After the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6, many enterprise-focused Linux distributions such as AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux have received updates; all reaching version 8.6. Oracle has also announced the release of Oracle Linux 8.6, one week after the release of RHEL 8.6.
Comes with many package updates
The new version of Oracle Linux has landed for x86_64 and ARM-based systems. Oracle Linux 8.6 comes with Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel Release 6 (UEK R6), which is based on mainline Linux Kernel 5.4, on fresh installations. The highlights of the release are the support for drop-in configuration files to OpenSSH servers and Policy-Based Decryption for automated unlocking of LUKS-encrypted drives. The remaining changes of Oracle Linux 8.6 are listed below:
Software management
- modulesync. This command is used to ensure the presence of modular metadata and facilitate the module installation when modular metadata is not available. The command downloads rpm packages from modules and then creates a repository with modular metadata inside a working directory.
Shell and command-line tools
- lsvpd updated to version 1.7.13.
- net-snmp-cert gencert. The net-snmp-cert gencert utility has been updated to generate certificates by using SHA512 encryption algorithm. This change provides increased security.
- opencryptoki updated to version 3.17.0.
- New capability for excluding certain network interfaces and IP addresses when creating a rescue image. The EXCLUDE_IP_ADDRESSES variable enables you to ignore certain IP addresses, and the EXCLUDE_NETWORK_INTERFACES variable enables you to ignore certain network interfaces when creating a rescue image.
Compilers and development toolsets
- GCC Toolset updated to version 11.2
- Rust Toolset updated to version 1.58.1
- LLVM Toolset updated to version 13.0.1
- PCP updated to version 5.3.5
- Grafana updated to version 7.5.11
Dynamic programming languages
- php:8.0 module stream added. This new module stream provides several bug fixes and enhancements over the 7.4 version.
- Perl 5.32 module stream added. This new module stream includes some bug fixes and enhancements over Perl version 5.30, which was distributed in Oracle Linux 8.3.
Infrastructure services
- bind updated to version 9.16.23. The bind component version 9.16.23 is introduced as an alternative to the existing 9.11.36 version.
- nginx-mod-devel package added to nginx:1.20 module stream. This package includes all of the necessary files for building external dynamic modules for nginx.
Networking
- NetworkManager updated to version 1.36.0.
- improved nftables framework. In this release, you can count packets that match specific criteria with a dynamic set and elements with attached counters.
- Restoring large nftables sets requires significantly less memory.
Security
- Audit updated to version 3.0.7.
- fapolicyd framework updated to version 1.1, includes the ability to use the new rules.d/ and trust.d/ directories in the fagenrules script.
- Libcap updated to version 2.48.
- Libreswan updated to version 4.5.
- libseccomp updated to version 2.5.2.
- Libssh updated to version 0.9.6, includes support for diffie-hellman-group14-sha256 provided in crypto policies and for drop-in configuration files. This change makes it easier to apply system-specific configurations on OpenSSH servers by using automation tools, including Oracle Linux Automation Manager and Engine; this new enhancement also provides the option to use different configuration files for different uses.
- pcsc-lite updated to version 1.9.5.
- New checksum option has been added to the semodule command for verifying installed versions of SELinux policy modules.
- SCAP Security Guide updated to version 0.1.60.
- OpenSCAP packages updated to version 1.3.6.
Download Oracle Linux 8.6
You can follow the link below to download the suitable Oracle Linux 8.6 ISO file for your system:
| Release | Full ISO | Boot ISO | UEK boot ISO | Source ISO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | OracleLinux-R8-U6-x86_64-dvd.iso | OL8U6 x86_64-boot.iso | OL8U6 x86_64-boot-uek.iso | OracleLinux-R8-U6-src-dvd.iso |
FAQ
What is the latest version of Oracle Linux?
The latest version in Oracle Linux 8 series is 8.7, and in the 9 series is 9.1.
How do you update Oracle Linux?
To update Oracle Linux, you can use the "yum" package manager. Before you begin, it is important to backup your important data, and also make sure your system is fully up-to-date by running "yum update". Then, open a terminal and run the command "sudo yum update" to begin the update process. This command will update the system and download and install the new packages. You can also use "yum update-minimal" command to update the system with only security updates and important bug fixes.
How do you upgrade Oracle Linux?
To upgrade Oracle Linux, you can use the "yum" package manager. Run the command "sudo yum upgrade" after making sure your system is fully updated with "sudo yum update". It's also recommended to review the release notes of the new version you are upgrading to, to know about any new features, and to ensure that any third-party software you are using is compatible with the new version. Remember to backup important data before upgrading.
Is Oracle Linux free?
Oracle Linux is available for free as an open-source operating system, but there are additional features and support options that may require a paid subscription. The basic version is free to download, install and use for both personal and commercial purposes.
Is Oracle Linux good for servers?
Oracle Linux is considered a good option for servers, as it is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, which is known for its reliability and stability. Oracle Linux also offers many enterprise-grade features such as support for large-scale deployments, advanced security, and performance-enhancing technologies.
Is Oracle Linux the same as RHEL?
Oracle Linux is similar to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) in many ways, as it is based on the same codebase and has many of the same features. While Oracle Linux and RHEL are similar, they are different distributions and are maintained by different companies.
Is Oracle Linux the same as CentOS?
Oracle Linux and CentOS are both based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), but there are some key differences between the two. Oracle Linux is developed and maintained by Oracle Corporation, while CentOS is developed and maintained by a community of volunteers. Oracle Linux is also available as a commercial distribution, which means that it includes additional features such as support and certifications that are not available in the community edition of CentOS. Additionally, Oracle Linux provides its own set of software repositories and yum channels, and it uses a different package-naming convention.
Who uses Oracle Linux?
Oracle Linux is primarily used by businesses, organizations, and IT professionals, who need a stable, reliable, and enterprise-grade Linux distribution. Companies that have large-scale deployments and rely heavily on Oracle databases and other enterprise applications, often use Oracle Linux as it is optimized to run these types of software.
Does Oracle Linux have a GUI?
Yes, Oracle Linux does have a GUI (Graphical User Interface) available. The default desktop environment for Oracle Linux is GNOME, which is a popular and widely used open-source desktop environment. Oracle Linux also supports other GUI options such as KDE Plasma and Xfce, which can be installed as an alternative.
Does Oracle Linux have a package manager?
Yes, Oracle Linux has a package manager called yum, which stands for "Yellowdog Updater Modified." Yum is a command-line tool that allows users to easily install, update, and remove software packages on their systems.
Can Oracle Linux be installed on a virtual machine?
Yes, Oracle Linux 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 Oracle Linux 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 Oracle Linux on VMWare, you can refer to our article: How to create VM and install a Linux distro on VMWare Workstation