Introduction
Rocky Linux is an open-source distribution designed to provide binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It emerged in 2021 as a response to changes in CentOS and has quickly gained adoption in production environments thanks to its stability and long-term support.
History and Origin
The project was initiated by Gregory Kurtzer, co-founder of CentOS, after Red Hat announced the shift in focus of CentOS Stream. The name refers to the Rocky Mountains, symbolizing solidity and durability.
- Announced in April 2021.
- First stable release (8.4) launched in June 2021.
- Goal: be a 1:1 replica of RHEL.
Main Features
Rocky Linux maintains the same base as RHEL, but under a fully open license. Its strengths include:
- 1:1 binary compatibility with RHEL.
- 10-year support cycles per major version.
- Familiar administration tools (dnf, yum, SELinux).
- Timely security updates.
- Official images for cloud and containers.
Use Cases
Thanks to its fidelity with RHEL, Rocky Linux is ideal for:
- High-availability web and application servers.
- Enterprise databases (Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL).
- Virtualization and Kubernetes environments.
- Development and testing that require replicating production.
- High-performance computing (HPC) infrastructures.
Installation and Configuration
Installing Rocky Linux is straightforward with the Anaconda installer. The basic steps are:
- Download the ISO from rockylinux.org.
- Create a bootable USB medium or use a VM.
- Start the installer and choose language, keyboard, and destination.
- Configure partitions (LVM is recommended).
- Set the time zone, create the root user and a regular account.
- Begin the installation and reboot upon completion.
After installation, additional repositories such as EPEL or RPM Fusion can be enabled as needed. Furthermore, it is recommended to configure a static or DHCP network according to the environment and enable the Cockpit service for easy web administration.
Community and Support
The Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF) governs the project, ensuring transparency and independence. The community communicates via:
- Official mailing lists and forums.
- Discord server and active IRC channels.
- Monthly meetings streamed on YouTube.
- Complete documentation in the wiki and quick-start guides.
Additionally, annual events such as the Rocky Linux Summit are organized, and contributions of code, documentation, and translations are accepted. Several companies offer commercial support, allowing professional assistance without relying solely on the community.
Future and Roadmap
Rocky Linux follows the RHEL release cycle, offering ten years of support per major version. The public roadmap includes:
- Continuously publishing security updates and performance improvements.
- Expanding the catalog of certified images for cloud and edge providers.
- Enhancing automation tools with integrated Ansible and Terraform.
- Promoting certification and training programs for administrators.
Work is underway to integrate newer kernel versions and support emerging hardware, such as GPU accelerators and latest-generation NVMe devices, ensuring the distribution stays at the forefront of enterprise technology.
Conclusion
Rocky Linux has proven to be a robust, community-backed solution that fills the gap left by the changes in CentOS. Its compatibility with RHEL, open development model, and growing support ecosystem make it an attractive choice for businesses, service providers, and Linux enthusiasts seeking stability without compromise. If you are evaluating a platform for your critical workloads, it is worth considering Rocky Linux as your next distribution of choice.
This post is also available in ESPAÑOL.