Rocky Linux Documentation (Unofficial)

RHEL 1:1 compatible · community enterprise · bilingual

Rocky Linux Documentation

A community enterprise OS backed by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF), 1:1 compatible with RHEL. Install, migrate, upgrade and operate — all in one place.

Install quick path Download mirrors

• 10 Rocky Linux GA 2025
• 9 Rocky Linux GA 2022
• 8 Rocky Linux GA 2021

Follow a complete task

Media, installation and first boot

Before you start: Prepare Rocky media and console access; identify data that must survive installation.

1. Download Rocky Linux
2. Install Rocky Linux
3. Rocky Linux 服务与 systemd 运维 · 中文

Completion check: Log in to Rocky from the system disk, confirm the selected release and repositories, then inspect services and boot logs.

If the checks fail →Rocky Linux 启动故障排障 · 中文

Start this task →

Release and migration assessment

Before you start: Separate a Rocky rebuild from conversion into Rocky; inventory applications, data and restore points.

1. Rocky Linux Versions and Lifecycle
2. Rocky 大版本升级 · 中文
3. Migrate to Rocky Linux

Completion check: Record the supported route and application cutover/recovery criteria; without a rehearsal, the result is an assessment.

If the checks fail →Rocky Linux 启动故障排障 · 中文

Start this task →

Diagnose and verify recovery

Before you start: Preserve Rocky boot output and changes since the last successful start.

1. Rocky Linux 启动故障排障 · 中文
2. Rocky Linux FAQ

Completion check: Boot the intended entry successfully again, confirm the original error is absent and affected services work, and retain before/after logs.

If the checks fail →Rocky Linux FAQ

Start this task →

Compatibility

RHEL 1:1

Packages

DNF / RPM

Support window

~10 years

Cost

Free

01 — Start here

Three ways in, pick yours

Fresh install, migration from CentOS/AlmaLinux, or just switching repos — the entry points differ.

1. 01 Fresh install Shortest path from media to first login Install
2. 02 Migrate to Rocky In-place migration from CentOS / AlmaLinux $ migrate2rocky.sh Assess
3. 03 Migrate away Reverse paths and compatibility notes $ leapp / almaconvert Guide

02 — Features

What each Rocky Linux release brings

Taken from Rocky’s own release announcements and release pages, each item with its source.

Rocky 10 Rocky 9 Rocky 8

10 Rocky Linux 10 “Red Quartz” Released 2025-06 · security support until 2035-05 Versions & lifecycle

riscv64 RISC-V (riscv64) joins the lineup Listed with x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le and s390x; the announcement calls it “a significant step towards making Rocky Linux more versatile”

Peridot Koji Builds move from Peridot to Koji Builds now come from Koji rather than Peridot

in-place upgrade No in-place upgrade to 10 In-place upgrades to any major release are not supported; a fresh install is recommended to move from 8.x or 9.x to 10 x86-64-v3 x86-64-v3 becomes the baseline x86-64-v2 support is removed, so x86-64-v3 is required; all 32-bit packages are removed

9 Rocky Linux 9 “Blue Onyx” Released 2022-07 · security support until 2032-05 Versions & lifecycle

x86_64 / aarch64 / ppc64le / s390x Four architectures Built for x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le and s390x

SSH root password login Root password login over SSH is off by default Root user authentication with a password over SSH has been disabled by default

OpenSSL 3.0 OpenSSL 3.0 Adds a provider concept, a new versioning scheme, and improved HTTPS

Python 3.9 Python 3.9 is supported for the whole lifecycle Python 3.9 will be supported for the entire lifecycle of Rocky Linux 9

8 Rocky Linux 8 “Green Obsidian” Released 2021-06 · security support until 2029-05 Versions & lifecycle Declared production-ready from 8.4 8.4 GA announcement (2021-06-21): sufficient testing performed, confident in stability for production systems

x86_64 / aarch64 x86_64 and aarch64 8.4 media for x86_64 and ARM64 (aarch64): Minimal, DVD, Boot and Packages

Mattermost · IRC · forums Community and commercial support Free community support via Mattermost, IRC and forums; paid commercial support through CIQ

Follows upstream, without promised dates

• Follows CentOS Stream development and RHEL releases as closely as possible
• No guaranteed GA dates for major or minor releases
• Hosted by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF)

03 — Versions

Which release to pick

Each major gets ~10 years of support. EOL dates follow RESF announcements.

Major	Status	GA	EOL	Kernel
10	Current	2025-06	2035-05	6.12
9	Current	2022-07	2032-05	5.14
8	Maintenance	2021-06	2029-05	4.18

Lifecycle dates are the planned end of support (YYYY-MM); status badges are evaluated at build time. The upstream project is authoritative: Official Rocky Linux website.

04 — Mirrors

China mainland mirrors

Faster downloads inside mainland China, alongside the official global mirrors.

Mirror	Repository root
Official (Global)	https://dl.rockylinux.org/rocky
CN (Aliyun)	https://mirrors.aliyun.com/rockylinux
CN (TUNA)	https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/rocky
CN (USTC)	https://mirrors.ustc.edu.cn/rocky

05 — Index

All documentation sections

Rocky installation, migration and operations guides — 8 documents in total.

• 01 Rocky exclusive Install quick path / versions / migration / FAQ
• 02 Differences from RHEL Compatibility boundary, distro identity, subscriptions, repos
• 03 Installation Media, partitioning, network and automated installs
• 04 Migration & upgrade Migrating to Rocky / migration checklist
• 05 Package management DNF repos, modules and groups
• 06 Downloads Official and China mirror links

About this site

Site status, trademarks and licence

Rocky Linux overview on the hub site

Official resources

• Official Rocky Linux website
• Official documentation