Oracle Linux 9.1 comes with new tools

• Oracle Linux 9 Update 1 for the 64-bit Intel and AMD (x86_64) and 64-bit Arm (aarch64) platforms is now generally available.
• Oracle Linux 9.1 includes the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel Release 7, which is based on the upstream Linux Kernel 5.15.
• The latest version of Oracle Linux comes with PHP 8.1, Ruby 3.1, Maven 3.8, and Node.js 18, and httpd has been rebased to version 2.4.53 and includes httpd-core package.

Oracle announced that Oracle Linux 9.1, the first of a series of updated releases for Oracle Linux 9, announced on June 30, 2022, is now available for the 64-bit Intel and AMD (x86_64) and 64-bit Arm (aarch64) platforms. Oracle Linux 9.1 comes with the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel Release 7, which is based on the upstream Linux Kernel 5.15 and supported on Oracle Linux 9 and Oracle Linux 8.

What’s new?

The latest version reintroduces Application Stream modules. It also includes bug and security fixes, and feature updates. The x86_64 ISO is packaged with the following kernel options:

• UEK R7, kernel-uek-5.15.0-3.60.5.1.el9uek.x86_64
• Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK), kernel-5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1.x86_64

The aarch64 ISO is packaged with the following kernel:

• UEK R7, kernel-uek-5.15.0-3.60.5.1.el9uek.aarch64

Oracle Linux 9.1’s most important changes are its security and development tools. Some of the security features are:

• OpenSSH supports setting the minimum RSA key length; this update enables you to set minimum RSA key lengths for OpenSSH servers and clients.
• crypto-policies enforce the OpenSSH 2048-bit RSA key length minimum by default; the system-wide cryptographic policies enforce the 2048-bit minimum key length for RSA by default. OpenSSH failing connections with an Invalid key length error message indicates that you need to use longer RSA keys.
• OpenSSL option supports SHA-1 for signatures; by default, OpenSSL 3.0 does not support SHA-1 for signature creation and verification. Backward compatibility with Oracle Linux 8 systems that still use SHA-1 for signatures can be achieved through the rh-allow-sha1-signatures configuration option.
• Keylime package is available; it is a tool for attestation of remote systems by using trusted platform module (TPM) technology.

UEK R7 continues to maintain and grant support for the btrfs file system with Oracle Linux. It also provides users with one of the most modern copy-on-write file systems for Linux.

• New module streams are available for the following:
  • PHP: 8.1
  • ruby: 3.1
  • maven: 3.8
  • nodejs: 18
• httpd has been rebased to version 2.4.53 and includes httpd-core package. This new package contains the httpd binary file with all essential files.

Download Oracle Linux 9.1

Oracle Linux 9.1’s Full ISO, Boot ISO, and UEK boot ISO can be downloaded from Oracle’s website.

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 install a Linux Distro on VMware Workstation