The release of Rocky Linux 10.0 GA marks a major milestone in the open-source enterprise Linux landscape. Built as a community-driven successor to CentOS, Rocky Linux has quickly become a favorite among sysadmins, developers, and organizations seeking a stable, secure, and production-ready OS.
But with version 10.0 officially out, the question arises: how does it compare to Rocky Linux 9? And more importantly, should you upgrade now?
Let’s break down the key changes, improvements, and considerations for upgrading.
A Quick Recap: Rocky Linux 9 vs Rocky Linux 10.0
Rocky Linux 9
- Based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9
- Released with a strong focus on stability, security, and long-term support.
- Served as the foundation for many enterprise workloads and cloud-native environments.
Rocky Linux 10.0 GA
- Built on RHEL 10 sources, released July 2025.
- Marks a next-generation shift in system performance, toolchains, and automation.
- Designed with modern workloads in mind, from containers to edge computing.
Key Differences: Rocky Linux 10.0 vs 9 (Table Format)
| Feature / Component | Rocky Linux 9 | Rocky Linux 10.0 GA |
| Upstream Base | RHEL 9 | RHEL 10 |
| Kernel Version Default architecture | 5.14 x86_64 (x86_64-v1 baseline) | 6.12.0 x86_64-v2 or v3 baseline |
| Python Version | 3.9 | 3.12 |
| GCC Version | GCC 11 | GCC 13 |
| Web Console (Cockpit) | Basic Monitoring & Services | Improved UI, real-time metrics |
| System Roles | Limited | Expanded with better Ansible automation |
| Cryptography Policies | TLS 1.2+, basic crypto policies | System-wide crypto hardening |
| Container Support | Podman 3.x | Podman (latest), enhanced OCI |
| Filesystem Support | ext4, XFS | Same, with better snapshot/backup tools |
| SELinux | Enforcing by default | Enhanced with better context handling |
What’s New in Rocky Linux 10.0?
1. Modern Toolchain
Developers get access to Python 3.12, GCC 13, and updated build environments, making it easier to build and run modern apps with improved performance and security.
2. Enhanced Cryptographic Policies
System-wide crypto policies make it easier to enforce modern encryption standards. TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are deprecated, making 10.0 more secure out of the box.
3. Improved Cockpit Interface
The redesigned web console brings better usability, more metrics, and a streamlined service management experience for system administrators.
4. Expanded System Roles
With deeper Ansible integration, Rocky 10.0 introduces more system roles for easier automation of network, storage, and user configurations.
5. Container-First Architecture
Podman and other container tools are updated for OCI compliance and better Kubernetes compatibility, making it easier to build lightweight, containerized apps.
Should You Upgrade to Rocky Linux 10.0?
Upgrade now if you:
- Need access to newer compilers, interpreters, and development libraries.
- Want a secure-by-default OS with strong crypto and SELinux enforcement.
- We are building new systems, especially in containerized or edge environments.
- Plan to automate more with Ansible and system roles.
Wait, if you:
- Have mission-critical workloads running on Rocky Linux 9.
- Need more time to validate application and dependency compatibility.
- Rely on third-party packages not yet available for version 10.
Rocky Linux 9 will continue receiving updates and security patches until at least 2032, so you have plenty of runway.
Rocky Linux 10.0 is a robust leap forward, reflecting the modern needs of developers and enterprises alike. From newer toolchains to stronger security and improved automation, it’s clear the OS is evolving in step with modern infrastructure demands. Backed by a 10-year support lifecycle that extends through May 31, 2035, Rocky Linux 10 ensures long-term stability and enterprise-grade reliability. Each minor release is actively maintained only until the next version becomes available, encouraging users to stay current for full support and security coverage. This structured release and support strategy makes Rocky Linux 10 a dependable foundation for both traditional workloads and modern, cloud-native deployments.
Whether you’re running on-premise servers, building for the cloud, or managing containers at scale, Rocky Linux 10.0 offers a future-proof platform.
Need Help Migrating to Rocky Linux 10.0?
At SparkSupport, we help businesses plan, migrate, and optimize their Linux infrastructure. Whether you’re upgrading from Rocky 9 or transitioning from CentOS, our Linux experts ensure a seamless and secure migration process.
Talk to our team today to explore your upgrade roadmap. Contact us
