AlmaLinux

Overview

AlmaLinux is a free, open source, enterprise-grade Linux distribution, owned and governed by the community, designed to fill the gap left by the end of the stable version of CentOS Linux (December 2020). Initiated by CloudLinux Inc. and sponsored by $1 million per year, AlmaLinux focuses on long-term stability, security, and binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), suitable for servers, databases, web applications, and enterprise-level deployments. AlmaLinux supports multiple architectures (x86_64, ARM64, PowerPC, s390x) and deployment methods (cloud, container, WSL, Raspberry Pi), and provides multiple desktop environments (such as GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, MATE) for desktop use.

History and Development

• Origin:
  • AlmaLinux was launched by CloudLinux Inc. in 2021 as a replacement for CentOS Linux Stable (which was converted to a rolling update CentOS Stream by Red Hat), based on RHEL open source code, maintaining binary compatibility.
  • The name "Alma" means "soul" (Latin), symbolizing the continuation of the spirit of the CentOS community.
• Development History:
  • 2021: AlmaLinux 8.3 Beta was released, and the first stable version 8.4 provides RHEL 8 compatibility.
  • 2023: AlmaLinux 9.2 was released, supporting GNOME 44, KDE Plasma 5.27, and introducing SBOM (software bill of materials) to enhance security.
  • 2024-2025: AlmaLinux 9.6 and 10.0 (August 2024) released, optimized for cloud deployment (AWS, Azure), containers (Docker, Podman), and Raspberry Pi support.
  • X post says "AlmaLinux 9 supports building AI and image recognition servers."
• Community and support:
  • Managed by the AlmaLinux OS Foundation (501(c)(6) non-profit organization), with 400+ individual members, 100+ mirror sponsors, and 25+ corporate sponsors.
  • Provide official documentation (wiki.almalinux.org), forums, Reddit, and X community.
  • Support Chinese documentation and long-term support (until 2032, AlmaLinux 9).
• Open source license:
  • Adopts GNU GPL v2 (core components), MIT and other free software licenses, compatible with RHEL.

Main Features

AlmaLinux is known for its stability, security and compatibility, and is suitable for both server and desktop environments. Here are its main features:

1. RHEL Binary Compatibility
   • Compatibility:
     • Binary compatible with RHEL 8 and 9, running RHEL-certified software (such as Red Hat OpenShift).
     • Supports enterprise-level applications such as web servers (Apache, Nginx), databases (MariaDB, PostgreSQL).
2. Security
   • Security Features:
     • Integrated SELinux (mandatory access control), firewalld (firewall) and encryption support.
     • Provides OpenSCAP and SCAP Workbench for security compliance audits.
     • SBOM (software bill of materials) tracks software sources and enhances security.
     • Errata: Releases security updates and bug fix notifications.
3. Desktop and Server Support
   • Desktop Environment:
     • Supports GNOME (default), KDE Plasma, XFCE, MATE, and is provided via Live Media ISO.
   • Server:
     • Provides Minimal ISO (no GUI) and Boot ISO (download software from the warehouse), suitable for server deployment.
4. Deployment flexibility
   • Platform support:
     • Supports x86_64, ARM64, PowerPC, s390x architectures.
     • Provides cloud images (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), container images (Docker, OCI), WSL and Raspberry Pi.
   • Installation options:
     • DVD ISO (with GNOME and software, 8.5GB).
     • Minimal ISO (server, 1.5GB).
     • Boot ISO (online installation).
5. Community and Ecosystem
   • Community:
     • Active Reddit, forums and X communities.
     • Provide image downloads and BitTorrent.
   • Tools:
     • Use dnf (RHEL package manager) to install software.
     • Support automation tools (cron, shell scripts) and monitoring tools.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• RHEL compatibility:
  • Binary compatible with RHEL, running enterprise-level software without additional certification.
  • X post says "AlmaLinux is a perfect replacement for CentOS."
• Long-term support:
  • Provide 10 years of support (AlmaLinux 9 to 2032).
• Security:
  • SELinux, firewalld, OpenSCAP and SBOM ensure data security.
• Flexible deployment:
  • Support cloud, container, Raspberry Pi and WSL, suitable for development and production environments.
• Community driven:
  • 400+ members and 25+ sponsors, rich documentation.

Limitations

• Learning curve:
  • RHEL ecosystem is complex for novices, and they need to be familiar with dnf and SELinux.
  • Solution: Refer to the Chinese guide of wiki.almalinux.org.
• Resource usage:
  • DVD ISO (8.5GB) takes up disk space, and the GUI environment requires high-performance devices.
  • Solution: Use Minimal ISO to optimize resources.
• GPL restrictions:
  • Some components need to be open source, which is stricter than SQLite (public domain).
• Community size:
  • The community is smaller than Ubuntu and has fewer resources.
  • Solution: Combine RHEL documentation and X tutorials.

Summary

AlmaLinux is a free, open source enterprise-grade Linux distribution that is binary compatible with RHEL and focuses on long-term stability, security, and community governance. It supports x86_64, ARM64, cloud, container and desktop environments (GNOME, KDE, XFCE), suitable for servers and development environments.