The Rocky Linux 9.2 distribution has been released, aimed at creating a free build of RHEL that can take the place of the classic CentOS. The distribution is fully binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and can be used as a replacement for RHEL 9.2 and CentOS 9 Stream. Support for the Rocky Linux 9 branch will continue until May 31, 2032. Rocky Linux iso images prepared for x86_64, aarch64 and s390x (IBM Z) architectures. The publication of assemblies for the ppc64le (POWER9) architecture has been delayed due to the discovery of a serious problem with Python 3.9. Additionally, there are live builds with GNOME, KDE and Xfce desktops published for the x86_64 architecture.
As in the classic CentOS, the changes made to the Rocky Linux packages come down to getting rid of the Red Hat branding and removing RHEL-specific packages such as redhat-*, insights-client and subscription-manager-migration*. For an overview of the list of changes in Rocky Linux 9.2, see the RHEL 9.2 announcement. Among the changes specific to Rocky Linux, one can note the delivery in a separate pluse repository of openldap-servers-2.6.2 packages, and in the NFV repository n packages for virtualizing network components, developed by the NFV (Network Functions Virtualization) SIG group. Rocky Linux also supports the CRB (Code Ready Builder with additional packages for developers, replacing PowerTools), RT (real-time packages), HighAvailability, ResilientStorage and SAPHANA (packages for SAP HANA) repositories.
The distribution is developed under the auspices of the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF), which is registered as a public benefit corporation (Public Benefits Corporation), not aimed at making a profit. The organization is owned by Gregory Kurtzer, founder of CentOS, but management functions in accordance with the adopted charter are delegated to the board of directors, in which the community elects participants involved in the work on the project. In parallel, a $26 million commercial company, Ctrl IQ, was created to develop advanced products based on Rocky Linux and support the distribution's developer community. Companies such as Google, Amazon Web Services, GitLab, MontaVista, 45Drives, OpenDrives and NAVER Cloud have joined the development and financing of the project.
In addition to Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux (developed by CloudLinux, together with the community), VzLinux (prepared by Virtuozzo), Oracle Linux, SUSE Liberty Linux and EuroLinux are also positioned as alternatives to the classic CentOS. In addition, Red Hat has made RHEL available free of charge to open source organizations and individual developer environments of up to 16 virtual or physical systems.
Source: opennet.ru