The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has just announced the beta release of AlmaLinux 9.5, codenamed "Teal Serval". This beta version is available for all supported architectures, including x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le, and s390x.
While this release is not recommended for production environments, it offers a glimpse into the exciting new features and improvements coming to the stable release.
What's New in AlmaLinux 9.5 Beta?
AlmaLinux 9.5 Beta focuses on enhancing performance, development tools, and security. Some of the key highlights include:
- Updated Compilers: The release includes updated versions of GCC Toolset 14, LLVM Toolset 18.1.3, Rust Toolset 1.79.0, Go Toolset 1.20.6, and GCC 11.5.0.
- New Packages: AlmaLinux 9.5 Beta introduces new packages, including .NET 9.0 and BIND 9.18.
- Updated Module Streams: Node.js 22 module stream has been updated, providing better support for web applications.
- Enhanced Performance Tools: The release includes updated performance tools and debuggers, such as GDB 14.2, Valgrind 3.23.0, SystemTap 5.1, elfutils 0.191, PCP 6.2.2, and Grafana 10.2.6.
- Security Updates: AlmaLinux 9.5 Beta incorporates security updates, including OpenSSL to version 3.2.2, SELinux policy to version 38.1.44, and crypto-policies to version 20240822.
Upgrading to AlmaLinux 9.5 Beta
Before you begin, remember that this is a BETA release and should not be used for production installations. Do not use these update instructions on production machines unless you have backups and a recovery option.
Upgrade Steps:
Upgrade the almalinux-release
packages to version 9.5-0.4.el9 from the beta repositories:
sudo dnf install -y https://repo.almalinux.org/vault/almalinux-{release,repos,gpg-keys}-latest-9-beta.x86_64.rpm
sudo dnf clean all
The new package contains updated repository URLs. Run the following command to update the rest of the packages:
sudo dnf upgrade -y
After completing these steps, reboot your system.
Congratulations! Your system is successfully upgraded to AlmaLinux 9.5 Beta.
Download and Install AlmaLinux 9.5 Beta
If you don't want to upgrade but prefer a fresh installation, follow these instructions.
AlmaLinux 9.5 Beta is now available for download, offering users a chance to test the latest features and improvements.
Available Installation ISO Images
There are three types of installation ISO images for AlmaLinux 9.5 Beta:
- AlmaLinux-9.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso: A single network installation CD image that downloads packages over the Internet.
- AlmaLinux-9.5-beta-1-x86_64-minimal.iso: A minimal self-contained DVD image that allows for offline installation.
- AlmaLinux-9.5-beta-1-x86_64-dvd.iso: A full installation DVD image that contains most of the AlmaLinux packages.
Downloading the ISO Images
To download a suitable ISO image, you can use the following command in your terminal. Replace the filename with the desired image:
# For the boot ISO wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/9.5-beta/isos/x86_64/AlmaLinux-9.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso # For the minimal ISO wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/9.5-beta/isos/x86_64/AlmaLinux-9.5-beta-1-x86_64-minimal.iso # For the full DVD ISO wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/9.5-beta/isos/x86_64/AlmaLinux-9.5-beta-1-x86_64-dvd.iso
Importing the AlmaLinux Public Key
To ensure the integrity of the downloaded files, you should download and import the AlmaLinux public key:
wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/RPM-GPG-KEY-AlmaLinux gpg --import RPM-GPG-KEY-AlmaLinux
Downloading and Verifying Checksums
Next, download the checksums list to verify the integrity of your downloaded ISO image:
wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/9.5-beta/isos/x86_64/CHECKSUM
Verify the checksums list to ensure it has a "Good signature":
gpg --verify CHECKSUM
You should see output similar to this:
gpg: Signature made Mon 14 Oct 2024 02:03:45 PM EDT gpg: Good signature from "AlmaLinux OS 9 <packager@almalinux.org>" [unknown] gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature! gpg: There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner. Primary key fingerprint: BF18 AC28 7617 8908 D6E7 1267 D36C B86C B86B 3716
Verifying the Downloaded ISO Image Checksum
To verify the checksum of the downloaded ISO image, calculate its SHA256 checksum:
sha256sum AlmaLinux-9.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso
Compare the output with the expected checksum from the CHECKSUM file:
cat CHECKSUM | grep -E 'SHA256.*AlmaLinux-9.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso'
Ensure that the checksums match.
Now create a bootable USB bootable using Etcher or Ventoy. After creating the bootable ISO, boot your system with it and follow the instructions provided in the link below to install AlmaLinux.
The above guide is for AlmaLinux 8.4 installation, but the instructions should be similar to all newer versions.
Installation Source Configuration
If you decide to use the AlmaLinux-9.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso image, you may need to provide the following URL repository as the Installation Source if the installer cannot find the closest mirror:
https://repo.almalinux.org/vault/9.5-beta/BaseOS/x86_64/kickstart/
For the minimal or DVD ISO images, no extra Installation Sources are required.
Provide Feedback
The AlmaLinux community encourages users to test the beta release and provide feedback. This feedback is important for identifying and addressing issues before the stable release. You can report any bugs you encounter on the AlmaLinux Bug Tracker.
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