Introduction to AlmaLinux: A Community-Driven Enterprise Linux Alternative

Introduction to AlmaLinux: A Community-Driven Enterprise Linux Alternative

In the Linux ecosystem, changes and transitions are frequent, yet some shake-ups have more significant impacts than others. One such turning point was Red Hat’s announcement in December 2020 that it would be shifting its focus away from CentOS Linux and concentrating on CentOS Stream. For many system administrators, developers, and enterprises relying on CentOS for a stable and free alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), this news brought a mixture of concern and uncertainty.

Amidst this backdrop, AlmaLinux emerged as a beacon of hope — a free and open-source enterprise-grade Linux distribution that is binary-compatible with RHEL. It was designed as a drop-in replacement for CentOS, maintaining the same level of reliability and predictability that users had come to expect. Since its initial release in 2021, AlmaLinux has steadily gained traction and credibility in the Linux world.

This article offers a comprehensive introduction to AlmaLinux, including its origins, goals, architecture, community support, and use cases.

1. The Origins of AlmaLinux

AlmaLinux was founded by CloudLinux Inc., a company with deep experience in the Linux hosting environment, especially within the web hosting industry. CloudLinux had long maintained its own commercial Linux variant for shared hosting servers. Recognizing the need for a stable, community-governed replacement for CentOS, CloudLinux committed to developing AlmaLinux and even pledged $1 million annually to support its growth.

The first stable release of AlmaLinux came in March 2021, shortly after the final CentOS Linux 8 update. AlmaLinux 8.3 was the initial release, and it matched RHEL 8.3 at the binary level, offering a seamless transition for users migrating from CentOS.

The name “Alma” is derived from the Latin word for “soul,” reflecting the project’s mission to be the spiritual successor of CentOS.

2. Governance and the AlmaLinux OS Foundation

One of AlmaLinux’s most distinguishing features is its governance structure. Unlike CentOS, which was ultimately under the control of Red Hat, AlmaLinux is governed by a non-profit organization called the AlmaLinux OS Foundation. This independent foundation oversees the direction and development of the OS and ensures it remains community-driven and transparent.

The foundation comprises individual and corporate members, with open channels for participation, feedback, and decision-making. This structure aims to prevent the kind of unilateral decisions that led to CentOS’s shift and to provide long-term stability for users and contributors alike.

3. Key Features of AlmaLinux

a) RHEL Compatibility

AlmaLinux is binary-compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, meaning that software built for RHEL will run on AlmaLinux without modification. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses and developers who rely on RHEL-certified applications but prefer not to pay subscription fees.

b) Long-Term Support

Each AlmaLinux release offers long-term support with updates and security patches for up to 10 years. This mirrors the lifecycle support offered by RHEL and is essential for enterprises that prioritize stability and consistency over cutting-edge features.

c) Enterprise-Grade Stability

AlmaLinux inherits the rigorous testing and conservative approach to software updates that characterize enterprise Linux distributions. This ensures that systems remain stable and predictable — a critical need for servers, infrastructure, and mission-critical applications.

d) Seamless Migration Tools

The AlmaLinux community has developed tools like almalinux-deploy, which allow users to convert an existing CentOS, RHEL, or other compatible system to AlmaLinux with minimal disruption. This tool preserves configurations and installed applications, making migrations smooth and straightforward.

e) Community and Commercial Support

Although AlmaLinux is free and community-maintained, commercial support options are available from third parties, and the project benefits from a vibrant community that offers documentation, forums, mailing lists, and IRC/Matrix channels.

4. System Architecture and Technical Overview

a) Kernel and Packages

AlmaLinux ships with the same Linux kernel and core packages as its RHEL counterpart. This includes:

• The same versions of glibc, systemd, and other base libraries.
• Use of the dnf package manager.
• Availability of AppStreams, allowing multiple versions of software like Python or Node.js to coexist.
• Full support for SELinux and systemd-based services.

b) Software Repositories

AlmaLinux mirrors RHEL’s repository layout, including:

• BaseOS: Core system components.
• AppStream: Software applications and development tools.
• Extras: Optional packages not part of RHEL but still useful for many users.
• CR (Continuous Release): Available prior to the full point release for testing updates.

c) Security and Updates

Security updates in AlmaLinux follow a process similar to RHEL’s, and users can leverage:

• dnf update for regular patches.
• Integration with OpenSCAP for compliance scanning.
• Participation in the CVE monitoring and patching ecosystem.

5. Real-World Use Cases

AlmaLinux is a drop-in replacement for CentOS and serves many of the same purposes across diverse industries. Some common use cases include:

a) Web Hosting

Many hosting companies migrated to AlmaLinux due to its stability and compatibility with cPanel, DirectAdmin, and other popular hosting platforms.

b) Development and Testing

Since AlmaLinux matches RHEL, developers can build applications intended for RHEL environments without needing a subscription, making it perfect for CI/CD pipelines.

c) Enterprise Infrastructure

Businesses use AlmaLinux for everything from database servers and ERP systems to file storage and internal tools. It’s especially attractive to organizations that value RHEL’s reliability but seek a cost-effective alternative.

d) Education and Research

Universities and research institutions, traditionally heavy users of CentOS, are adopting AlmaLinux for its open governance and cost efficiency.

6. AlmaLinux vs. Alternatives

Since the demise of CentOS Linux, several projects have stepped up to fill the gap. Here’s how AlmaLinux compares to some key alternatives:

Both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are excellent choices, with AlmaLinux enjoying a slight head start and corporate backing from CloudLinux.

7. Getting Started with AlmaLinux

a) Download and Install

You can download AlmaLinux ISO images from https://almalinux.org. Available formats include:

• Minimal ISO for server installations.
• DVD ISO for full offline installation.
• Boot ISO for network installation.

Installation is performed using the Anaconda installer, familiar to CentOS and RHEL users.

b) Migration from CentOS/RHEL

The almalinux-deploy script is the preferred method to switch from CentOS 8/7 or RHEL 8 to AlmaLinux. The basic steps:

curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AlmaLinux/almalinux-deploy/master/almalinux-deploy.sh
sudo bash almalinux-deploy.sh

The script handles everything — downloading necessary packages, updating repositories, and switching system identity.

8. Community and Contributions

AlmaLinux thrives on its growing community of developers, sysadmins, and users. You can get involved through:

• Bug reports and code contributions on GitHub.
• Community forums and chat rooms for peer support.
• Documentation contributions and translations.
• Joining the AlmaLinux OS Foundation to help shape the project’s future.

Conclusion

AlmaLinux is more than just a CentOS replacement — it is a community-powered, enterprise-grade Linux distribution that aims to carry forward the mission CentOS originally set out to achieve. With strong binary compatibility with RHEL, long-term support, open governance, and a rapidly growing user base, AlmaLinux is well-positioned to serve as the backbone of Linux infrastructure across industries.

Whether you’re a developer looking for a free RHEL-compatible environment, a system administrator running production servers, or a contributor eager to support an open-source project, AlmaLinux offers a compelling, reliable, and trustworthy choice.