Approximately three weeks after the release of the 8.6 version, Oracle Linux 9 Developer Preview is released. This release is based on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9, which also has been released at about the same time as Oracle Linux 8.6.
Offers two kernel choices
Oracle Linux 9 Developer Preview comes with many new features and improvements. The Developer Preview version comes with both the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (kernel-uek-5.15.0-0.23.1.el9uek) and Red Hat Compatible Kernel (kernel-5.14.0-1.7.1.el9) packages.
It brings automatic network activation in the graphical installation interface and locks the root account by default. On the kernel side, the RHCK kernel is now signed with trusted SecureBoot certificates which eliminate the need to enroll a separate public key while UEFI Secure Boot is enabled. The compilers’ and development tools’ package versions can be seen below:
- System toolchain components
- GCC 11.2.1
- glibc 2.34
- binutils 2.35.2
- Performance tools and debuggers
- GDB 10.2
- Valgrind 3.18.1
- SystemTap 4.6
- Dyninst 11.0.0
- elfutils 0.186
- Performance monitoring tools
- PCP 5.3.5
- Grafana 7.5.11
- Compiler toolsets
- LLVM Toolset 13.0.1
- Rust Toolset 1.58.1
- Go Toolset 1.17.7
- python-jsonpointer is rebased to version 2.0
- grafana-pcp is rebased to 3.2.0
Oracle Linux 9 Developer Preview is shipped with GNOME 40 desktop environment and it replaces PulseAudio / Jack audio services with Pipewire. The file system options deliver some enhancements as well, and exFAT is now supported. The dynamic programming languages and web/database server-related packages are also updated, which can be seen below:
- Node.js 16
- Ruby 3.0.3
- Perl 5.32
- PHP 8.0
- Git 2.31 and Git LFS 2.13
- Subversion 1.14
- Apache HTTP Server 2.4.51
- nginx 1.20
- Varnish Cache 6.6
- Squid 5.2
- MySQL 8.0
- Redis 6.2
- MariaDB 10.5
- PostgreSQL 13
In addition to all of those, Oracle Linux 9 Developer Preview also avoids utilizing SHA-1 cryptography, just like RHEL 9. It also supports OpenSSL 3.0.1 and updates the SELinux policy for the current kernel version. There are many more features that Oracle Linux 9 Developer Preview delivers, which can be seen by following the link below:
Click here to read the full patch notes for Oracle Linux 9 Developer Preview
Oracle Linux 9 Developer Preview is not intended for use in a production environment. The content of the release is now distributed through the following repositories:
- Base OS Developer – Developer preview of Oracle Linux 9 BaseOS Packages
- AppStream Developer – Developer preview of Oracle Linux 9 Application Stream Packages
- CodeReady Builder Developer – Developer preview of Oracle Linux 9 CodeReady Builder Packages
- Developer Preview of UEK Release 7 – Developer preview of UEK Release 7 for Oracle Linux 9
You can also follow the link below to directly download the ISO files for fresh installations:
Click here to download Oracle Linux 9 Developer Preview
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