AlmaLinux is taking another step in its strategy to be the free and compatible alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for enterprises, hosting providers and system administrators. The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has announced the general availability of AlmaLinux OS 9.7, codenamed “Moss Jungle Cat”, a release that strengthens performance, security, development tools and cloud/container deployment options.
The new version is built from the same sources as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.7 and maintains binary compatibility with RHEL, which allows it to be used as a direct replacement on servers, virtual machines, cloud environments and virtualization platforms where organizations want to avoid subscription costs or more rigid licensing schemes.
A solid base: same kernel as RHEL 9.7 and four supported architectures
AlmaLinux OS 9.7 is powered by the Linux 5.14 kernel, the same used by RHEL 9.7, ensuring consistency in drivers, system stability and compatibility with the enterprise ecosystem already standardized on this branch.
The foundation maintains its commitment to covering a wide range of enterprise and data center hardware:
- x86_64 (64-bit Intel/AMD)
- AArch64 (ARM64)
- PowerPC 64-bit Little Endian (ppc64le)
- IBM System Z (s390x)
Installation images (ISOs) are already available on the official mirrors, and there are also torrents for those who prefer to download each architecture that way.
More tools for debugging, optimization and observability
One of the areas where AlmaLinux OS 9.7 shines the most is its ecosystem of tools for development and observability, which are crucial in mission-critical environments.
Highlighted versions include:
- GDB 16.3 – for debugging complex C, C++ and other language applications
- Valgrind 3.25.1 – advanced detection of memory leaks and invalid accesses
- SystemTap 5.3 – deep analysis of kernel and process behaviour
- Dyninst 13.0.0, elfutils 0.193, libabigail 2.8 – essential tools for binary analysis and ABI compatibility
- rsyslog 8.2506.0, Bpftrace 0.23.5, PCP 6.3.7 and Grafana 10.2.6 – a powerful combo for performance monitoring and observability, with visual dashboards and metrics
There are also updated module streams such as:
- Node.js 24 – key for modern web applications and microservices
- SWIG 4.3 – a fundamental tool to generate bindings between C/C++ and other languages
All this makes AlmaLinux OS 9.7 a very attractive platform for development, DevOps and SRE teams that need both “enterprise-grade” stability and access to up-to-date tooling.
Updated toolchain: GCC 15, LLVM 20 and new Rust and Go versions
The system toolchain also receives a major refresh, critical for those who compile software directly on their servers or maintain their own packages:
- GNU C Library (glibc) 2.34
- GCC 15
- GNU Binutils 2.44
- Annobin 12.98
- LLVM 20.1.8
- Rust 1.88.0
- Go 1.24
In practice, this translates into:
- Better performance for compiled code
- New optimizations and compiler warnings
- Support for modern features in C, C++, Rust and Go
- Improved security through more advanced static analysis and hardening options
For companies maintaining their own critical applications or on-premise products, having these versions available helps extend the lifecycle of their code without giving up the stable base of the 9.x series.
.NET 10, containers and virtualization: ready for hybrid cloud
AlmaLinux OS 9.7 also clearly targets the world of cloud, containers and virtualization.
Key components include:
- .NET 10.0 – relevant for organizations with Microsoft-based stacks deploying on Linux
- Podman 5.6.0 and Buildah 1.41.4 – essential tools to build and run containers without daemon-based engines like Docker, ideal for more secure environments and Kubernetes-compatible workflows
On the image side, the foundation announces:
- Container images, including Platform and UBI-like variants
- LXC/LXD templates
- Live images for GNOME, GNOME-mini, KDE, XFCE, MATE and more
- Cloud images for:
- AWS (x86_64 and AArch64)
- Azure (x86_64 and AArch64)
- Google Cloud
- Generic Cloud/Cloud-init for all four architectures
- OpenNebula (x86_64 and AArch64)
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (x86_64 and AArch64)
- Vagrant boxes for:
- Libvirt
- VirtualBox
- Hyper-V
- VMware (x86_64 and AArch64)
- Parallels (AArch64)
- Support for Raspberry Pi
- Images for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on x86_64 and AArch64
In other words, AlmaLinux 9.7 is not limited to the traditional server: it reaches public cloud, private cloud, edge and technical desktops, with options ready for development, lab and production environments.
Strengthened security and post-quantum cryptography
Security remains one of the pillars of enterprise distributions, and AlmaLinux OS 9.7 brings relevant updates in this area:
- OpenSSL 3.5 with updated crypto policies
- Updated:
- SSSD 2.9.7 – for identity integration and centralized authentication
- Keylime 7.12.1 – for remote attestation and platform trust technologies
- SELinux-policy 38.1.65 – improved policies that tighten mandatory access control
One of the most notable changes is the update of system-wide cryptographic policies to introduce the PQ subpolicy, enabling support for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms. This prepares the ground for a future where quantum computers may threaten traditional public-key cryptography schemes.
With this move, AlmaLinux aligns itself with the global trend of anticipating quantum risk and starting to offer tools and policies that make it easier to transition smoothly toward quantum-resistant algorithms.
Desktop and user tools: GIMP 3.0.4, Mesa 25 and Samba 4.22
Although AlmaLinux is mostly perceived as a server-oriented system, version 9.7 also brings noticeable improvements for those using it on workstations, admin desktops or lightweight graphical environments.
Some key versions:
- GIMP 3.0.4 – a modern release of the well-known free graphics editor
- Mesa 25.0.7 – updated graphics stack, important for 3D acceleration
- Samba 4.22.4 – interoperability with Windows networks and domains
On top of that, there are utilities like Git-LFS 3.6.1 (for repositories with large files) and other building blocks that make AlmaLinux a viable base for developers on the desktop as well.
How to upgrade to AlmaLinux OS 9.7
Users already running AlmaLinux 9.x do not need to reinstall from scratch. Upgrading to AlmaLinux 9.7 can be done directly from the command line using the usual distribution tools (for example, using dnf to sync with the new release repositories).
The foundation recommends:
- Backing up critical data and configuration.
- Reviewing the release notes to detect any changes that might affect specific services.
- Testing the upgrade in pre-production environments when dealing with mission-critical systems.
For fresh installations, it is enough to download the official ISOs from the AlmaLinux website or use the cloud and container images prepared for the main providers.
Community, testing and lifecycle
As with previous releases, the AlmaLinux OS Foundation highlights the key role of the community:
- Users are encouraged to report bugs via the Bug Tracker
- Join the Testing channel in the community chat
- Use the dedicated 9.7 forums
- Participate in the AlmaLinux community on Reddit or follow updates on X
Since this is a 9.x branch compatible with RHEL, AlmaLinux OS 9.7 benefits from a long lifecycle, suitable for long-term projects, regulated environments and workloads where frequent changes are not desirable.
Frequently asked questions about AlmaLinux OS 9.7
What is AlmaLinux OS 9.7 and how does it differ from RHEL 9.7?
AlmaLinux OS 9.7 is a free, community-driven Linux distribution built from the same sources as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.7, with the goal of offering binary compatibility without subscription costs. Functionally, it aims to behave like RHEL 9.7, but it is maintained by the AlmaLinux OS Foundation and its community.
What kind of environments is AlmaLinux OS 9.7 suitable for?
AlmaLinux OS 9.7 is designed for enterprise servers, data centers, public and private clouds, containers and virtual machines, as well as for technical workstations and development environments. Its support for x86_64, ARM64, ppc64le and s390x makes it suitable for both standard hardware and IBM platforms.
What are the main highlights of AlmaLinux OS 9.7 for developers and DevOps teams?
The 9.7 release includes new toolchains (GCC 15, LLVM 20.1.8, Rust 1.88.0, Go 1.24), updated monitoring and debugging tools (GDB 16.3, Valgrind 3.25.1, SystemTap 5.3, Grafana 10.2.6), support for Node.js 24, and enhancements in containers with Podman 5.6.0 and Buildah 1.41.4. All of this makes it easier to work with microservices, CI/CD pipelines and cloud-native applications.
How does AlmaLinux OS 9.7 improve security and what is the PQ subpolicy?
AlmaLinux OS 9.7 ships modern versions of OpenSSL, SELinux-policy, SSSD and Keylime, and updates the system crypto policies to introduce the PQ subpolicy, which enables support for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms. This allows organizations to start preparing their infrastructure against future attacks carried out with quantum computers, while preserving compatibility with current systems.
Where can AlmaLinux OS 9.7 images be downloaded?
Installation ISOs, torrents and the various cloud, container and Vagrant images are available from the official AlmaLinux website and its mirrors. From there, users can choose an architecture (x86_64, AArch64, ppc64le, s390x) and the format that best fits their environment: bare metal, virtual machine, public cloud or local lab.
