CentOS Linux has long been a popular choice amongst users looking for a free and open-source Linux distribution. Based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), it offered stability and reliability in an easy-to-use package. In 2021, after nearly 18 years of service, CentOS announced that its lifecycle was coming to an end and that it would no longer be available as an operating system.

Consequently, the majority of users were looking for an alternative Linux distribution offering features and tools similar to those of CentOS. To fill this gap, two new distributions have emerged: AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux.

Choosing between Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux can be confusing for users. To help them, we’ve put together this article on the differences between Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux, so that they can make an informed decision about which one best suits their needs.

What is AlmaLinux?

AlmaLinux is a community-driven Linux distribution developed as an alternative to CentOS. Its aim is to provide users with the same stability and reliability as the original distribution, whilst also offering new features and updates. AlmaLinux is specifically designed for servers and desktop computers, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of use cases.

Advantages:

• The packages and libraries are stable and a wide range is available, essentially optimised for server use
• It has an extensive network of user and developer support, which provides valuable advice and assistance when needed.
• It uses the same build system as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, so switching from CentOS is straightforward.
• It offers a comprehensive security model, which is constantly updated to ensure maximum protection against the latest threats.

Disadvantages:

• It may prove challenging for beginners with little or no experience of Linux.
• It does not offer as many packages as other distributions, such as Ubuntu or Debian.

What is Rocky Linux?

Rocky Linux is another new release, developed as a fork of CentOS 8. It uses the same source code as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, but with a few tweaks to improve performance and stability. Rocky Linux also offers many of the features and tools that have made CentOS so popular amongst users.

Advantages:

• It is open source, so it can be customised to suit individual needs.
• Compared to other distributions, it is easy to use and configure.
• It is backed by an active community of developers who are constantly improving the platform.
• It offers a wide range of packages and libraries optimised for server workload.

Disadvantages:

• It is still in its early stages, so not all features are available yet.
• It can be difficult to switch from CentOS if you’re not familiar with Linux systems.

AlmaLinux vs Rocky Linux: Alma Linux: The key differences

Although both operating systems are based on RHEL, there is much more to them than meets the eye. Below, we compare their key features and differences to help you make an informed decision when choosing between these two excellent options:

Setting up systems

Both Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux are built using specialised methods. To facilitate the development of these distributions, AlmaLinux is equipped with a specially designed system called the AlmaLinux Build System (ALBS). The very first build was launched on build.almalinux.com on 15 September 2021 – further demonstrating the power of ALBS!

Prior to version 9.0, the Rocky Release Engineering team used Kojit and other Fedora components to create Rocky Linux. However, when RL 9.0 was released, Rocky’s own Peridot became the new build system, which significantly delayed the launch date. Nevertheless, Proof stands as evidence that this switch was invaluable for the creation of high-quality software going forward!

AlmaLinux vs Rocky Linux: Linux: Life cycle

Both Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux are based on a long-term support model, where users can rely on the same codebase and features for up to 10 years. This ensures that users do not need to regularly update key components, and their workloads run smoothly and without interruption.

Desktop environment AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are two robust Linux distributions developed for businesses. Neither comes with a desktop environment out of the box; however, users can easily install one on either distribution if they wish to use them as desktop machines.

Whether they have any particular preferences, AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux users can choose the desktop environment that suits them perfectly. These two operating systems offer compatibility with the most popular environments, such as GNOME, KDE and XFCE – to name but a few!

It is important to understand that, although these two operating systems can also be used as desktop versions, they primarily focus on stability, security and the performance of server systems. For this reason, they may not offer the same range of features or applications intended for desktop users as other Linux distributions, which are specifically designed for desktop computers and laptops.

Updates and release cycle

With AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, keeping your system secure has never been easier, as users no longer have to go through the time-consuming process of a full system update. Both distributions follow a rolling release model, which provides users with regular updates, ensuring their systems are always up to date!

AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, both of which are based on the same upstream source code as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, enable users to receive updates quickly. However, when these updates arrive depends on many factors, such as the complexity of the update or the amount of resources available to their development teams.

To minimise delays in the release of updates, the AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux development teams are focusing on testing and integrating updates as quickly as possible. These updates are thoroughly checked to ensure they do not cause any issues or problems for users. Once testing and the integration process are complete, these updates become available via the respective distribution’s update repositories.

As far as release cycles are concerned, both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux aim to provide stable and reliable releases. However, they do not have a fixed release cycle like other Linux distributions. Instead, new versions are released once they are ready and have been thoroughly tested. This means that the time between releases may vary depending on the status of development and testing.

Migration tools

For all CentOS users considering a switch to AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux, migration tools are available to ensure the transition is hassle-free and efficient. These automated processes can guarantee a seamless transition without any service disruption.

The AlmaLinux migration tool is a command-line tool that enables users to migrate from CentOS 7 or 8 to AlmaLinux. The tool is capable of detecting packages, configurations and repositories installed on the CentOS system and migrating them to AlmaLinux. The tool is also designed to work with automation tools such as Ansible, thereby facilitating the automation of the migration process.

Rocky Linux also provides a migration tool called migrate2rocky. The migrate2rocky tool is a simple script which, when run on a CentOS system, allows you to migrate to Rocky Linux. It detects the packages, repositories and configurations installed on the CentOS system and migrates them to Rocky Linux. The tool also allows users to exclude certain packages or files from the migration process.

AlmaLinux vs Rocky Linux: Linux: Performance Comparison

When comparing the performance of AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, it is important to note that both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Both distributions are based on RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) and CentOS (Community Enterprise Operating System).

As far as performance is concerned, Rocky Linux is designed for optimal speed, scalability and stability. It uses the same Linux kernel as Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS, but with a focus on performance.

As a result, Rocky Linux is faster than AlmaLinux in certain areas, such as system boot-up and running programs. Furthermore, Rocky Linux supports more modern technologies, such as systemd for process management, which can lead to better performance compared to AlmaLinux.

In contrast, AlmaLinux is designed with stability rather than performance in mind. It uses an older Linux kernel than Rocky Linux, which may result in slower performance compared to its counterpart. Furthermore, AlmaLinux does not support as many modern technologies as Rocky Linux, so it does not run certain programs as efficiently.

Development process

Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux take contrasting approaches to building their distributions; they differ in terms of their upstream sources, the build process and support for different architectures.

AlmaLinux, the successor to CloudLinux, is derived from the company’s current ‘RHEL clone’, whilst Rocky Linux relies on Red Hat’s public Git repository as its primary source. It appears that CloudLinux draws its data directly from Red Hat’s open-source codebase anyway.

AlmaLinux vs Rocky Linux: Security

With AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, security isn’t just the top priority – both offer a wide range of security features to ensure data security.

AlmaLinux boasts OpenSCAP, a powerful tool that automatically scans the system for vulnerabilities. With the help of the CIS Benchmark, you can also implement the ideal security settings tailored to your device and receive a comprehensive analysis of potential security issues.

Benchmarks built using the Centre for Internet Security’s (CIS) cutting-edge technology guarantee optimal protection against existing and emerging cyber threats.

Rocky Linux has recently achieved a significant security milestone – it has been added to the NIST Implementation Under Test List, as it meets the criteria of the Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 140-3 (FIPS 140-3). FIPS 140-3 is a fundamental US government computer security standard required for applications that demand a high level of protection and security.

Stability

The stability of Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux is generally impressive. Both distributions are based on RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) and CentOS (Community Enterprise Operating System). This means they have access to the same stable and secure software repositories used by all other enterprise-grade operating systems.

Both operating systems were created with one aim in mind: to replace CentOS. Their main advantage lies in their unrivalled stability. After Red Hat discontinued support for CentOS, they decided to provide updates to its successor, CentOS Stream, as rolling releases; however, this carried the risk of bugs and errors, which had to be fixed before the RHEL version received them, and subsequently AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux also adopted the updates.

With AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, users can be confident that their systems will remain stable despite updates taking longer to be released, as the meticulous process eliminates the risk of unstable software. As a result, user confidence and trust in these two distributions are steadily growing, as they offer the same stability features that CentOS did before it was discontinued.

Rocky Linux vs AlmaLinux: Architecture support

Both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are 1:1 bug-for-bug binary-compatible forks of RHEL, utilising its source code. With the latest version, they have extended their support to the x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le and s390x architectures – albeit with different release schedules for each architecture.

Whilst AlmaLinux already included s390x in this release, it only added aarch64 later (in version 8.4), whereas Rocky Linux has included aarch64 from the very beginning, but lagged behind with ppc6l2e and s390x, which were introduced later in version 9.0.

RHEL compatibility

Another important aspect of the comparison between AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux is their compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Both distributions are forks of RHEL, which means they use the same kernel source code and are designed to be 1:1 compatible.

This enables AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux users to take advantage of their existing RHEL systems, as well as the software repositories and tools running on RHEL.

What’s more, both distributions hold Red Hat Enterprise Linux compatibility certificate. This certificate is designed to ensure that users can migrate from RHEL to AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux seamlessly, without any compatibility issues.

With this certificate, users can be confident that their applications and tools will run smoothly when they migrate their systems to AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux.

Rocky Linux vs AlmaLinux: Purpose

Both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux were created with the aim of providing a reliable, secure and stable alternative to CentOS. AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are operating systems designed with enterprise users in mind – they offer features such as support for multiple architectures, compatibility with RHEL, FIPS 140-3 compliance and much more. In addition, both distributions are open-source and free to use.

Whilst AlmaLinux was designed as a long-term replacement for CentOS, Rocky Linux was created solely with the aim of replacing RHEL. As such, Rocky Linux aims to offer similar features and benefits to those users receive from RHEL, such as reliability, stability and support.

Package managers

AlmaLinux uses the dnf package manager by default. This package manager allows users to search for updates from official and third-party repositories. Rocky Linux, on the other hand, uses either the rpm or dnf package managers alongside RockyLinux and AlmaLinux itself; these are suitable for Red Hat-based distributions such as Fedora, CentOS, etc. It is well known that dnf is the successor to yum and can manage both remote and local RPM packages.

Storage

The distinctive AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux come pre-installed with three core repositories: BaseOS, AppStream and Extras, to ensure full functionality. Specifically, BaseOS contains the collection of core packages; AppStream offers additional applications, such as runtime languages or databases, whilst Extras contains programs that are not available in RHEL.

Manual activation is required for the other repositories. In AlmaLinux, the Vault repository contains the OS versions preceding the current one, along with their associated packages and ISO images. In the case of Rocky Linux, there are several repositories authorised by community members, such as Extras, Plus, RT (real-time), NFV, etc., all of which are available in the Extras repository. Even older versions can be found in these repositories, should a downgrade ever become necessary.

AlmaLinux vs Rocky Linux: Linux: Ways to use it

For businesses and organisations looking for a reliable Linux distribution, AlmaLinux OS is the perfect solution. Not only does it deliver excellent performance, but it’s also free! It’s built using the RHEL source code, so you can be sure you’re getting an enterprise-grade operating system without spending a penny.

AlmaLinux is not only a reliable and stable operating system for server use, but is also suitable for creating an optimised architecture that is secure and tailored to your applications. Its versatility allows you to use it effortlessly in physical, virtual or cloud-based environments.

Rocky Linux is the perfect choice for organisations of all sizes, as it offers an alternative to CentOS and RHEL with its hyper-scale, cloud and high-performance computing capabilities. This advanced operating system boasts countless exceptional features that are sure to meet the needs of any large organisation.

Rocky is an excellent server solution that offers reliability, optimal performance and integration with almost any control panel. Furthermore, medium-sized businesses can also take advantage of this cost-effective alternative, as it provides RHEL features free of charge.

AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux aren’t just designed for businesses; they’re also ideal for home users, given their user-friendly interfaces and the fact that they’re completely free!

Rocky Linux vs AlmaLinux: Almalin: The learning curve

If you’re already familiar with CentOS or RHEL, learning AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux will be a piece of cake. Both operating systems were launched in 2021 following the sudden announcement of the end of CentOS’s lifecycle, but they offer a simple installation process that requires just a few steps via their user interfaces.

However, if you haven’t used either of them before, learning Linux can be daunting. That’s why we recommend taking a little time to understand the basic Linux commands before diving into one of these new operating systems.

Corporate support

CloudLinux, the organisation behind AlmaLinux, provides $1 million a year to support the project’s growth and maintenance. In addition, this open-source operating system currently has twenty-one partners and sponsors, as well as a commercial support provider – TuxCare. With such high-profile supporters as Microsoft, AWS, Equinix, cPanel and AMD backing the operating system, it’s hardly any wonder that AlmaLinux continues to thrive!

Rocky Linux, developed and funded by Kurtzer’s company CIQ with a grant of 26 million dollars, is proudly sponsored by MontaVista and OpenLogic. The open-source operating system has also earned recognition from several major companies, such as Google, AWS, Microsoft Azure and VMware, for its impressive achievements.

The wide-ranging and ever-increasing support for these distributions acts as a driving force behind the success of both operating systems.

Rocky Linux vs AlmaLinux: Community support

Gregory Kurtzer, one of the co-founders of CentOS Linux, founded the incredibly reliable Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF), a not-for-profit organisation that builds an open and trustworthy community around enterprise software.

RESF consists of team leaders from the Rocky Linux network who have proven their reliability in promoting transparency and reducing the likelihood of control being taken away from those who are rightfully running it.

The AlmaLinux OS Foundation is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organisation that provides a stable, open-source Linux distribution to the public – completely free of charge and without the need for registration.

They aim to foster the growth of a community committed to providing solutions based on or complementing this operating system, through the connections between contributing members, mirror members, supporting members and alumni members. In doing so, they work hard to further develop and maintain the AlmaLinux OS for the benefit of all.

The user base for both distributions is growing steadily, which shows that the community is constantly expanding and continues to play an active role in the development of these operating systems.

Contact details for cloud service providers

AlmaLinux is available on major cloud providers such as Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services and many more. Rocky Linux also offers its open-source operating system on the same popular cloud providers as AlmaLinux.

The availability of these two distributions via multiple cloud service providers makes it easier for users and businesses to access the operating systems they need. Either distribution can be quickly installed on any service, providing a reliable platform that can be used in both production and development environments.

AlmaLinux vs. Rocky Linux: Linux: Which one should we choose?

Both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are robust, reliable operating systems that are becoming increasingly popular within the open-source community. Both distributions offer a straightforward installation process, numerous supporting organisations and corporate sponsors, extensive availability via cloud providers and a growing user base. Deciding which one to choose ultimately comes down to personal preference.

If you prefer the stability and security of an enterprise-grade operating system, then Rocky Linux might be the right choice for you. If you’d like greater control over the operating system’s features and functionality, then AlmaLinux might be the better choice. Whichever you choose, both distributions have proven to be excellent choices for those seeking a reliable open-source Linux operating system.

Summary

In this article, we have clarified the comparison between AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux. To help you understand the differences between the two systems, we have discussed 19 different topics in detail to illustrate their individual paths towards achieving the same goals.

Although AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are similar, their management and administration differ significantly. Therefore, if you need an RHEL-based alternative, we strongly recommend AlmaLinux due to its funding model, which makes it the more favourable choice of the two distributions.

What’s more, AlmaLinux is renowned for its rapid response times and frequent updates. Ultimately, it’s up to you, as both options are excellent – whichever you choose, it’ll be brilliant! What’s more, if you ever change your mind in the future, switching between them is fairly straightforward.

AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are also available as operating systems on our KVM VPS servers.

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