Rocky Linux 9.8

Rocky Linux is a production-ready, enterprise-grade operating system designed to deliver stability, reliability, and long-term support for a wide range of workloads. It is preinstalled and ready to deploy on Azure Virtual Machines, allowing users to quickly spin up enterprise environments optimized for performance and security in the cloud.

At its core, Rocky Linux is a community-driven project—built by the community, for the community. The development process is entirely open and transparent, ensuring that contributions are welcomed from anyone willing to participate. This collaborative model fosters innovation and inclusivity, empowering individuals and organizations to help shape the operating system’s ongoing evolution.

Use Cases of Rocky Linux

• Server Management: Provides a stable, RHEL-compatible platform ideal for running web, database, and other critical servers.
• Cloud Computing: Offers a reliable and cost-efficient base for both public and private cloud environments.
• Desktop Use: Developers and power users choose it for its secure, customizable, and stable desktop experience.

Advantages of Rocky Linux

• Binary Compatibility with RHEL: Ensures seamless migration by fully matching RHEL’s binaries, tools, and documentation.
• Security and Stability: Regular updates and enterprise-grade reliability make it a trustworthy choice for production systems.
• Continuation of CentOS Legacy: Preserves the CentOS tradition by offering a familiar, dependable platform for former CentOS users.

Rocky Linux 9.8

Rocky Linux 9.8 delivers a stable, enterprise-ready operating system designed for demanding production workloads. As a fully compatible downstream distribution of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9.8, it offers a dependable platform for cloud deployments, virtual machines, and modern infrastructure while maintaining long-term reliability.

Highlights

• Strengthened Security: Integrates OpenSSH 9.9 with modern cryptographic enhancements. Supports post-quantum cryptography through ML-KEM hybrid key exchange. Includes GnuTLS 3.8.10 and an updated fapolicyd 1.4.3 for improved application execution control.
• Modern Development Environment: Ships with current development toolchains, including GCC Toolset 15 (GCC 15.2), LLVM 21.1.8, Rust 1.92.0, and Go 1.26.2, enabling development of contemporary applications.
• Updated Application Stack: Provides recent versions of widely used server technologies, including PostgreSQL 18, MariaDB 11.8, Ruby 4.0, and Node.js 24, helping organizations deploy modern services with confidence.
• Enhanced Image Creation: Expands Image Builder functionality with advanced partition layout support, custom Kickstart file integration for ISO generation, and native creation of Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) images.

Rocky Linux 9.8 is well suited for enterprise applications, cloud-native workloads, development environments, and virtualized infrastructure, combining stability, security, and an up-to-date software ecosystem.

Disclaimer: This VM contains free, open-source software. We don’t provide commercial licenses for the products mentioned. Trademarks are for identification only and don’t imply endorsement or affiliation.

Rocky Linux® is the registered trademark of the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.