27
Apr
AlmaLinux: The Future of Open-Source Enterprise Solutions
Welcome to the world of open-source enterprise solutions, where the possibilities are endless and the freedom to innovate is unparalleled. When it comes to operating systems, few names have a more prominent history than Linux. For decades, Linux has been the go-to choice for developers and businesses alike, thanks to its high stability, security, and customization options. However, with the recent announcement of the discontinuation of CentOS, the open-source community was left in a state of limbo. That is until the arrival of AlmaLinux.
What is AlmaLinux?
AlmaLinux is a community-driven, open-source Linux distribution, created as an alternative to CentOS after the latter shifted its focus to CentOS Stream. Inspired by the overwhelming support for the community-driven project, founder and CEO of CloudLinux, Igor Seletskiy, announced the creation of AlmaLinux in December 2020, stating, “We want to help drive and expand the CentOS community, provide additional assurance, and contribute our years of expertise of building commercially supported Linux distributions.”
How is it Different from CentOS?
AlmaLinux and CentOS both draw their roots from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and share many similarities. However, there are a few key differences that make AlmaLinux stand out as the more promising option for enterprise users.
- Backed by a Reliable Team: Unlike CentOS, which was mainly maintained by the small team at Red Hat, AlmaLinux is backed by the larger CloudLinux team, which brings years of experience in enterprise support and development.
- Free of Cost: While RHEL and CentOS require a paid subscription for official support, AlmaLinux is completely free to use and comes with community support.
- Open Governance: The AlmaLinux development process is open and community-driven, encouraging transparency and collaboration.
- Compatible with RHEL: As a binary compatible replacement for CentOS, AlmaLinux can be easily integrated into existing RHEL environments without any additional effort.
AlmaLinux vs. CentOS Stream
After the announcement of the shift to CentOS Stream, many users were left uncertain about the future of their CentOS environments. While CentOS Stream offers a rolling-release model with regular updates and the latest features, it lacks the stability and predictability that enterprises require. On the other hand, AlmaLinux provides the same long-term support as CentOS with updates and patches for up to 10 years, making it a more suitable choice for production environments.
Why Choose AlmaLinux?
With so many Linux distributions available in the market, why should you opt for AlmaLinux? Here are a few compelling reasons:
- Robust Stability: AlmaLinux is based on the highly stable and reliable RHEL, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum uptime for your systems.
- Long-Term Support: With its 1:1 compatibility with RHEL, AlmaLinux provides support for up to 10 years, making it ideal for production environments.
- Simplified Migration: For existing CentOS users, migrating to AlmaLinux is a seamless and straightforward process, eliminating any compatibility concerns.
- Community-Driven: As a community-driven project, AlmaLinux aims to welcome contributions and foster a collaborative environment for all its users.
Getting Started with AlmaLinux
Ready to give AlmaLinux a try? Getting started is as easy as 1-2-3!
- Download the ISO file from the official AlmaLinux website.
- Create a bootable USB drive using software like Rufus or Etcher.
- Boot from the USB drive and follow the installation prompts.
If you already have a CentOS system in place, the migration process is even easier. Simply run a few commands, and your system will be migrated to AlmaLinux without any disruptions.
AlmaLinux Alternatives
While AlmaLinux may be the top choice for many CentOS users, there are a few other Linux distributions that offer similar alternatives, such as Oracle Linux, Rocky Linux, and Scientific Linux. These distributions also have their own unique features and support services, so be sure to explore all your options before making a decision.
Conclusion
AlmaLinux is the perfect solution for all CentOS users looking for a stable, secure, and community-driven alternative. With the support of the open-source community and the CloudLinux team, AlmaLinux is set to make a strong mark in the world of enterprise solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is AlmaLinux suitable for beginners?
A: While AlmaLinux may be a bit more complex for beginners compared to other distributions such as Ubuntu or Mint, it offers a user-friendly installer and a growing community for support.
Q: Will my existing CentOS applications run on AlmaLinux?
A: Yes, AlmaLinux is built to be binary compatible with RHEL, ensuring that your existing applications will run seamlessly without the need for any changes.
Q: Is there commercial support available for AlmaLinux?
A: Yes, AlmaLinux offers commercial support through its parent company CloudLinux, starting at just $3 per month per server.
Q: Are there any limitations to using AlmaLinux?
A: No, there are no limitations to using AlmaLinux. It is completely free to use and can be installed on any number of servers or devices.
Q: Can I contribute to the development of AlmaLinux?
A: Yes, AlmaLinux is a community-driven project, and users are encouraged to contribute to its development through bug reports, feature ideas, and code contributions on
22
Apr
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNETZDNET's key takeawaysAlmaLinux is a rock-solid, secure operating system and the latest beta is available now for downloading and installing.Although not designed for desktop usage, AlmaLinux can serve as an enterprise-grade desktop operating system with security and stability front and center.Anyone looking for bleeding-edge software need not apply.During my decades with the Linux operating system, I've often wondered why server distributions are so rarely considered for the desktop.Okay, okay… I can already hear the naysayers out there. It's designed to be a server operating system, so it should only be used as such. I get that. But…
19
Apr
Management and support are key components for the efficient utilization of an operating system in cloud computing environments. Adopting security best practices like regular updates, disabling unnecessary services, and configuring firewalls are essential. TuxCare’s Enterprise Support for AlmaLinux offers several key benefits, making it an indispensable partner for managing AlmaLinux deployments. AlmaLinux is a fully open-source Linux distribution with clear upgrade paths. It is a perfect operating system to allow for scalability – whether you are a startup, an established business, or trying to enter a new space. After the major change introduced with CentOS Stream, AlmaLinux has been…
17
Apr
The bigger RHELatives continue to diverge slightly from Red Hat, with additional drivers and newer kernel versions. The AlmaLinux project has announced the beta of version 9.4, with some small but intriguing differences from Red Hat's plans for RHEL 9.4. The Alma 9.4 beta follows 20 days after Red Hat announced the beta test of RHEL 9.4 and RHEL 8.10. As usual, the IBM subsidiary has a humongous set of release notes for the 9.4 beta, which in PDF form totals 167 pages. Highlights include new driver support for kit including Intel's Data Streaming Accelerator, NVMe-over-TCP, and support for DEP and…
16
Apr
The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has officially released the beta version of AlmaLinux 9.4, codenamed “Seafoam Ocelot,” available for various hardware architectures including Intel/AMD (x86_64), ARM64 (aarch64), IBM PowerPC (ppc64le), and IBM Z (s390x). Enthusiasts and developers can access the beta ISOs here. As with any beta software, the Foundation advises against using this release in production environments. It is essential to follow this guidance, especially when considering upgrades from previous versions, as beta versions can lead to unexpected issues that could disrupt operational systems. AlmaLinux 9.4 Beta introduces several security enhancements and data protection features to bolster machine security. Notable…
16
Apr
Show Your Support: This site is primarily supported by advertisements. Ads are what have allowed this site to be maintained on a daily basis for the past 19+ years. We do our best to ensure only clean, relevant ads are shown, when any nasty ads are detected, we work to remove them ASAP. If you would like to view the site without ads while still supporting our work, please consider our ad-free Phoronix Premium. AlmaLinux 9.4 Beta is out today for this popular community-oriented Linux distribution derived from upstream Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Besides pulling in the RHEL 9.4 Beta…
12
Apr
AlmaLinux OS Foundation Announces Two New Board Members - Technology Today - EIN Presswire Trusted News Since 1995 A service for technology industry professionals · Friday, April 12, 2024 · 703,211,090 Articles · 3+ Million Readers News Monitoring and Press Release Distribution Tools Press Releases Events & Conferences
10
Apr
Get an additional 6 years of lifecycle support after the standard 10-year lifecycle Includes automated live patching tools (KernelCare Enterprise and LibCare) Enterprise-grade assistance for AlmaLinux and various open-source packages AlmaLinux is a popular Linux distribution among enterprises. Its stability and reliability have made it an excellent choice for small to large organizations. While this dependable distribution is made secure by a growing, sophisticated community of users, some organizations need a little more support for their enterprise’s needs. Therefore, many businesses opt for a dedicated enterprise support service to gain an extra layer of protection and to ensure…
10
Apr
AlmaLinux has patched a moderate security vulnerability before Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), a first for the RHEL clone distro. AlmaLinux began its life as a 1:1 RHEL-compatible Linux distro, giving organizations a less expensive alternative to RHEL. When Red Hat announced its controversial decision to restrict access to RHEL’s source code, AlmaLinux pivoted to become Application Binary Interface (ABI) compatible. A major benefit of this approach is that AlmaLinux no longer needs to wait for RHEL to patch a vulnerability, a point the distro has just proven. AlmaLinux OS Foundation Chair benny Vasquez announced the fix for CVE-2024-1086 on…
06
Apr
The KernelCare team is working on deploying a live patch for CVE-2024-1086 for AlmaLinux 8 and AlmaLinux 9 users. As of April 3, the patches for CVE-2024-1086 are now available in production repos. Instructions for updating AlmaLinux 8 and AlmaLinux 9 can be found here. More details on the status of the live patch availability below. About the CVE This vulnerability was identified in the Netfilter subsystem of the Linux kernel. This flaw can be found in the nft_verdict_init() function, which enables positive values to be interpreted as drop errors in the hook verdict. As a consequence, the nf_hook_slow()…