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Rocky Linux

Rocky Linux is a free, secure operating system designed to run server software.

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Rocky Linux is a free, secure operating system designed to run server software. Think of it as a stable foundation for your home lab or business apps. It allows you to host websites, files, and databases reliably on your own hardware without expensive licensing fees.

Platform availability

Available on 1 of 9 platforms

  • Unraid (not listed)
  • TrueNAS (not listed)
  • Umbrel (not listed)
  • ZimaOS (not listed)
  • Proxmox
  • Helm (not listed)
  • Mac (not listed)
  • Windows (not listed)
  • Linux (not listed)

Health score?A 0-100 score computed nightly from four factors: maintained (40%: recent commits and steady activity), popular (25%: GitHub stars, log scale), easy to install (20%: platforms, install notes, setup guides, Docker image) and light to run (15%: minimum RAM, ARM support). When the source code has been checked, a fifth factor, security check (20%: automated scan for committed secrets, unsafe desktop-app settings, known-vulnerable dependencies and project hygiene; any serious finding caps it at 20), is added. Factors without data are left out and the rest are rescaled.

62/100 Good

Maintained
100last commit 12 days ago
Popular
3238 GitHub stars
Easy to install
251 install platform, install notes
Light to run
No data

Based on 3 of 4 factors.

Availability: platform listings confirmed today

GitHub stars
38
Open issues
16
Last commit
2026-09-29
License
BSD-3-Clause
Activity
steady

Checked 12 days ago - source: GitHub (rocky-linux/rockylinux.org)

Resources & Compatibility

Requirements not published yet.

First-install notes

  • Start and secure MariaDB If you're using a database, start MariaDB and run the security setup script right away. This helps lock down weak defaults, so your database is less likely to be exposed. source
  • Install and enable Nginx If you're hosting a website, install Nginx and set it to start on boot. Without enabling it, the web server may not come back after a reboot, so your site could be unavailable. source
  • Run Incus first-time setup If you plan to use Incus for containers or virtual machines, run the interactive init command to finish the initial setup. Without it, Incus isn't configured and you can't create workloads normally. source

Fetched 12 days ago - each note links to its source

Alternatives (11)

  • Arch Linux - Arch Linux is a customisable operating system for your computer.
  • CachyOS - CachyOS is designed to deliver lightning-fast speeds and stability, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable computing experience every time you use…
  • Debian
  • Fedora
  • KDE Linux - Free, open source Linux OS by KDE, focusing on safety, maintainability, and modern features, integrating KDE Plasma and apps for diverse ho…
  • Linux Mint - Desktop-focused Linux system offering custom menus, multimedia codecs, browser plugins, native DVD playback, and integrated software manage…
  • Manjaro Linux - Manjaro is a user-friendly Linux distribution based on the independently developed Arch operating system.
  • Ubuntu - Ubuntu pod for testing or debugging
  • Zorin OS - Linux-based operating system with a customizable interface for Windows users, dual-boot support, WINE compatibility, pre-installed software…
  • elementary OS - elementary OS is a free, fast and aesthetically pleasing operating system based on Ubuntu .
  • oraclelinux

Checked 12 days ago - source: AlternativeTo

Common questions

How can I migrate from another Enterprise Linux distribution to Rocky Linux?

You can migrate from other Enterprise Linux distributions using an easy-to-use migration script. The project provides the script free of charge.

What should I do after installing Nginx on Rocky Linux so a website remains available?

Install Nginx and set it to start on boot. If it is not enabled, the web server may not come back after a reboot and your site could be unavailable.

What first-time step is needed before using Incus to create workloads?

Run the interactive init command to finish initial setup. Without it, Incus isn't configured and you can't create workloads normally.

Which Rocky Linux releases are listed as fully released?

The release tracking section lists Rocky Linux 10.2, 9.8, and 8.10 as fully released.

Answers sourced from docs.rockylinux.org, docs.rockylinux.org, rockylinux.org

Community

Collected 7 days ago - public community threads