Introduction to AlmaLinux
AlmaLinux is an open-source, community-owned and -managed, enterprise-grade Linux distribution that maintains 1:1 binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). As an excellent alternative to CentOS, AlmaLinux provides enterprises and developers with a stable, secure, and completely free operating system choice.
Core Features
🛡️ Enterprise-Grade Stability
- 1:1 binary compatibility: fully compatible with RHEL, ensuring existing applications run seamlessly
- Long-term support: each major version provides at least 10 years of security updates and maintenance
- Production-ready: rigorously tested, suitable for mission-critical environments
🌐 Community-Driven
- Non-profit management: managed in perpetuity by the AlmaLinux OS Foundation
- Open and transparent: a fully transparent build process that the community can verify
- Always free: a commitment to remain free forever, with no risk of commercialization
🚀 Modern Technology Stack
- Cloud-native support: native support for containers, Kubernetes, and cloud platforms
- Security hardening: built-in security mechanisms such as SELinux and a firewall
- Package management: based on RPM and DNF, fully compatible with the RHEL ecosystem
Project Background
The AlmaLinux project was officially launched in 2021, aiming to provide a reliable alternative for users after CentOS 8 reached end of maintenance. The name "Alma" means "nourishing" in Latin, symbolizing that this project will provide ongoing support and growth for the open-source community.
Why Was It Created?
- CentOS strategy change: Red Hat announced that CentOS 8 would reach end of maintenance at the end of 2021
- Community demand: enterprise users needed a stable, free, RHEL-compatible system
- Long-term commitment: to provide a community-controlled, forever-free solution
Governance Structure
AlmaLinux is managed by the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization that ensures the project's independence and sustainable development.
Board of Directors
- Representatives from different organizations
- Ensuring the project's neutrality and openness
- Setting the project's long-term development strategy
Community Participation
- Developer contributions: developers worldwide are welcome to contribute code
- Testing feedback: community members participate in testing and issue reporting
- Documentation improvement: maintenance and translation of multilingual documentation
Release Information
Supported Versions
- AlmaLinux 8: first released in March 2021, with security support until 2029 (final version 8.10)
- AlmaLinux 9: released in May 2022, with security support until 2032 (latest 9.8)
- AlmaLinux 10: officially released in May 2025, with security support until 2035 (latest 10.2)
Architecture Support
- x86_64: mainstream 64-bit processors
- aarch64: ARM 64-bit processors
- ppc64le: IBM Power processors
- s390x: IBM Z series mainframes
Download and Installation
Official Images
You can obtain AlmaLinux installation images from the following channels:
- AlmaLinux official download page
- Mirror sites in China (recommended):
Installation Methods
- ISO installation: download the full installation image for a fresh installation
- Network installation: use a minimal image to install over the network
- Cloud images: use prebuilt images directly on cloud platforms
- Container images: for containerized application deployment
Next step: learn about the features of AlmaLinux 9 and 10
