View source for Red Hat Enterprise Linux

{{short description|Linux distribution developed by Red Hat}}
{{Redirects here|Enterprise Linux|other uses|Enterprise Linux (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Red Hat Linux}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Red Hat Enterprise Linux
| logo = Red Hat Enterprise Linux logo-en.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| screenshot = File:RHEL 10.0 showing GNOME 47, 12.22.2024.png
| caption = Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0, showing its default desktop environment ([[GNOME]] 47)
| developer = [[Red Hat]], Inc.
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| released = {{Start date and age|2000|02|22}}<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.redhat.com/en/about/press-releases/red-hat-enterprise-edition-product-line-optimizes-solutions-top-e-business-applications |title=Red Hat Enterprise Edition Product Line Optimizes Solutions for Top e-Business Applications |publisher=[[Red Hat]] |date=February 22, 2000 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220193936/https://www.redhat.com/en/about/press-releases/red-hat-enterprise-edition-product-line-optimizes-solutions-top-e-business-applications |url-status=live }}</ref>
| source_model = [[Open source]]
<!-- If you update below, please also update https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Linux_distributions -->| latest_release_version = {{multiple releases
  | branch1  = 10:
  | version1 = 10.1
  | date1    = {{Start date and age|2025|11|12}}<ref name="rhel-10">{{cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/articles/red-hat-enterprise-linux-release-dates|date=2025-11-08|access-date=2025-11-08|website=Red Hat|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Release Dates}}</ref>

  | branch2  = 9:
  | version2 = 9.7
  | date2    = {{Start date and age|2025|11|12}}

  | branch3  = 8:
  | version3 = 8.10
  | date3    = {{Start date and age|2024|05|22}}

  | branch4  = 7:
  | version4 = 7.9
  | date4    = {{Start date and age|2020|09|29}}
}}
| latest_preview_version = 10 Beta
| latest_preview_date = {{Start date and age|2024|11|14}}<ref name="rhel-10-beta">{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Red-Hat-RHEL-10-Beta|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Enters Beta With Many New Features & Updates|first1=Michael|last1=Larabel|date=2024-11-14|access-date=2024-11-27|website=Phoronix|archive-date=2024-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127043530/https://www.phoronix.com/news/Red-Hat-RHEL-10-Beta|url-status=live}}</ref>
| marketing_target = [[Commerce|Commercial]] market ([[server (computing)|servers]], [[mainframe computer|mainframes]], [[supercomputer]]s, [[workstation]]s)
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel|Linux]])
| working_state = Current
| supported_platforms = [[x86-64]]; [[ARM64]]; [[IBM Z]]; [[IBM Power Systems]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/10/html/10.0_release_notes/architectures | title=Chapter 2. Architectures - 10.0 Release Notes - Red Hat Enterprise Linux - 10 - Red Hat Documentation | website=Red Hat Documentation | publisher=[[Red Hat]] | access-date=2025-08-08 }}</ref>
| update model = [[DNF (software)|DNF]]
| package manager = [[RPM Package Manager|RPM]]
| language = Multilingual
| userland = [[GNU Core Utilities|GNU]]
| ui = [[GNOME Shell]], [[Bash (Unix shell)|Bash]]
| license = Various [[free software]] licenses, plus proprietary [[binary blob]]s<ref name="kernelblobs">{{cite web |url= https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html#RedHat |title= Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems |publisher= the [[Free Software Foundation]] |access-date= March 13, 2011 |archive-date= March 22, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090322010846/https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html#RedHat |url-status= live }}</ref>
| preceded_by = [[Red Hat Linux]]
| website = {{URL|https://redhat.com/rhel/}}
}}

'''Red Hat Enterprise Linux''' ('''RHEL''') is a [[Commercial software|commercial]] [[Linux distribution]] developed by [[Red Hat]]. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is released in server versions for [[x86-64]], [[Power ISA]], [[ARM64]], and [[IBM Z]] and a desktop version for x86-64. [[Fedora Linux]] and [[CentOS Stream]] serve as its [[Upstream (software development)|upstream]] sources. All of Red Hat's official support and training, together with the [[Red Hat Certification Program]], focuses on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux platform.

The first version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux to bear the name originally came onto the market as "Red Hat Linux Advanced Server". In 2003, Red Hat rebranded Red Hat Linux Advanced Server to "Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-04-07 |title=redhat.com {{!}} Red Hat Enterprise Linux |url=http://redhat.com/software/rhel/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030407171319/http://redhat.com/software/rhel/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2003-04-07 |access-date=2024-06-05 }}</ref> and added two more variants, Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES and Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Azhar |first=Arslan |title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux |url=https://www.academia.edu/29638655 |archive-date=2023-11-17 |access-date=2023-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117174527/https://www.academia.edu/29638655 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As Red Hat Enterprise Linux is heavily based on [[open-source software]] and its source code is available to the public, it is used as the basis for several [[Red Hat Enterprise Linux derivatives|third-party derivatives]], including the commercial [[Oracle Linux]] and the community-supported [[Rocky Linux]] and [[AlmaLinux]]. Prior to June 2023, Red Hat published a sub-set of Red Hat Enterprise Linux's source code to the public in the form of modified build artifacts.  Today, the complete source code for the major-version branch is available in the form of the CentOS Stream repositories.<ref name="StreamSoleRepository">{{cite web | title=Furthering the evolution of CentOS Stream |url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/furthering-evolution-centos-stream |website=Red Hat Blog |publisher=Red Hat, Inc.}}</ref>  Source code for other release branches remains available to customers in the form of unmodified build artifacts.

==Variants==
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server subscription is available at no cost for development purposes.<ref>{{cite web |title=No-cost Red Hat Enterprise Linux Individual Developer Subscription: FAQs |url=https://developers.redhat.com/articles/faqs-no-cost-red-hat-enterprise-linux# |website=Red Hat Developer |publisher=Red Hat, Inc. |access-date=12 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430015121/https://developers.redhat.com/articles/faqs-no-cost-red-hat-enterprise-linux |archive-date=30 April 2025 |date=5 February 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Developers need to register for the Red Hat Developer Program and agree to its license terms. The free developer subscription was announced on March 31, 2016, and updated in January 2021 with less restrictive terms.<ref name="RHELEasierAccess">{{cite web | url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/new-year-new-red-hat-enterprise-linux-programs-easier-ways-access-rhel |title=New Year, new Red Hat Enterprise Linux programs: Easier ways to access RHEL}}</ref>

There are also "Academic" editions of the Desktop and Server variants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redhat.com/solutions/industry/education/subscription.html |title=Enterprise Linux Academic Subscriptions |publisher=[[Red Hat]] |access-date=2014-06-23 |archive-date=2014-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622234814/http://www.redhat.com/solutions/industry/education/subscription.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They are offered to schools and students, are less expensive, and are provided with Red Hat technical support as an optional extra. Web support based on the number of customer contacts can be purchased separately.

It is often assumed the branding ES, AS, and WS stand for "Entry-level Server",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-04-16 |title=redhat.com {{!}} ES |url=http://www.redhat.com/software/rhel/es/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030416204939/http://www.redhat.com/software/rhel/es/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2003-04-16 |access-date=2024-06-05 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-03-15 |title=redhat.com {{!}} Enterprise Linux |url=https://www.redhat.com/rhel/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315035550/https://www.redhat.com/rhel/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-03-15 |access-date=2024-06-05 }}</ref> "Advanced Server" and "Work Station", respectively. The reason for this is that the ES product is indeed the company's base [[Enterprise software|enterprise]] server product, while AS is the more advanced product. However, nowhere on its site or in its literature does Red Hat say what AS, ES, and WS stand for.

In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 there are new editions that substitute former Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS/ES/WS/Desktop:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.redhat.com/rhel/moving/ |title=Moving to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 |publisher=Red Hat |access-date=2009-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008223755/http://www.redhat.com/rhel/moving/ |archive-date=October 8, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.redhat.com/rhel/compare/|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Version Comparison Chart|publisher=Red Hat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105045954/http://www.redhat.com/rhel/compare/|archive-date=2010-01-05}}</ref>

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform (former AS)
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux (former ES) (limited to two CPUs)
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop with Workstation and Multi-OS option
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop with Workstation option (former WS)
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop with Multi-OS option
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (former Desktop)

Red Hat had also announced its Red Hat Global Desktop Linux edition "for [[emerging markets]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Red Hat Global Desktop Linux: The Best Kept Secret? |url=http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2007-08-03-031-26-OP-RH-SW |publisher=linuxtoday.com |access-date=2007-08-05 |archive-date=2007-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014043444/http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2007-08-03-031-26-OP-RH-SW |url-status=dead }}</ref>

RHEL 4, 3, and prior releases had four variants:

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS for mission-critical/enterprise [[computer system]]s.
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES for supported network servers
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS for technical [[power user]] enterprise desktops for high-performance computing
* Red Hat Desktop for multiple deployments of single-user desktops for enterprises.

==Relationship with Fedora Linux==
The [[Fedora Project]] provides the following explanation:<ref>{{cite web|title=Fedora project wiki, the difference between Fedora Linux and RHEL|url=https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/RHEL#What.27s_the_difference_between_Fedora_and_Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux.3F|website=fedoraproject.org|access-date=2010-05-23|archive-date=2010-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619025957/http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/RHEL#What.27s_the_difference_between_Fedora_and_Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux.3F|url-status=live}}</ref>

<blockquote>Fedora is a free distribution and community project and upstream for Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Fedora is a general purpose system that gives Red Hat and the rest of its contributor community the chance to innovate rapidly with new technologies. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a commercial enterprise operating system and has its own set of test phases including alpha and beta releases which are separate and distinct from Fedora development.</blockquote>Originally, Red Hat sold boxed versions of Red Hat Linux directly to consumers and business through phone support. The [[Fedora Project]] began in 2002 as a set of community supported packages for Red Hat Linux. However, the six month release cycle of Red Hat Linux was too disruptive for business users and Red Hat wanted a more reliable revenue stream. In 2002 Red Hat began releasing Red Hat Enterprise Linux based on [[Red Hat Linux]], but with a much more conservative release cycle and a subscription based support program. A year later, Red Hat discontinued the Red Hat Linux product line, merging it with the Fedora community packages and releasing the resulting Fedora distribution for free.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fedora project wiki, History of Red Hat Linux|url=https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/History_of_Red_Hat_Linux#Abstract|publisher=fedoraproject.org|access-date=2010-05-23|archive-date=2010-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501143245/http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/History_of_Red_Hat_Linux#Abstract|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fedora serves as the primary upstream for future major releases of RHEL: RHEL source code repositories are forked off the Fedora repository, and released after a substantial stabilization and quality assurance effort.<ref name="lineage">{{cite web|title=Fedora project wiki, Red Hat Enterprise Linux History|url=https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/RHEL#History|publisher=fedoraproject.org|access-date=2010-06-08|archive-date=2010-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619025957/http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/RHEL#History|url-status=live}}</ref>  The major-version stable release branch is built and released by the CentOS project under the name CentOS Stream.  Each minor version of RHEL is a branch of CentOS Stream that gets ongoing bug fixes and security updates.

For example, CentOS Stream 9 was forked from Fedora in March, 2021 (shortly before the Fedora 34 release) and available on public mirrors in September, 2021.  RHEL 9.0 was released in May, 2022.

The Fedora Project lists the following lineages for older Red Hat Enterprise releases:<ref name="lineage" />

* Red Hat Linux 6.2/7 to Red Hat Linux Enterprise Edition 6.2E
* Red Hat Linux 7.2, 7.2A to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1
* Red Hat Linux 9 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3
* Fedora Core 3 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
* Fedora Core 6 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
* Fedora 12, 13 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
* Fedora 19, 20 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
* Fedora 28 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/articles/3078|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Release Dates|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|language=en|access-date=2019-06-17|archive-date=2022-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120224845/https://access.redhat.com/articles/3078|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Fedora 34 to CentOS Stream 9 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developers.redhat.com/products/rhel/rhel9-beta|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 is now available|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|date=25 October 2021|language=en|access-date=2022-04-04|archive-date=2022-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321081912/https://developers.redhat.com/products/rhel/rhel9-beta|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Fedora 40 to CentOS Stream 10 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/announcing-fedora-linux-40 |title=Announcing Fedora Linux 40 |last=Miller |first=Matthew |date=23 April 2024 |website=Red Hat Blog |publisher=Red Hat |access-date=20 December 2024 |archive-date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220135224/https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/announcing-fedora-linux-40 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition, the Fedora project publishes a set of packages for RHEL called the [[Fedora Project#Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL)|Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL)]]. EPEL packages can be expected to work in RHEL, but it is up to willing community members to maintain the packages and back port any upstream changes. As such, packages "may come and go" during the ten-year lifespan of the RHEL release and Red Hat support plans do not include resolving issues caused by EPEL packages.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What's EPEL, and how do I use it?|url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/whats-epel-and-how-do-i-use-it|date=November 21, 2019|website=Red Hat Blog|access-date=May 15, 2020|archive-date=June 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605082020/https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/whats-epel-and-how-do-i-use-it|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Derivatives==
{{Main article|Red Hat Enterprise Linux derivatives}}

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is derived from [[Free software|free]] and [[open source software]]. Until 2015, Red Hat made the source code to its enterprise distribution publicly available through its FTP website, though the inclusion of Red Hat trademarks prevented direct redistribution of the software.  In 2015, Red Hat began publishing de-branded source code via git repositories on git.centos.org.<ref name="centos-7-release-announcement">{{cite web|title=Release for CentOS Linux 7 (1503 ) on x86_64|url=https://lists.centos.org/hyperkitty/list/announce@lists.centos.org/thread/F32ELK6FRKPIDPFT76ZZWICFSGLMGXYE/}}</ref>  Several groups used the source code to compile their own derivatives, typically with changes including the removal of any references to Red Hat's trademarks and pointing the update systems to non-Red Hat servers. Groups which have undertaken this include [[AlmaLinux]], [[CentOS]], [[Miracle Linux|MIRACLE LINUX]], [[Oracle Linux]], [[CloudLinux OS]], [[Rocky Linux]], [[Scientific Linux]], [[StartCom]] Enterprise Linux, Pie Box Enterprise Linux, X/OS, Lineox, and [[Groupe Bull|Bull]]'s XBAS for high-performance computing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/slurm/slurm_ug_2010/01-mh-cea.pdf|title=SLURM at CEA|access-date=2011-03-21|archive-date=2013-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524225601/https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/slurm/slurm_ug_2010/01-mh-cea.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{additional citations needed|date=May 2025|reason=The citation provided only says XBAS is an RHEL derivative; none of the prior claims have sources.}}

In 2023, Red Hat replaced the process that published code to git.centos.org in favor of the CentOS Stream git repositories. As required by its open-source licenses, the code for branched releases remains available to customers and developers, but the customer contract allows Red Hat to drop any customer who provides third-parties with access to subscription services, discouraging them from publishing source code artifacts.<ref name="RHELClosedSource">{{cite news |last1=Proven |first1=Liam |title=Red Hat strikes a crushing blow against RHEL downstreams |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/06/23/red_hat_centos_move/ |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=The Register |date=23 June 2023 |language=en |archive-date=24 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624010044/https://www.theregister.com/2023/06/23/red_hat_centos_move/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SFCGPLAnalysis">{{cite web |last1=Bradley M. |first1=Kuhn |title=A Comprehensive Analysis of the GPL Issues With the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Business Model |url=https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2023/jun/23/rhel-gpl-analysis/ |website=Software Freedom Conservancy |access-date=25 June 2023 |archive-date=25 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625050758/https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2023/jun/23/rhel-gpl-analysis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This led to [[AlmaLinux]], one of the RHEL derivative Linux distributions, moving away from "1:1 bug for bug" compatibility to "[[Application binary interface|application binary interface (ABI)]] compatible", while [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]], [[SUSE S.A.|SUSE]], and CIQ (the company behind [[Rocky Linux]]) collaborated to form the Open Enterprise Linux Association (OpenELA) in order to provide "open and free Enterprise Linux (EL) source code".<ref>{{Cite web |title=CIQ, Oracle and SUSE Create Open Enterprise Linux... |url=https://www.suse.com/news/OpenELA-for-a-Collaborative-and-Open-Future/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=www.suse.com |publisher=[[SUSE S.A.|SUSE]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2023 |title=CIQ, Oracle and SUSE Create Open Enterprise Linux Association for a Collaborative and Open Future |url=https://www.oracle.com/news/announcement/ciq-oracle-and-suse-create-open-enterprise-linux-association-for-a-collaborative-and-open-future-2023-08-10/ |publisher=[[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]]}}</ref>

Derivatives of Red Hat Enterprise Linux are free but do not get any commercial support or consulting services from Red Hat and lack software, hardware or security certifications from Red Hat. They also do not get access to Red Hat services like [[Red Hat Network]].

{{Anchor|REDPATCH}}

Unusually, Red Hat took steps to [[Obfuscated code|obfuscate]] their changes to the Linux kernel for RHEL 6.0 by not publicly providing the [[patch file]]s for their changes in the source tarball, and only releasing the finished product in source form. Speculation suggested that the move was made to affect Oracle's competing rebuild and support services, which further modifies the distribution. This practice however, still complies with the [[GNU General Public License|GNU GPL]] since source code is defined as "[the] preferred form of the work for making modifications to it", and the distribution still complies with this definition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Controversy surrounds Red Hat's "obfuscated" source code release|url=http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Controversy-surrounds-Red-Hat-s-obfuscated-source-code-release-1200554.html|publisher=The H|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=7 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307193223/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Controversy-surrounds-Red-Hat-s-obfuscated-source-code-release-1200554.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Red Hat's [[Chief technology officer|CTO]] Brian Stevens later confirmed the change, stating that certain information (such as patch information) would now only be provided to paying customers to make the Red Hat product more competitive against the growing number of companies offering support for products based on RHEL. CentOS developers had no objections to the change since they do not make any changes to the kernel beyond what is provided by Red Hat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Hat defends changes to kernel source distribution|url=http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Red-Hat-defends-changes-to-kernel-source-distribution-1202733.html|publisher=The H|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=8 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308144757/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Red-Hat-defends-changes-to-kernel-source-distribution-1202733.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Their competitor Oracle announced in November 2012 that they were releasing a ''RedPatch'' service, which allows public view of the RHEL kernel changes, broken down by patch.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oracle: Get your Red Hat Linux patches from us, it's easier. New service lets public browse kernel fixes|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/12/oracle_launches_redpatch_repository/|publisher=The Register|access-date=1 August 2014|first=Neil|last=McAllister|date=12 Nov 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://oss.oracle.com/projects/RedPatch/ |title=Project: RedPatch |website=oss.oracle.com |access-date=2014-08-04 |archive-date=2013-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126203652/https://oss.oracle.com/projects/RedPatch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Related products and add-ons ==
{{See also|Commercial products based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux}}

A number of commercial vendors use Red Hat Enterprise Linux as a base for the operating system in their products. Two of the best known are the Console Operating System in [[VMware ESX]] Server and [[Oracle Linux]].

==Version history and timeline==
Source:<ref name="rhelupdates">{{cite web |title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Updates and Related Kernel Versions |url=https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/articles/3078 |access-date=2012-05-16 |publisher=Red Hat |archive-date=2012-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031085813/https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/articles/3078 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{#tag:timeline|

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   text:"Red Hat Enterprise Linux release timeline"

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=== Naming convention ===
Each release is given a codename which is selected by a vote of the developers. The codenames don't have a specific pattern (unlike [[Ubuntu version history#Naming convention|Ubuntu]] or [[Debian version history#Naming convention|Debian]]).

=== RHEL 10 ===
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 beta was made available in December 2024. RHEL 10 was then expected to reach general availability in mid-2025.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/red-hat-enterprise-linux-10-beta-now-available | title=Now available: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Beta | access-date=2024-12-17 | archive-date=2024-12-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219093959/https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/red-hat-enterprise-linux-10-beta-now-available | url-status=live }}</ref>

RHEL 10 was officially announced on {{Start date and age|2025|05|20}}, at the Red Hat Summit,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 |url=https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux-10 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.redhat.com |language=en}}</ref> and uses Linux kernel 6.12.0-55.9.1.el10_0. This release has the codename ''Coughlan''.

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0, {{Start date and age|2025|05|20}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Release Dates |url=https://access.redhat.com/articles/red-hat-enterprise-linux-release-dates |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=www.redhat.com |language=en}}</ref>, uses Linux kernel 6.12.0-55.9.1.el10_0
** 10.1, {{Start date and age|2025|11|12}}
*** kernel 6.12.0-124.8.1.el10_1

=== RHEL 9 ===
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 was announced at Red Hat Summit on May 10, 2022, and was officially released on {{Start date|2022|05|17}}.<ref name="rhel-9">{{cite web |title=Red Hat Defines a New Epicenter for Innovation with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 |url=https://www.redhat.com/en/about/press-releases/red-hat-defines-new-epicenter-innovation-red-hat-enterprise-linux-9 |publisher=Red Hat, Inc. |access-date=2022-05-11 |date=2022-05-10 |archive-date=2022-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712115434/https://www.redhat.com/en/about/press-releases/red-hat-defines-new-epicenter-innovation-red-hat-enterprise-linux-9 |url-status=live }}</ref> In this version of the system introduced a Linux Kernel 5.14.0 and Gnome 40.

RHEL 9 was the first to be based on [[CentOS Stream]], itself based on Fedora Linux, while historically RHEL was based directly on Fedora Linux.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/hot-presses-red-hat-enterprise-linux-9 |title=Hot Off the Presses: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 |author=Cattelain, Gil |date=May 18, 2022 |accessdate=May 19, 2022 |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519002158/https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/hot-presses-red-hat-enterprise-linux-9 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first beta for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (''Plow''), based on [[Fedora Linux release history#Fedora Linux 34|Fedora Linux 34]], was released on November 3, 2021.<ref name="rhel-9-beta">{{cite web|url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/whats-new-rhel-90-beta|title=What's new in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Beta|first1=Gil|last1=Cattelain|first2=Joe|last2=Brockmeier|date=2021-11-03|access-date=2021-11-03|website=Red Hat|archive-date=2021-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103130835/https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/whats-new-rhel-90-beta|url-status=live}}</ref>

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (''Plow'') was released on May 18, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title= Hot Off the Presses: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
 |url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/hot-presses-red-hat-enterprise-linux-9?channel=blog/channel/red-hat-enterprise-linux |access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref> The name ''Plow'' was the Appalachian Trail nickname for Tim Burke, one of the founders of RHEL and retired leader of RHEL engineering.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=RHEL Codename Conventions |url=https://learn.redhat.com/t5/General/RHEL-Codename-Conventions/m-p/23204/highlight/true#M2996 |website=Red Hat Learning Community |date=23 May 2022 |access-date=31 May 2022 |language=English |archive-date=27 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927080042/https://learn.redhat.com/t5/General/RHEL-Codename-Conventions/m-p/23204/highlight/true#M2996 |url-status=live }}</ref>

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0, {{Start date and age|2022|05|17}}, uses Linux kernel 5.14.0-70.13.1.el9_0
** 9.1, {{Start date and age|2022|11|15}}
*** kernel 5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1
** 9.2, {{Start date and age|2023|05|10}}
*** kernel 5.14.0-284.11.1.el9_2
** 9.3, {{Start date and age|2023|11|07}}
*** kernel 5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3
** 9.4, {{Start date and age|2024|04|30}}
*** kernel 5.14.0-427.13.1.el9_4
** 9.5, {{Start date and age|2024|11|13}}
*** kernel 5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5
** 9.6, {{Start date and age|2025|05|20}}
*** kernel 5.14.0-570.17.1.0.1.el9_6
** 9.7, {{Start date and age|2025|11|12}}
*** kernel 5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7

=== RHEL 8 ===
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (''Ootpa'') is based on [[Fedora Linux release history#Fedora Linux 28|Fedora&nbsp;28]], upstream [[Linux kernel]]&nbsp;4.18, GCC 8.2, glibc 2.28, [[systemd]]&nbsp;239, GNOME 3.28, and the switch to [[Wayland (display server protocol)|Wayland]]. The first beta was announced on November 14, 2018.<ref name="rhel-8-beta">{{cite web|url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/powering-its-future-while-preserving-present-introducing-red-hat-enterprise-linux-8-beta|title=Powering IT's future while preserving the present: Introducing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Beta|date=2018-11-14|access-date=2018-11-16|archive-date=2018-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115184558/https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/powering-its-future-while-preserving-present-introducing-red-hat-enterprise-linux-8-beta|url-status=live}}</ref> Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 was officially released on {{Start date|2019|05|07}}.<ref name="rhel-8-release">{{cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/4110231|title=Red Hat Open the Linux Experience to Every Enterprise, Every Cloud, and Every Workload with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8|work=Red Hat Customer Portal|date=7 May 2019|access-date=2019-05-07|archive-date=2020-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130234314/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/4110231|url-status=live}}</ref>

With Release 8 of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, IBM has completed transition of POWER8 and POWER9 servers to
[[Endianness|little-endian mode]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=IBM |title=IBM United States Software Announcement 219-234 |url=https://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.wss?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_ca/4/897/ENUS219-234/index.html&lang=en&request_locale=en |website=IBM |date=28 May 2019 |publisher=International Business Machines Corporation |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326210412/https://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.wss?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_ca/4/897/ENUS219-234/index.html&lang=en&request_locale=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=IBM |title=IBM United States Software Announcement 219-234 |url=https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/US-ENUS219-234-CA/name/ENUS219-234.PDF |website=IBM |publisher=International Business Machines Corporation |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412003621/https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/US-ENUS219-234-CA/name/ENUS219-234.PDF |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Timothy Prickett Morgan |title=The Transition To RHEL 8 Begins On Power Systems |url=https://www.itjungle.com/2019/06/10/the-transition-to-rhel-8-begins-on-power-systems/ |website=ITJungle |date=10 June 2019 |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124063316/https://www.itjungle.com/2019/06/10/the-transition-to-rhel-8-begins-on-power-systems/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The name ''Ootpa'' was a tribute to Larry Troan. His son, Eric Troan was Red Hat's first head engineer and his username was ''ewt'', so his father was given the name ''ewt's pa'', pronounced ''Ootpa''.<ref name="auto"/>

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0, {{Start date and age|2019|05|07}}, uses Linux kernel 4.18.0-80<ref name="rhel-8-release" />
** 8.1, {{Start date and age|2019|11|05}}, uses Linux kernel 4.18.0-147<ref name="rhel-8-1-release">{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/red-hat-enterprise-linux-8-1-adds-live-linux-kernel-patching/|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.1 adds live Linux kernel patching|first=Steven J.|last=Vaughan-Nichols|date=November 5, 2019|website=ZDNet|access-date=2019-11-06|archive-date=2019-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105203632/https://www.zdnet.com/article/red-hat-enterprise-linux-8-1-adds-live-linux-kernel-patching/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** GNOME rebased to 3.32
** 8.2, {{Start date and age|2020|04|28}}
*** kernel 4.18.0-193
**8.3, {{Start date and age|2020|11|3}}
*** kernel 4.18.0-240
**8.4, {{Start date and age|2021|05|18}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/discussions/6050441|title=RHEL 8.4 - Final Release|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|date=17 September 2021|access-date=18 May 2021|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518231530/https://access.redhat.com/discussions/6050441|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** kernel 4.18.0-305
**8.5, {{Start date and age|2021|11|09}}
*** kernel 4.18.0-348
**8.6, {{Start date and age|2022|05|10}}
***kernel 4.18.0-372.9.1
**8.7, {{Start date and age|2022|11|09}}
***kernel 4.18.0-425.3.1
**8.8, {{Start date and age|2023|05|16}}
***kernel 4.18.0-477.10.1.el8_8
**8.9, {{Start date and age|2023|11|14}}
***kernel 4.18.0-513.5.1.el8_9
**8.10, {{Start date and age|2024|05|22}}
***kernel 4.18.0-553.el8_10

=== RHEL 7 ===
Red Hat Enterprise Linux&nbsp;7 (''Maipo'') is based on [[Fedora Linux release history#Fedora Linux 18|Fedora&nbsp;18]] and [[Fedora Linux release history#Fedora Linux 19|Fedora&nbsp;19]], upstream [[Linux kernel]]&nbsp;3.10, [[systemd]]&nbsp;208 (updated to 219 in RHEL&nbsp;7.2), and GNOME&nbsp;3.8 (rebased to GNOME&nbsp;3.28 in RHEL&nbsp;7.6) The first beta was announced on 11 December 2013,<ref name="rhel-7-beta">{{cite web|url=https://www.redhat.com/about/news/archive/2013/12/red-hat-announces-availability-of-red-hat-enterprise-linux-7-beta|title=Red Hat Announces Availability of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Beta|date=2013-12-11|access-date=2013-12-11|publisher=Red Hat|archive-date=2013-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214032920/http://www.redhat.com/about/news/archive/2013/12/red-hat-announces-availability-of-red-hat-enterprise-linux-7-beta|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.redhat.com/summit/|title=2013 Red Hat Summit|access-date=2014-05-04|archive-date=2014-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505022615/https://www.redhat.com/summit/|url-status=live}} See for example this [http://videos.cdn.redhat.com/2013-summit-platform-2.mp4 presentation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040629/http://videos.cdn.redhat.com/2013-summit-platform-2.mp4 |date=2016-03-04 }}</ref> and a release candidate was made available on 15 April 2014.<ref name="rhel-7-rc">{{cite web|url=https://www.redhat.com/about/news/archive/2014/4/red-hat-enterprise-linux-7rc-available|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Release Candidate Now Available|date=2014-04-15|publisher=redhat.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427065858/http://www.redhat.com/about/news/archive/2014/4/red-hat-enterprise-linux-7rc-available|archive-date=2014-04-27|url-status=dead|access-date=2014-04-27}}</ref> On {{Start date|2014|06|10}} Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 was officially released.<ref name="rhel-7">{{cite web|url=http://www.redhat.com/about/news/press-archive/2014/6/red-hat-unveils-rhel-7|title=Red Hat Unveils Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7|date=2014-06-10|publisher=redhat.com|access-date=2014-06-10|archive-date=2014-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613005526/http://www.redhat.com/about/news/press-archive/2014/6/red-hat-unveils-rhel-7|url-status=live}}</ref>

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.0 (''Maipo''), {{Start date and age|2014|06|09}}, uses Linux kernel 3.10.0-123
** 7.1, {{Start date and age|2015|03|05}}<ref name="rhel-71">{{Cite web|url=https://www.redhat.com/en/about/press-releases/red-hat-continues-platform-innovation-general-availability-first-minor-release-red-hat-enterprise-linux-7|title=Red Hat Continues Platform Innovation with the General Availability of the First Minor Release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7|website=www.redhat.com|date=5 March 2015|access-date=19 November 2015|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119233507/https://www.redhat.com/en/about/press-releases/red-hat-continues-platform-innovation-general-availability-first-minor-release-red-hat-enterprise-linux-7|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** kernel 3.10.0-229
** 7.2, {{Start date and age|2015|11|19}}<ref name="Red Hat, Inc">{{cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/2058583|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 now available|date=2015-11-19|publisher=Red Hat, Inc.|access-date=2015-11-19|archive-date=2015-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120012309/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/2058583|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** kernel 3.10.0-327
*** systemd updated to 219
*** Fedora rebased to 21
*** GNOME rebased to 3.14
** 7.3, {{Start date and age|2016|11|03}}<ref name="access.redhat.com">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/2747541|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.3 now available - Red Hat Customer Portal|website=access.redhat.com|date=3 November 2016 |access-date=2016-11-03}}</ref>
*** kernel 3.10.0-514
** 7.4, {{Start date and age|2017|07|18}}<ref name="Red Hat 7.4 Release Notes">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/3134761|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 now available|website=access.redhat.com|date=July 2017|access-date=2017-07-18|archive-date=2017-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801233620/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/3134761|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** kernel 3.10.0-693
*** Fedora rebased to 25
*** GNOME rebased to 3.22
** 7.5, {{Start date and age|2018|04|10}}<ref name="Red Hat 7.5 Release Notes">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/3405871|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 Released|website=access.redhat.com|date=10 April 2018|access-date=2018-04-10|archive-date=2018-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111450/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/3405871|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** kernel 3.10.0-862
*** Fedora rebased to 27
*** GNOME rebased to 3.26<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/7/html/7.5_release_notes/new_features_desktop|title=Chapter 8. Desktop Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|access-date=2018-04-10|archive-date=2018-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025949/https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/7/html/7.5_release_notes/new_features_desktop|url-status=live}}</ref>
** 7.6, {{Start date and age|2018|10|30}}<ref name="Red Hat 7.6 Release Announcement">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/3669291|title=Red Hat Refines Hybrid Cloud Innovation with Latest Version of the World's Leading Enterprise Linux Platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6|website=access.redhat.com|date=30 October 2018|access-date=2018-10-30|archive-date=2018-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208115800/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/3669291|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** kernel 3.10.0-957
*** Fedora rebased to 28
*** GNOME rebased to 3.28
** 7.7, {{Start date and age|2019|08|06}}<ref name="Red Hat 7.7 Release Announcement">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/4324831|title=Red Hat Drives Cloud-Native Flexibility, Enhances Operational Security with Latest Version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7|website=access.redhat.com|date=6 August 2019|access-date=2019-08-06|archive-date=2019-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806134229/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/4324831|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** kernel 3.10.0-1062
*** GNOME remains as 3.28
** 7.8, {{Start date and age|2020|03|31}}<ref name="Red Hat 7.8 Release Announcement">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/4938281|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.8 Now Generally Available|website=access.redhat.com|date=31 March 2020|access-date=2020-03-31|archive-date=2020-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806182650/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/4938281|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** kernel 3.10.0-1127
*** GNOME remains as 3.28
** 7.9, {{Start date and age|2020|09|29}}<ref name="Red Hat 7.9 Release Announcement">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/5440131|title=Announcing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.9|website=access.redhat.com|date=30 September 2020|access-date=2020-10-13|archive-date=2020-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107155340/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/5440131|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** kernel 3.10.0-1160
** 7, '''''Extended Life-cycle Support''''' (ELS) Start Date {{start date and age |2024|07|01 }}
*** aka added ELS entitlement until ELS end Date {{start date and age |2028|6|30 }}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata |title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle |access-date=2011-01-12 |archive-date=2013-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120115058/https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===RHEL 6===
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 was forked from [[Fedora Linux release history#Fedora Linux 10|Fedora 10]] and contains many backported features from Fedora 11 and Fedora 12.

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (''Santiago''), {{Start date and age |2010|11|09}}, uses Linux kernel 2.6.32-71<ref>{{cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/6/html/6.0_release_notes/index|title=6.0 Release Notes — Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|access-date=2019-09-29|archive-date=2019-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929063324/https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/6/html/6.0_release_notes/index|url-status=live}}</ref>
** 6.1, {{start date and age  |2011|05|19}} (kernel 2.6.32-131.0.15)
** 6.2, {{start date and age  |2011|12|06}} (kernel 2.6.32-220)
** 6.3, {{start date and age |2012|06|20}} (kernel 2.6.32-279)
** 6.4, {{start date and age |2013|02|21}} (kernel 2.6.32-358)
** 6.5, {{start date and age  |2013|11|21}} (kernel 2.6.32-431)
** 6.6, {{start date and age  |2014|10|14}} (kernel 2.6.32-504)
** 6.7, {{start date and age  |2015|07|22}} (kernel 2.6.32-573)
** 6.8, {{start date and age  |2016|05|10}} (kernel 2.6.32-642)
** 6.9, {{Start date and age |2017|03|21}} (kernel 2.6.32-696)
** 6.10, {{Start date and age |2018|06|19}} (kernel 2.6.32-754)
** 6 ELS +, '''''Extended Life-cycle Support''''' (ELS) Start Date {{start date and age |2020|11|30 }}
*** aka added ELS entitlement until ELS end Date {{start date and age |2024|6|30 }}

===RHEL 5===
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 has forked with [[Fedora Linux release history#Fedora Core 6|Fedora Core 6]].

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (''Tikanga''), {{start date and age|2007|03|15}}, uses Linux kernel 2.6.18-8
** 5.1, {{start date and age |2007|11|07}} (kernel 2.6.18-53)
** 5.2, {{start date and age  |2008|05|21}} (kernel 2.6.18-92)
** 5.3, {{start date and age |2009|01|20}} (kernel 2.6.18-128)
** 5.4, {{start date and age |2009|09|02}} (kernel 2.6.18-164)
** 5.5, {{start date and age  |2010|03|30}} (kernel 2.6.18-194)
** 5.6, {{start date and age |2011|01|13}} (kernel 2.6.18-238)
** 5.7, {{start date and age  |2011|07|21}} (kernel 2.6.18-274)
** 5.8, {{start date and age |2012|02|20}} (kernel 2.6.18-308)
** 5.9, {{start date and age |2013|01|07}} (kernel 2.6.18-348)
** 5.10, {{start date and age |2013|10|01}} (kernel 2.6.18-371)
** 5.11, {{start date and age |2014|09|16}} (kernel 2.6.18-398)
** 5.11+, '''''Extended Life-cycle Support''''' (ELS) Start Date {{start date and age |2017|3|31 }}
*** aka added ELS entitlement until ELS end Date {{start date and age |2020|11|30 }}

===RHEL 4===
RHEL 4 introduced Linux kernel 2.6 versions and extended attributes on [[ext2]] and [[ext3]] file systems.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/4/html/Release_Notes/as-x86/index.html | title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 4 Release Notes | access-date=2019-04-24 | archive-date=2019-04-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424090732/https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/4/html/Release_Notes/as-x86/index.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 (''Nahant''), {{start date and age|2005|02|15}}, uses Linux kernel 2.6.9-5
** Update 1, {{start date and age |2005|06|08}} (kernel 2.6.9-11)
** Update 2, {{start date and age|2005|10|05}} (kernel 2.6.9-22)
** Update 3, {{start date and age|2006|03|12}} (kernel 2.6.9-34)
** Update 4, {{start date and age|2006|08|10}} (kernel 2.6.9-42)
** Update 5, {{start date and age |2007|05|01}} (kernel 2.6.9-55)
** Update 6, {{start date and age |2007|11|15}} (kernel 2.6.9-67)
** Update 7, {{start date and age |2008|07|29}} (kernel 2.6.9-78)
** Update 8, {{start date and age |2009|05|19}} (kernel 2.6.9-89)
** Update 9, {{start date and age |2011|02|16}} (kernel 2.6.9-100)

===RHEL 3===
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 (''Taroon''), {{start date and age |2003|10|22}}, uses Linux kernel 2.4.21-4
** Update 1, {{start date and age |2004|01|16}} (kernel 2.4.21-9)
** Update 2, {{start date and age|2004|05|12}} (kernel 2.4.21-15)
** Update 3, {{start date and age|2004|09|03}} (kernel 2.4.21-20)
** Update 4, {{start date and age|2004|12|12}} (kernel 2.4.21-27)
** Update 5, {{start date and age|2005|05|18}} (kernel 2.4.21-32)
** Update 6, {{start date and age|2005|09|28}} (kernel 2.4.21-37)
** Update 7, {{start date and age|2006|03|17}} (kernel 2.4.21-40)
** Update 8, {{start date and age|2006|07|20}} (kernel 2.4.21-47)
** Update 9, {{start date and age|2007|06|20}} (kernel 2.4.21-50)

=== RHEL 2.1 ===

* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 AS (''Pensacola''), {{start date and age |2002|03|23}}, uses [[Linux kernel]] 2.4.9-e.3
** Update 1, {{start date and age |2003|02|14}} (kernel 2.4.9-e.12)
** Update 2, {{start date and age |2003|03|29}} (kernel 2.4.9-e.24)
** Update 3, {{start date and age|2003|12|19}} (kernel 2.4.9-e.34)
** Update 4, {{start date and age|2004|04|21}} (kernel 2.4.9-e.40)
** Update 5, {{start date and age|2004|08|18}} (kernel 2.4.9-e.49)
** Update 6, {{start date and age|2004|12|13}} (kernel 2.4.9-e.57)
** Update 7, {{start date and age|2005|04|28}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2005-362.html|title=New redhat-release package for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 Update 7|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|access-date=2012-05-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311123129/https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2005-362.html|archive-date=2012-03-11}}</ref>
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 ES (''Panama''), May 2003{{citation needed|date=May 2012}}

==Product life cycle==
The life cycle of Red Hat Enterprise Linux is at least seven years for versions 3 and 4, and spans at least 10 years for versions 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The life cycle comprises several phases of varying length with different degrees of support. During the first phase ("Production 1"), Red Hat provides full support and updates software and hardware drivers. In later phases ("Production 2" and "Production 3"), only security and other important fixes are provided and support for new hardware is gradually reduced.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/ |title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle |publisher=Access.redhat.com |access-date=2015-01-20 |archive-date=2010-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430175533/http://www.redhat.com/security/updates/errata/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the last years of the support lifecycle (after seven years for version 4 and earlier, and after 10 years for version 5 and later), critical and security-related fixes are only provided to customers who pay an additional subscription ("Extended Lifecycle Support Add-On") that is available for versions 3, 4, 5 and 6. This covers a limited number of packages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://access.redhat.com/solutions/690063 |title=What is the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Extended Life Cycle Support Add-On (ELS), and what is its support life cycle? |publisher=Red Hat |access-date=2017-01-12 |archive-date=2018-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718115311/https://access.redhat.com/solutions/690063 |url-status=live }}</ref> Red Hat only supports major version upgrades from version 6 to version 7 and from version 7 to version 8.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://access.redhat.com/solutions/21964 | title=Does Red Hat support upgrades between major versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux? | date=10 February 2023 | access-date=22 October 2018 | archive-date=22 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022193527/https://access.redhat.com/solutions/21964 | url-status=live }}</ref>

<!-- Template:Version - for version & release history. Documentation & examples: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Version -->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! RHEL<br />version !! Last minor<br />release !! Release date !! End of Full Support !! End of Maintenance<br />Support 1 (RHEL 5, 6, 7) !! End of <br /> Maintenance Support (RHEL 8, 9, 10), <br /> Maintenance Support 2 (RHEL 5, 6, 7) <br /> (product retirement) !! End of Extended<br />Lifecycle Support
|-
| {{Version |o | 2.1}}
| U-7
| 26 March 2002 (AS)<br /> 1 May 2003 (ES)
| 30 November 2004
| 31 May 2005
| 31 May 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.redhat.com/security/updates/errata/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405103331/https://www.redhat.com/security/updates/errata/ |archive-date=2010-04-05 |title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Errata Support Policy |publisher=Red Hat |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| {{Version |o | 3}}
| U-9
| 23 October 2003
| 20 July 2006
| 30 June 2007
| 31 October 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0817.html |title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 - End Of Life |publisher=Red Hat |access-date=2010-01-12 |archive-date=2017-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723174356/https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0817.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| 30 January 2014
|-
| {{Version |o | 4}}
| U-9
| 14 February 2005
| 31 March 2009
| 16 February 2011
| 29 February 2012
| 31 March 2017
|-
| {{Version |o | 5}}
| 5.11
| 15 March 2007
| 8 January 2013
| 31 January 2014
| 31 March 2017
| 30 November 2020
|-
| {{Version |o | 6}}
| 6.10
| 10 November 2010
| 10 May 2016
| 10 May 2017
| 30 November 2020
| 30 June 2024
|-
| {{Version |co | 7}}
| 7.9
| 10 June 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/site/articles/3078|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Release Dates|publisher=Red Hat|access-date=2015-09-30|archive-date=2014-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622193526/https://access.redhat.com/site/articles/3078|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 6 August 2019
| 6 August 2020
| 30 June 2024
| 30 June 2028<ref>{{Cite web |title=Announcing up to 4 years of Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 |url=https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/announcing-4-years-extended-life-cycle-support-els-red-hat-enterprise-linux-7 |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=www.redhat.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701134107/https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/announcing-4-years-extended-life-cycle-support-els-red-hat-enterprise-linux-7 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{Version |co |8 }}
| 8.10
| 7 May 2019
| May 2024
| {{N/A}}
| May 2029
| 31 May 2031<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata?extIdCarryOver=true&sc_cid=701f2000001OH7EAAW|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle|publisher=Red Hat|access-date=2022-10-14|archive-date=2022-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014134820/https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata?extIdCarryOver=true&sc_cid=701f2000001OH7EAAW|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Version |co |9 }}
| 9.7
| 08 Nov 2022
| May 2027
| {{N/A}}
| May 2032
| 31 May 2034<ref name="auto1"/>
|-
| {{Version |c |10}}
| 10.1
| 13 May 2025
| May 2030
| {{N/A}}
| May 2035
| 31 May 2037<ref name="auto1"/>
|-
| colspan="7" | <small>{{Version |l |show=111110}}</small>
|}

===Kernel backporting===
To maintain a stable [[application binary interface]] (ABI), Red Hat does not update the kernel version, but instead backports new features to the same kernel version with which a particular version of RHEL has been released. New features are backported throughout the Production 1 phase of the RHEL lifecycle.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is backporting and how does it affect Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?|url=https://access.redhat.com/solutions/57665|access-date=12 May 2016|url-access=subscription|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718114906/https://access.redhat.com/solutions/57665|url-status=live}}</ref> Consequently, RHEL may use a Linux kernel with a dated version number, yet the kernel is up-to-date regarding not only security fixes, but also certain features.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why does Red Hat Linux use such an old kernel?|url=http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/62202/why-does-red-hat-linux-use-such-an-old-kernel|publisher=stackexchange.com|access-date=2016-05-18|archive-date=2016-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605113723/http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/62202/why-does-red-hat-linux-use-such-an-old-kernel|url-status=live}}</ref> One specific example is the {{Mono|SO_REUSEPORT}} [[Berkeley sockets|socket]] option which was added to Linux kernel 3.9, and was subsequently backported and became available since RHEL 6.5, which uses version 2.6.32 of the Linux kernel.<ref>{{cite web|title=SO_REUSEPORT on linux|url=https://stackoverflow.com/a/24234083/6081394|website=StackOverflow.com|access-date=12 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Backport SO_REUSEPORT patch from kernel 3.9+ to help support haproxy graceful restart|url=https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=991600|access-date=12 May 2016|url-access=subscription|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718114954/https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=991600|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Which RHEL version supports the SO_REUSEPORT socket option?|date=15 October 2014|url=https://access.redhat.com/solutions/1233183|publisher=Red Hat|url-access=subscription|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718115235/https://access.redhat.com/solutions/1233183|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Extended Update Support (EUS) / Z Tree ==
{{Cleanup|reason=Assumes knowledge about what EUS and/or Z Tree is and makes assumptions about use cases for using it.|date=February 2018}}
The Extended Update Support (EUS) allows an organization / company to choose when they change to a new minor version. For the first 6 months of the EUS channel / yum repo, features may be added, but then the channel is locked down so that only bug and security fixes are patched. The organization / company then has 24 months to move to a new EUS branch. EUS allows the organization / company to stay on a minor version if required by a third-party application which is only tested with a particular minor version of RHEL, such as [[Oracle Database]], [[IBM Db2]], IBM Cloud Orchestrator, [[Hortonworks]]. There may also be extra costs associated with using the EUS repos/channels depending on the agreement the organization / company has with Red Hat.<ref name="rhel-eus">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/articles/rhel-eus|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Extended Update Support (EUS) Overview|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|date=18 November 2022|access-date=1 December 2016|archive-date=2 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202035631/https://access.redhat.com/articles/rhel-eus|url-status=live}}</ref> For more information on what is Included/Excluded from the EUS see.<ref name="rhel-eus"/>

=== Note ===
* The EUS update mechanism for using older minor version branches is not available to CentOS, Oracle Linux and Scientific Linux, as Red Hat do not publish source packages for rebuilding.<ref>{{cite web | title=[CentOS] Z-Stream? | url=https://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/2012-May/126122.html | first=Johnny | last=Hughes | date=20 May 2012}}</ref> As such, projects clearly state to ensure users run on the latest available minor version within a supported major release.

=== Updates ===
In general one can move from z streams to the next version of the z stream.

* The 7.4.z EUS channel after the release of 7.4.
* The 7.5.z EUS channel after the release of 7.5.
Any 7.y.z EUS channel where y is greater than 1.
The standard base channel for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, which is the most recent minor release aka rhel 7Y where y is the latest greatest.

One can not go back in time, aka 7.5.z to 7.4.z and will NOT be supported.<ref name="rhel-eus"/>

===RHEL 6===
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 was forked from [[Fedora 12]] and contains many backported features from Fedora 13 and 14.
* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (''Santiago''), 10 November 2010, uses Linux kernel 2.6.32-71<ref name=rhelupdates/>
** 6.7, also termed Update 7, {{Start date and age |2015|07|22}} (kernel 2.6.32-573)
*** 1st Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age |2015|07|22}}
*** Last Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age |2017|07|31}}
** Note: There were no more EUS for Rhel6 after 6.7

===RHEL 7===
Red Hat Enterprise Linux&nbsp;7 (''Maipo'') is based on [[List of Fedora versions#Fedora 19|Fedora&nbsp;19]], upstream [[Linux kernel]]&nbsp;3.10, 10 June 2014, uses Linux kernel 3.10.0-123<ref name=rhelupdates/>
* 7.1, also termed Update 1, {{Start date and age|2015|03|05}} (kernel 3.10.0-229)<ref name="rhel-71"/>
** 1st Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2015|03|05}} 
** Last Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2017|03|31}} 
* 7.2, also termed Update 2, {{Start date and age|2015|11|19}} (kernel 3.10.0-327)<ref name="Red Hat, Inc"/>
** 1st Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2015|11|19}}
** Last Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2017|11|30}} 
* 7.3, also termed Update 3, {{Start date and age|2016|11|03}} (kernel 3.10.0-514)<ref name="access.redhat.com"/>
** 1st Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2016|11|03}}
** Last Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2018|11|30}} 
** Features may be updated<ref name="rhel-eus-supported-channels-dates">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|access-date=2011-01-12|archive-date=2013-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120115058/https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 7.4, also termed Update 4, {{Start date and age|2017|08|01}} (kernel 3.10.0-693)<ref name="Red Hat 7.4 Release Notes" />
** 1st Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2017|08|01}}
** Last Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2019|08|31}}
* 7.5, also termed Update 5, {{Start date and age|2018|04|10}} (kernel 3.10.0-862)<ref name="Red Hat 7.5 Release Notes" />
** 1st Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2018|04|10}}
** Last Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2020|04|30}}
* 7.6, also termed Update 6, {{Start date and age|2018|10|30}} (kernel 3.10.0-957)<ref name="Red Hat 7.6 Release Announcement" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle|url=https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata|access-date=2020-11-21|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|language=en|archive-date=2013-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120115058/https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/|url-status=live}}</ref>
** 1st Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2018|10|30}}
** Last Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2021|5|31}}
* 7.7, also termed Update 7, {{Start date and age|2019|08|06}} (kernel 3.10.0-1062)<ref name="Red Hat 7.7 Release Announcement" /><ref name=":0" />
** 1st Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2019|08|06}}
** Last Day of EUS Window {{Start date and age|2021|08|30}}
*7.8, also termed Update 8<ref>{{Cite web|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.8 Now Generally Available|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/4938281|access-date=2020-11-21|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|date=31 March 2020|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205175808/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/4938281|url-status=live}}</ref>
**Released on {{Start date and age|2020|03|31}}
*7.9, also termed Update 9 is the final RHEL 7 release<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Announcing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.9|url=https://access.redhat.com/announcements/5440131|access-date=2020-11-21|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|date=30 September 2020|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107155340/https://access.redhat.com/announcements/5440131|url-status=live}}</ref>
**Released on {{Start date and age|2020|09|30}}

===RHEL 8===
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (''Ootpa'') is based on [[List of Fedora versions#Fedora 28|Fedora&nbsp;28]], upstream [[Linux kernel]]&nbsp;4.18, [[systemd]]&nbsp;239, and GNOME 3.28. The first beta was announced on November 14, 2018.<ref name="rhel-8-beta"/> Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 was officially released on May 7, 2019.<ref name="rhel-8-release"/>

For RHEL 8, the update schedule is approximately:<ref name="RHEL-8-Lifecycle">{{cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata#RHEL8_Life_Cycle|date=2019-08-06|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle|access-date=2019-08-06|archive-date=2013-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120115058/https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/#RHEL8_Life_Cycle|url-status=live}}</ref>

* 8.0 - 6 Month Minor Release (kernel 4.18.0-80)<ref name="rhel8-release-dates">{{Cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/articles/3078|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Release Dates|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|date=17 May 2023|access-date=17 June 2019|archive-date=20 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120224845/https://access.redhat.com/articles/3078|url-status=live}}</ref>
** 1st Day of Support Window {{Start date and age|2019|05|07}}<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
* 8.1 - 6 Month Minor Release with Extended Support and Update Services for SAP Solutions (kernel 4.18.0-147)<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
** 1st Day of Support Window {{Start date and age|2019|11|05}}<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
* 8.2 - 6 Month Minor Release with Extended Support and Update Services for SAP Solutions (kernel 4.18.0-193)<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
** 1st Day of Support Window {{Start date and age|2020|04|28}}<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
* 8.3 - 6 Month Minor Release (kernel 4.18.0-240)<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
** 1st Day of Support Window {{Start date and age|2020|11|03}}<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
* 8.4 - 6 Month Minor Release with Extended Support and Update Services for SAP Solutions (kernel 4.18.0-305)<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
** 1st Day of Support Window {{Start date and age|2021|05|18}}<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
* 8.5 - 6 Month Minor Release (kernel 4.18.0-348)<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
** 1st Day of Support Window {{Start date and age|2021|11|09}}<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
* 8.6 - 6 Month Minor Release with Extended Support and Update Services for SAP Solutions (kernel 4.18.0-372.9.1)<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
** 1st Day of Support Window {{Start date and age|2022|05|10}}<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
* 8.7 - 6 Month Minor Release (kernel 4.18.0-425.3.1)<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
** 1st Day of Support Window {{Start date and age|2022|11|09}}<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
* 8.8 - 6 Month Minor Release with Extended Support and Update Services for SAP Solutions (kernel 4.18.0-477.10.1.el8_8)<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>
** 1st Day of Support Window {{Start date and age|2023|05|16}}<ref name="rhel8-release-dates"/>

====RHEL 8 application streams====
In addition to normal OS updates, RHEL 8 also maintains application streams to allow for certain applications to be supported and updated independent of the base OS and to match the maintenance stream of the application vendor.<ref name="rhel-8-app-stream-support">{{cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata#RHEL8_Application_Stream_Life_Cycle|date=2019-08-06|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle|at=sec. "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Application Streams Life Cycle"|website=Red Hat Customer Portal|access-date=2019-08-06|archive-date=2013-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120115058/https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/#RHEL8_Application_Stream_Life_Cycle|url-status=live}}</ref> Each application stream will be supported from two to five years with new versions only available during the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Full Support Phase.<ref name="rhel-8-app-streams">{{cite web|url=https://access.redhat.com/node/4079021|title=Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Application Streams Life Cycle|date=2019-08-06}}</ref> These apps should be expected to be updated frequently with shorter lifecycles than the base OS packages.

Packages currently offered as streams<ref name="rhel-8-app-streams"/>
* authd 1.4.4 (through May 2021)
* container-tools 1 (through May 2021)
* dotnet 2.1 (through Aug 2021)
* git 2.18 (through May 2021)
* httpd 2.4 (through May 2024)
* Identity Management DL1 (through May 2024)
* mariadb 10.3 (through May 2023)
* maven 3.5 (through May 2022)
* mercurial 4.8 (through May 2022)
* mysql 8 (through Apr 2023)
* nginx 1.14 (through May 2021)
* nodejs 10 (through Apr 2021)
* openjdk 1.8.0 (through Jun 2023)
* openjdk 11 (through Oct 2024)
* perl 5.24 (through May 2021)
* php 7.2 (through May 2021)
* postgresql 10 (through May 2024)
* postgresql 9.6 (through Nov 2021)
* python 2.7 (through Jun 2024)
* redis 5 (through May 2022)
* ruby 2.5 (through Feb 2021)
* scala 2.1 (through May 2022)
* swig 3 (through May 2022)
* varnish 6 (through May 2022)

===RHEL 9===
{{Expand section|date=September 2022}}
'''Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9''' (RHEL 9) is a commercial open-source operating system developed by [[Red Hat]] for enterprise environments. It is built from the open-source [[Fedora Linux|Fedora]] distribution and aims to provide a stable, secure, and enterprise-grade platform. RHEL 9, released in May 2022, introduces several new features and improvements, especially tailored for cloud-native development, security, automation, and performance enhancements.

==== Key features ====

# '''Kernel and Performance'''  RHEL 9 is based on the [[Linux kernel]] 5.14, offering improved performance and hardware support. It also features enhanced performance tuning tools for administrators to optimize workloads on modern architectures.
# '''Security Enhancements'''  RHEL 9 includes advanced security measures such as the Integrity Measurement Architecture (IMA), which ensures system integrity. It also incorporates [[OpenSSL]] 3.0 for updated cryptography and enhanced security policies. By default, [[Secure Shell|SSH]] root password login is disabled to encourage the use of key-based authentication. [[Security-Enhanced Linux|SELinux]] continues to play a crucial role in enforcing strict security policies.
# '''Automation and Management'''  The integration with [[Ansible (software)|Ansible]] allows for more streamlined automation and configuration management across systems. The [[Cockpit (software)|Cockpit]] web console has also been improved, offering new features for managing containers, networking, and storage.
# '''Cloud and Container Support'''  RHEL 9 is designed for cloud-native environments, with strong support for containers and hybrid cloud infrastructures. It is optimized to work seamlessly with [[OpenShift|Red Hat OpenShift]], a Kubernetes-based platform, and supports containerization through tools like [[Podman]]. It also includes AppStreams, which provide curated packages for developers, ensuring access to the latest runtimes and frameworks.
# '''Networking and Storage'''  Enhanced [[NetworkManager]] features and support for NVMe over Fabrics improve performance and scalability for modern networking and storage configurations.

==== Use cases ====
RHEL 9 is suitable for a wide range of enterprise applications across industries such as financial services, healthcare, and government. It is used in both on-premises and cloud environments, with strong support for multi-cloud and hybrid cloud deployments 

==== Support lifecycle ====
RHEL 9 follows Red Hat's 10-year support lifecycle, which includes full support for the first five years, followed by maintenance support for the remaining five years.

== See also ==
* [[Red Hat Virtualization]]
* [[Stratis (configuration daemon)]]
* [[List of commercial products based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux]]
{{Portal bar|Linux|Free and open-source software}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book|title=RHCE Red Hat Certified Engineer Linux Study Guide (RHEL 5) |ref=none
 |last= Jang |first= Michael H. |year=2007 |publisher= McGraw-Hill |location= New York |isbn= 978-0-07-226454-8 }}
* {{Cite book|title= Red Hat Certified Technician & Engineer (RHEL 5) |ref=none
 |last= Ghori |first= Asghar |year= 2009 |publisher= Global Village Publishing |location= Reston |isbn= 978-1-61584-430-2 }}
* {{Cite book|title= Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Administration Unleashed |ref=none
 |last= Fox |first= Tammy |year= 2007 |publisher= Sams |location= Indianapolis, Ind. |isbn= 978-0-672-32892-3 |oclc= 137291425 }}
* {{Cite book|title= Learning Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora |ref=none
 |last= McCarty |first= Bill |year= 2004 |publisher= O'Reilly |location= Sebastopol, CA |isbn= 978-0-596-00589-4 |oclc= 55130915 }}
* {{Cite book|title= Fedora 9 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Bible |ref=none
 |last= Negus |first= Christopher |year= 2008 |publisher= Wiley |location= Indianapolis, Ind. |isbn= 978-0-470-37362-0 |oclc= 222155845 }}
* {{Cite book |title= Practical Guide to Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux |last= Sobell |first= Mark G. |year= 2008 |publisher= Prentice Hall |location= Upper Saddle River, NJ |isbn= 978-0-13-714295-8 |oclc= 216616647 |url= https://archive.org/details/practicalguideto0000sobe_i8m0 |url-access= registration |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book|title= Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 For Dummies |ref=none
 |last= Collings |first= Terry |year= 2005 |publisher= Wiley |location= Hoboken, N.J. |isbn= 978-0-7645-7713-0 |oclc= 58973830 }}
* {{Cite book|title= Red Hat Enterprise Linux & Fedora Core 4: The Complete Reference |ref=none
 |last= Petersen |first= Richard |year= 2005 |publisher= McGraw-Hill |location= London |isbn= 978-0-07-226154-7 |oclc= 62293551 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Red Hat Enterprise Linux}}
* {{Official website|https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux}}
** [https://developers.redhat.com/products/developertoolset/overview/ Red Hat Developer Toolset] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120031055/https://developers.redhat.com/products/developertoolset/overview |date=2022-01-20 }}
** [https://developers.redhat.com/products/softwarecollections/overview/ Red Hat Software Collections]
* [http://www.cio.com/article/155750 Brian Stevens, CTO and vice president of engineering, Red Hat on why Red Hat Enterprise Linux is "The Business OS for Flexibility and Value"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504233202/http://www.cio.com/article/155750 |date=2008-05-04 }}
* {{DistroWatch|redhatenterpriselinux|NAME=Red Hat Enterprise Linux}}

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{{IBM operating systems}}
{{IBM FOSS}}

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[[Category:Enterprise Linux distributions]]
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