Rocky Linux
rockylinux.org
Rocky Linux is a Linux distribution that was created to fill the gap left behind when CentOS changed direction. It was founded in late 2020 by Gregory Kurtzer, who was one of the original founders of CentOS, and it's named after a former CentOS community member, Rocky McGaugh.
The goal is simple: provide a free, community-supported system that's a straight-up clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Just like the old CentOS used to be, Rocky takes the RHEL source code, rebuilds it, and gives it away for free. You get the same enterprise-grade stability and long-term support, without paying for a Red Hat subscription.
Rocky Linux is backed by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation, which is a non-profit, so it's not tied to any single company's commercial interests. It's got a solid community behind it, and it's become one of the top choices for anyone who needs a reliable server operating system. It's also available for cloud platforms, containers, and even some desktop use.
The trade-off is the same as any RHEL clone: you're not getting the newest software. Stability comes first, so packages can feel a bit dated. But if you want a system that just keeps running without surprises, Rocky is a great pick. It's basically the old CentOS, reborn.
The goal is simple: provide a free, community-supported system that's a straight-up clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Just like the old CentOS used to be, Rocky takes the RHEL source code, rebuilds it, and gives it away for free. You get the same enterprise-grade stability and long-term support, without paying for a Red Hat subscription.
Rocky Linux is backed by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation, which is a non-profit, so it's not tied to any single company's commercial interests. It's got a solid community behind it, and it's become one of the top choices for anyone who needs a reliable server operating system. It's also available for cloud platforms, containers, and even some desktop use.
The trade-off is the same as any RHEL clone: you're not getting the newest software. Stability comes first, so packages can feel a bit dated. But if you want a system that just keeps running without surprises, Rocky is a great pick. It's basically the old CentOS, reborn.
