga-release/ |url-status=live }}

| 2023-05-10

| 6

scope="row" {{Version|o|9.3}}

| 9.3

| 5.14.0-362.8.1

| 2023-11-20{{Cite web |url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-3-ga-release/ |title=Rocky Linux 9.3 Available Now |author=Rocky Linux team |date=2023-11-20 |website=rockylinux.org |access-date=2023-11-21 |archive-date=2024-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501123848/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-3-ga-release |url-status=live }}

| 2023-11-07

| 13

scope="row" {{Version|o|9.4}}

| 9.4

| 5.14.0-427.13.1

| 2024-05-09{{Cite web |url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-4-ga-release |title=Rocky Linux 9.4 Available Now |author=Rocky Linux team |date=2024-05-09 |website=rockylinux.org |access-date=2024-05-12 |archive-date=2024-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517125743/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-4-ga-release |url-status=live }}

| 2024-04-30

| 9

scope="row" {{Version|o|9.5}}

| 9.5

| 5.14.0-503.14.1

| 2024-11-19{{Cite web |url=https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-5-ga-release |title=Rocky Linux 9.5 Available Now |author=Rocky Linux team |date=2024-11-19 |website=rockylinux.org |access-date=2024-11-19 |archive-date=2025-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130110329/https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-5-ga-release |url-status=live }}

| 2024-11-12

| 7

scope="row" {{Version|c|9.6}}

| 9.6

| 5.14.0-570.17.1

| 2025-06-04{{cite web

|date = 2025-06-04

|title = Rocky Linux 9.6 Available Now

|url = https://rockylinux.org/news/rocky-linux-9-6-ga-release

|website = rockylinux.org

|access-date = 2025-06-06

}}

| 2025-05-20

| 15

colspan="9" | {{Version |l |show=111100}}

See also

{{Portal bar|Linux|Free and open-source software}}

Notes and references

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

External links

{{commonscat}}

{{wikinews|Gregory Kurtzer discusses plans for Rocky Linux with Wikinews as Red Hat announces moving focus away from CentOS}}

  • {{official website}}
  • {{DistroWatch|rockylinux|NAME=Rocky Linux}}

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