AlmaLinux: Your Enterprise Linux ticket to freedom

AlmaLinux is a top choice for an enterprise-grade Linux distribution. Although it's designed as a CentOS replacement, the heyday of Red Hat's CentOS is increasingly behind us. Still, AlmaLinux is a great option for newbies with servers, cloud solutions, workstations, and more.

There are hundreds of Linux distributions, so what makes AlmaLinux different and attractive to Linux administrators? It brings important features that are essential for enterprise environments. Some of these features are:

• Long-term stability and updates to maintain reliability.
• Standard security features including SELinux, Firewalld, etc.
• Optimized for enterprise-level performance.
• “Free forever” with no license requirements.
• Owned by the community.

Like other distributions trying to fill the gap left by CentOS, AlmaLinux is binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The result is that anything that works with RHEL will work with AlmaLinux.

This article explains why AlmaLinux is an attractive solution for system administrators looking to upgrade their environment and deploy a new enterprise-ready distribution.

Why do you need AlmaLinux?

Linux administrators can rely on AlmaLinux in test, development and production environments without worrying about subscription contracts, licenses or the whims of a company. The AlmaLinux community is focused on one thing: AlmaLinux.

Consider AlmaLinux for a variety of use cases, including:

• Academic settings
• Small businesses
• Cloud deployments
• Government and other security-focused environments

However, AlmaLinux is not just for enterprise-class servers. It is an excellent choice for home users who want a secure and straightforward distribution for everyday use. It is also helpful for developers and other power users who need a stable and reliably patched system. There are even Raspberry Pi-specific builds for IoT solutions. And for you Windows administrators, consider the AlmaLinux WSL version.

Some technical data

According to the official AlmaLinux wiki, four architectures are supported: x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le and s390x.

General hardware specifications include:

• 64-bit processor
• At least 1 GB RAM, 2 GB or more recommended
• 20 GB free storage recommended

Exact requirements vary depending on version, installation option, platform, etc. In general, you should be fine with any computer from the last 10-15 years. Like other popular distributions, AlmaLinux offers great hardware flexibility.

Notify me about AlmaLinux releases

Several versions are available on the AlmaLinux site, including the following:

• ISO files: For standard installations, including minimal, bootable and DVD versions.
• Live distributions: Portable USB or DVD-based distributions that can be used on any computer without overwriting the existing operating system.
• Cloud Images: Provides support for Amazon AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and more.
• Raspberry Pi: Support for these single-board computers designed for projects, education, IoT, etc.
• Container Images: Provides Docker and OCI images.
• Vagrant boxes: Provide portable virtualization images.
• LXD/LXC: Supports this container management system.
• Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): A Linux environment that runs on Windows without virtualization.

In addition, AlmaLinux versions 8 and 9 are available, corresponding to the corresponding RHEL 8 and RHEL 9 versions. Note that active support for AlmaLinux 8 ended on May 31, 2024, but security support will continue until May 31, 2029. AlmaLinux 9 will be actively supported until May 31, 2027, with security support running until May 31, 2032.

AlmaLinux offers several GUI options, including GNOME, GNOME Mini, KDE, XFCE and MATE, providing users with familiar, comfortable and powerful choices.

I need support

The AlmaLinux community offers a variety of support options, including a wiki with links to many other support environments. Other options include chat functions, forums, mailing lists, and social media platforms. Whether you need information about builds or bugs, or just want to chat, the wiki has the right links for you.

If your organization is more comfortable with commercial support, consider third-party solutions from TuxCare, Cybertrust Japan, and OpenLogic. Links and more information can be found on the AlmaLinux site.

But why not RHEL?

So why not just use Red Hat Enterprise Linux? RHEL requires registration and subscriptions to use the operating system, which adds complexity. There may also be costs involved depending on the subscription and features you require. For some larger environments, this is not a problem, but other enterprises, small businesses and users may want the extra freedom and flexibility that Linux has offered since its inception.

Leaving CentOS behind

It's hard to talk about AlmaLinux without mentioning the end of CentOS and the ongoing need for administrators to migrate their platforms to another distribution. AlmaLinux exists to meet that need. However, it's time to move past that migration idea and let AlmaLinux stand on its own, not as a replacement, but as a solid standalone enterprise Linux distribution.

If you're one of the (many) administrators who haven't migrated from CentOS yet, AlmaLinux offers plenty of help. Check out ELevate, a migration tool used with various RHEL-derived distributions, including CentOS, Oracle, and more.

Packing

Much attention has been paid to IT groups that have yet to migrate from CentOS and could use AlmaLinux. However, I recommend AlmaLinux to developers, power users and administrators looking for a new stable, secure Linux distribution for their workstations, local servers and cloud deployments. Stop thinking of AlmaLinux as a CentOS replacement and start thinking of it as a powerful and viable enterprise Linux distribution.

Also check out the AlmaLinux community. This community wants the best for the distribution and doesn't care about a larger corporate profile. There are also many ways to contribute. Your organization can also become a member or sponsor by joining the AlmaLinux OS Foundation.

Download and test AlmaLinux on your preferred virtualization platform or on any additional hardware you may have available. Talk to your developers, cloud administrators, and other power users who could benefit from AlmaLinux's features. Find out where this operating system can replace RHEL or Windows to simplify your environment and reduce costs. Get started today!

Damon M. Garn is the owner of Cogspinner Coaction, LLC, an IT writing and editing company. He writes articles, tutorials, and labs for today's IT industry leaders. He is a regular contributor to The New Stack, TechTarget, and CompTIA. Damon has 20 years of experience…

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