One of the CentOS alternatives alongside AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux has received a new update. Rocky Linux 8.6 has arrived approximately six months after the release of the 8.5 version. This release focuses on the support for newer versions of language runtimes.
Comes with PHP 8.0 and Perl 5.32
Rocky Linux 8.6 brings PHP 8.0 and Perl 5.32 modules for web developers. PHP 8.0 delivers some enhancements and bug fixes, as well as performance improvements in Just-In-Time compilations. Perl 5.32 delivers enhancements and bug fixes as well, and it also brings support for Unicode 13.
One of the most noticeable changes in Rocky Linux 8.6 is the addition of the new system roles. The high availability cluster system role allows for creating and managing secure and stable HA clusters. The enhanced network system role allows the creation of secure connections with robust firewall rules. WebConsole role automates the installation and configuration processes of Rocky Linux web console. The other changes include package updates for modules and tools which can be seen below:
- container-tools:4.0
- eclipse:rhel8
- log4j:2
- perl:5.32
- php:8.0
- GCC Toolset 11
- LLVM Toolset 13.0.1
- Rust Toolset 1.58.1
- Go Toolset 1.17.7
Upgrade Rocky Linux 8.5 to 8.6
Users of Rocky Linux 8.5 can update their instances by using the terminal command below:
sudo dnf -y upgradeDownload Rocky Linux 8.6 ISO
For a fresh installation, you can follow the link below to download the ISO file for x86_64 and ARM64 systems:
| Architecture | ISOs | Packages |
|---|---|---|
| x86_64 | Minimal | DVD | Boot | Torrent | Checksum | BaseOS |
| ARM64 (aarch64) | Minimal | DVD | Boot | Torrent | Checksum | BaseOS |
FAQ
What is the latest version of Rocky Linux?
The latest version in Rocky Linux 8 series is 8.7 which was released on 14 November 2022, and in 9 series is 9.1 released on 26 November 2022.
How long will Rocky Linux be supported?
Rocky Linux 8.X versions will be supported until 2029 and Rocky Linux 9.X versions will be supported until 2032.
Is Rocky Linux free?
Yes, Rocky Linux is free and open-source software. It is released under the GNU General Public License.
Is Rocky Linux lightweight?
Rocky Linux is designed to be lightweight and minimalistic, it is built to be a drop-in replacement for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and it uses the same packaging, management, and update tools. It aims to be a fast, stable, and secure platform for enterprise use, so it is not as lightweight as other Linux distributions such as Arch Linux or Gentoo, but it is still considered a lightweight distribution when compared to others that are designed for enterprise use.
Who owns Rocky Linux?
Rocky Linux is owned and developed by the Rocky Linux Project, which is a community-driven and open-source project. The project is led by Gregory Kurtzer, who is also the founder of the CentOS project.
Is Rocky Linux same as RHEL?
Rocky Linux is similar to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) in many ways, as it is designed to be a drop-in replacement for RHEL and uses the same packaging, management, and update tools. It aims to be fully compatible with RHEL and to provide the same level of performance, stability, and security as RHEL.
Is Rocky Linux same as CentOS?
Rocky Linux and CentOS are similar in many ways, but Rocky Linux is a new project that aims to fill the gap left by the discontinuation of CentOS and it has some different goals and directions.
Is Rocky Linux good for servers?
Rocky Linux is designed for enterprise use and as a drop-in replacement for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), so it can be a good choice for servers. It aims to provide the same level of performance, stability, and security as RHEL and uses the same packaging, management, and update tools.
Does Rocky Linux have a desktop environment?
Yes, Rocky Linux comes with a desktop environment, it ships with the KDE Plasma desktop environment by default, but it also provides other options like GNOME and Xfce that can be installed via the package manager. The desktop environment is just one of the many packages that can be installed on Rocky Linux, so users can choose to install a different desktop environment or none at all, depending on their needs.
Can Rocky Linux be installed on a virtual machine?
Yes, Rocky 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 Rocky 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 Rocky Linux on VMWare, you can refer to our article: How to create VM and install a Linux distro on VMWare Workstation