Overview

Rocky Linux is a community-supported enterprise Linux distribution designed to be a 1:1 binary-compatible downstream build of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Created in 2021 by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation after CentOS shifted to a rolling upstream model, it fills the gap for a free, production-grade RHEL-compatible operating system with long-term support.

Key Features

• RHEL Binary Compatible: Built from RHEL source code for seamless compatibility with enterprise software certified on RHEL
• 10-Year Support Lifecycle: Each major version is supported for up to 10 years with security updates and bug fixes
• Enterprise Stability: Targets production servers, workstations, and supercomputers with rigorous testing and verification
• Open Source & Free: Community-driven and free to use, with no subscription fees, while maintaining enterprise-grade quality

Platforms

x86-64-v2, ARM64, RISC-V, ppc64le, s390x

Licence

3-clause BSD and various free software licenses, plus proprietary firmware files

Website

rockylinux.org