Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rocky Linux

A new enterprise ready OS to carry the torch after the recent CentOS announcement.

Rocky Linux

Rocky Linux Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Rocky Linux is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Rocky Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-06

Features & Specs

  1. Community-Driven Development

    Rocky Linux is led by a community-driven development model, ensuring that decisions are made in the interest of users rather than influenced by corporate interests.

  2. Enterprise-Grade Stability

    Designed as a downstream, binary-compatible release of RHEL, Rocky Linux provides the same level of stability and reliability expected from enterprise-grade operating systems.

  3. Long-Term Support

    Rocky Linux offers long-term support, ensuring continuous updates and security patches, which are crucial for enterprise environments.

  4. Compatibility with RHEL

    Rocky Linux maintains binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, allowing easy migration for users who need a reliable and stable RHEL alternative.

  5. Open Source

    As an open-source operating system, Rocky Linux provides transparency and the ability for anyone to audit, modify, or contribute to the code base.

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Videos

Rocky Linux Review

Rocky Linux 8.3 RC Installation & how it came to be

Rocky Linux 8.4 Review | DistroDelves S3:E2

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Rocky Linux and what they use it for.
  • Monitoring a Docker Homelab with Open Source
    In my current setup on a Rocky Linux 9.x system, Coroot runs on a Clickhouse server to store metrics, logs, traces and profiles, in addition to the Coroot node-agent and Coroot cluster-agent. The Coroot node-agent automatically collects all service metrics and logs using eBPF, while the cluster-agent provides detailed information on databases like MySQL, Postgres or Redis. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Rockylinux.org not hosted on Rocky Linux
    Https://rockylinux.org/ serves a different website than the link in the OP. I am guessing the vercel page is an old one, considering the 2020 trademark at the bottom of it. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Rockylinux.org not hosted on Rocky Linux
    Rocky Linux has definitely had multiple releases: https://rockylinux.org/ I'm not sure what that Vercel site is, maybe a supply-chain attack of some kind. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • CentOS Linux 7 will reach EOL on Sunday
    Some people have actually had good luck with Oracle Linux but thatโ€™s very much an individual (or corporate) choice to consider. Aside from that, Rocky Linux also seems like a great choice for many: https://rockylinux.org/ Some also say that AlmaLinux is pretty good: https://almalinux.org/ Personally, I found RPM distros to be quite stable but have largely moved over to Ubuntu LTS for servers (technically Debian... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • June 30th, 2024, will bring the End of Life (EOL) of CentOS Linux
    Rocky Linux is a fine successor to CentOS and was created by the original founder of CentOS, Gregory Kurtzer. https://rockylinux.org/ https://rockylinux.org/about/ If you need enterprise support RHEL tends to be a default choice. If you cannot afford RHEL or do not need enterprise support, Rocky Linux fills the role that CentOS once did. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • free download
    Also you can use Rocky Linux, it's very close! https://rockylinux.org/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • [Rant] On the stability of a Linux desktop
    Arch Linux is pretty solid on my end, gnome is a little buggy, nothing like fedora but if you're like my mother and don't want to set anything up I get it. There is Rocky linux if you want a RHEL experience and don't need the latest packages. I don't like Ubuntu but you could go that route. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Which Linux version should I instal for Houdini and nuke usage
    If you run into anny problems ask chat gpt. Https://rockylinux.org/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Can't get Nagios to work on Ubuntu 22.04
    If If you feel more comfortable on a RHEL based distro, there a good alternatives to CentOS such as AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Rust language forked by community into Crab
    This situation still exists and Gregory Kurtzer's RockyLinux (Greg started CentOS originally), CloudLinux's AlmaLinux, and others exist to fill the need for a freely installable RHEL clone. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Rocky Linux 8.8 Available Now
    Https://rockylinux.org/ : Rocky Linux is an open-source enterprise operating system designed to be 100% bug-for-bug compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linuxยฎ. It is under intensive development by the community. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Linux Now Officially Supports Apple Silicon
    Rocky Linux is now generally filling the same role that CentOS used to. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Good distro for a beginner who wants to learn without struggling too much?
    I would say either Debian or a RHEL free derivative like Rocky Linux or Alma Linux. If you want to get your foot on IT, Linux IT, then those should be what you have to aim to. If the company you'll be working on has money, it'll use RHEL, if not a free derivative or Debian for stability. Source: over 3 years ago
  • It's just a good distro
    No one heard of? Check this out: https://rockylinux.org/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Why should I choose fedora over Ubuntu, arch or manjaro?
    CentOS used to be the go-to free version of that, but Red Hat acquired that and moved it slighly upstream of RHEL. Rocky Linux and Alma Linux are now becoming the popular "free" versions. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Are RHEL Clones Just Rebranded Rebuilds Of Red Hat Enterprise Linux?
    Since the loss of CentOS, I now use Rocky. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Has Rakuten made a Rocky-er road for Red Hat?
    Regarding Rocky Linux, it is "...an open-source enterprise operating system designed to be 100% bug-for-bug compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linuxยฎ.": https://rockylinux.org The news page goes back about two years: https://rockylinux.org/news/2. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Installing RHEL on Hetzner's VPS
    I think they offer Rocky Linux, which is 100% RHEL compatible. https://rockylinux.org/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Keeping your skills sharp
    If you want to learn Linux, I suggest getting a copy of of Rocky Linux and giving it a try. It's a close match for Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Once you have your bearings try to work through Linux From Scratch or pickup an advanced Linux Distro such as Gentoo or Arch and find something to go deep on. If you're not sure what to dig into: backups and disaster recovery are safe bets. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Could someone suggest me a distribution that I could use to study for RHSCA?
    Rocky Linux is "designed to be 100% bug-for-bug compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux," making it an excellent training bed for RHEL. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Which Linux distro do you guys prefer for IT?
    You could try Rocky Linux or another RedHat compatible distribution. Source: over 3 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Rocky Linux

Rocky Linux has stirred considerable interest and discussion among users and experts in the Linux community, particularly as a successor to the beloved CentOS. Its emergence was largely catalyzed by the EOL (End of Life) announcement for CentOS. With Gregory Kurtzer, the original founder of CentOS, at the helm, Rocky Linux has quickly positioned itself as a reliable free alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), emphasizing a 100% bug-for-bug compatibility with RHEL.

This new Linux distribution has garnered a positive reception for its focus on stability, security, and enterprise readinessโ€”attributes that are especially critical for organizations that previously depended on CentOS. Like CentOS, Rocky Linux does not require the payment of subscription fees typical of commercial distributions, making it an appealing choice for organizations that prioritize cost-efficiency without sacrificing reliability.

Critical opinions on Rocky Linux highlight its seamless transition for existing CentOS users. Many discussions underscore its suitability for cloud, high-performance computing (HPC), and server environmentsโ€”domains where RHEL compatibility is often a primary requirement. Secure Boot features in Rocky Linux enhance its security stature, drawing commendations from users concerned with system integrity.

Moreover, Rocky Linux competes closely with AlmaLinux, another CentOS successor, as both offer similar promises of being RHEL-compatible while remaining community-driven and free. The competitive landscape for enterprise-focused Linux distros has seen Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux frequently cited together as viable alternatives for IT environments that may not need or want to commit to RHEL's commercial support model.

Opinion forums and discussions also emphasize Rocky Linux's role in educational contexts. Many users recommend it for those training in Linux system administration or preparing for RHEL certifications like RHSCA, citing it as an ideal zero-cost option for learning in a RHEL-like environment.

Despite praise, Rocky Linux faces the challenge of establishing broader community trust and proving its long-term viability in a landscape dominated by long-established distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian. Some users express preference for the latter due to their more extended presence and support structures, both community-driven and commercial.

As for general use cases, Rocky Linux is widely considered a solid foundation for small to medium enterprises, developers, and educational institutions due to its feature set and ecosystem alignment with RHEL. The absence of commercial constraints found in RHEL adds to its allure.

In summary, Rocky Linux has made a significant entry onto the Linux distribution stage, positioned strongly among other CentOS successors. While it effectively replicates the CentOS utility and ethos, continued community support and development will ultimately determine its success in replacing CentOS as the go-to choice for many enterprises and individual users seeking a stable and cost-effective enterprise-grade Linux platform.

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Is Rocky Linux good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss Rocky Linux here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.