Rocky Linux
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Introduction:
Rocky Linux is a free, open-source, community-driven enterprise Linux distribution designed to be a downstream, binary-compatible alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
It was created after Red Hat announced that CentOS Linux would no longer be a downstream rebuild of RHEL (CentOS Stream became upstream). This left a gap for organizations and users who needed a stable, production-grade, long-term supported OS.
Rocky Linux was founded by Gregory Kurtzer, one of the original co-founders of CentOS.
Key Features of Rocky Linux:
- RHEL Compatibility
- 100% bug-for-bug compatible with RHEL.
- Can serve as a drop-in replacement for CentOS and RHEL in most environments.
- Stability & Enterprise-Grade
- Focuses on long-term support (10 years with security updates).
- Prioritizes reliability over frequent feature changes.
- Community-Driven Governance
- Developed and maintained by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF).
- Transparent decision-making and open governance.
- Security & Updates
- Regular security patches.
- Uses errata system similar to RHEL for tracking updates.
- Migration Tools
migrate2rockyscript allows seamless migration from CentOS, RHEL, AlmaLinux, or Oracle Linux.
- Wide Use Cases
- Enterprise servers, cloud infrastructure, virtualization, web hosting, scientific computing (HPC), and containers.
Rocky Linux Versions:
| Version | Release Date | Based on RHEL | End of Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 8.3 | April 2021 | RHEL 8.3 | May 2029 |
| Rocky Linux 8.4 | June 2021 | RHEL 8.4 | May 2029 |
| Rocky Linux 8.5 | November 2021 | RHEL 8.5 | May 2029 |
| Rocky Linux 9.0 | July 2022 | RHEL 9.0 | May 2032 |
| Rocky Linux 9.1 | November 2022 | RHEL 9.1 | May 2032 |
| Rocky Linux 9.2 | May 2023 | RHEL 9.2 | May 2032 |
| Rocky Linux 9.3 | November 2023 | RHEL 9.3 | May 2032 |
| Rocky Linux 9.4 | May 2024 | RHEL 9.4 | May 2032 |
As of 2025, the latest stable release is Rocky Linux 9.4.
Rocky Linux vs. AlmaLinux vs. CentOS Stream:
| Feature | Rocky Linux | AlmaLinux | CentOS Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governance | Community-driven (RESF) | Community-driven (CloudLinux sponsor) | Red Hat controlled |
| Compatibility | 1:1 RHEL | 1:1 RHEL | Rolling preview of RHEL |
| Best for | Enterprises, production | Enterprises, production | Developers, testing |
| Support | Community, vendors | Community + CloudLinux | Red Hat ecosystem |
In short: Rocky Linux is what CentOS used to be—a stable, free, enterprise-grade RHEL clone with long-term support.