The AlmaLinux OS Foundation announced that the stable release of AlmaLinux OS 8.6 for the x86_64, aarch64, and ppc64le architectures are now ready for production installations. The AlmaLinux team also stated that Live Images, Raspberry Pi, Cloud, and Container images updates are in process too and will be available soon.
What’s new?
AlmaLinux OS 8.6 Stable comes with web console enhancements. AlmaLinux OS 8.6 also offers new System Roles that make it easier for system administrators. The new release also includes the upstream versions for the SCAP Security Guide, OpenSCAP, and other packages among other improvements.
- Added new module streams:
- PHP 8.0
- Perl 5.32
- log4j 2
- container-tools 4.0
- Added new repositories:
- Real Time (RT)
- Real Time for NFV (NFV)
- Compiler updates:
- GCC Toolset 11
- LLVM Toolset 13.0.1
- Rust Toolset 1.58.1
- Go Toolset 1.17.7
- Added drop-in configuration files support to OpenSSH
- Added –checksum option to the semodule command to verify the versions of installed SELinux policy modules
Download AlmaLinux 8.6
The latest version can be downloaded from the nearest mirror.
| Architecture | Download |
|---|---|
| x86_64 | 8.6 |
| aarch64 | 8.6 |
| ppc64le | 8.6 |
Installation
There are three installation ISO images:
AlmaLinux-8.6-x86_64-boot.iso – A single network installation CD image that downloads packages over the Internet.
AlmaLinux-8.6-x86_64-minimal.iso – A minimal self-containing DVD image that makes possible offline installation.
AlmaLinux-8.6-x86_64-dvd.iso – A full installation DVD image that contains mostly all AlmaLinux packages.
To update your AlmaLinux OS 8.5 Stable to 8.6:
$ dnf upgrade -yTo upgrade from the 8.6 Beta Release run the same command twice:
$ dnf upgrade -yFAQ
What are the latest AlmaLinux versions?
The latest version in AlmaLinux 8 series is 8.7 "Stone Smilodon" which was released on 10 November 2022, and in 9 series is 9.1 "Lime Lynx" released on 16 November 2022.
How long will AlmaLinux be supported?
AlmaLinux 8.X versions will be supported until 2029 and AlmaLinux 9.X versions will be supported until 2032.
Is AlmaLinux free?
Yes, AlmaLinux is a completely free and open-source Linux distribution.
Is AlmaLinux lightweight?
Yes, AlmaLinux is a lightweight and strong enterprise-focused Linux distribution.
Who owns AlmaLinux?
AlmaLinux is a community-driven Linux operating system. The AlmaLinux OS Foundation is a non-profit organization created for the benefit of the AlmaLinux OS community.
Is AlmaLinux same as RHEL?
Yes, AlmaLinux is an RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) fork and is 1:1 binary compatible with it.
Is AlmaLinux same as CentOS?
Yes, AlmaLinux is one of the best CentOS alternatives and is 1:1 binary compatible with its pre-Stream version.
Is AlmaLinux good for servers?
AlmaLinux is an enterprise-focused Linux distribution that delivers a variety of tools for use on servers.
Does AlmaLinux have a desktop environment?
Yes, AlmaLinux has a desktop environment. It comes with GNOME by default. You can install any other desktop environments according to your needs.
Can AlmaLinux be installed on a virtual machine?
Yes, AlmaLinux can be installed on a virtual machine. A virtual machine (VM) allows you to run an operating system within another operating system. This means that you can install AlmaLinux on a virtual machine and run it on top of your current operating system, without the need to replace it or partition your hard drive. To install AlmaLinux on VMWare, you can refer to our article: How to create VM and install a Linux distro on VMWare Workstation