AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10, a development-focused distribution that serves as a stable preview of the upcoming AlmaLinux OS 10, has been released with Linux Kernel 6.12. This was released as part of quarterly ISO rebuilds that are available for download.
The updated Qt packages included in this release make AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 compatible with the KDE desktop environment from the EPEL repo.
For those wondering, AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 is built from the source code of CentOS Stream 10, which will eventually become RHEL 10.
This preview offers a unique opportunity for the community to get involved in the development process and shape the future of AlmaLinux.
What's New in AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10?
AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 boasts several key updates and features, including:
1. Updated Packages and ISOs:
AlmaLinux team has rebuilt all packages to align with critical changes in CentOS Stream 10. The quarterly ISO rebuilds include updates to the Linux kernel 6.12 and Qt packages, making AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 compatible with the KDE desktop environment from the EPEL repository.
2. Cloud and Container Images:
In addition to the standard ISO releases, AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 now provides cloud and container images, expanding its availability and deployment options. These options include:
- Container: Docker Hub, Quay.io, and GitHub Packages
- Cloud: Amazon Web Services (AWS) via AWS Marketplace and Community AMIs, Generic Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and OpenNebula
- Vagrant Boxes: AlmaLinux OS Kitten images are also accessible on the HCP Vagrant Registry.
3. Re-enabled Frame Pointers:
For enhanced performance optimization across various workloads, frame pointers have been re-enabled, allowing for system-wide real-time tracing and profiling.
4. x86-64-v2 Architecture Support:
Recognizing the limitations of hardware upgrades for all users, AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 offers an additional build using the older x86-64-v2 architecture alongside the default x86-64-v3 build. This ensures continued support for older CPUs lacking the features required for the newer architecture.
Please note that third-party packages for RHEL 10 will be built for x86-64-v3, potentially requiring users of the x86-64-v2 build to rebuild packages themselves.
5. Secure Boot, SPICE and KVM Support:
Features like Secure Boot (for Intel/AMD and ARM platforms), SPICE (Simple Protocol for Independent Computing Environments), and KVM support for IBM POWER, which were unsupported since RHEL 9.0, have been re-enabled in Kitten 10.
6. Extended Hardware Support:
AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 continues to broaden its hardware compatibility by adding support for devices removed upstream, building upon the work from previous releases.
7. Firefox and Thunderbird as RPM packages:
While CentOS Stream 10 and RHEL 10 have transitioned to using Flatpak versions of Firefox and Thunderbird, AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 continues to provide them as RPM packages within the system repositories to cater to desktop users.
How is AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 Different from CentOS Stream?
While both AlmaLinux OS Kitten and CentOS Stream are community-driven projects related to RHEL, they differ in their purpose and features.
CentOS Stream serves as the upstream development platform for RHEL, while AlmaLinux OS Kitten is specifically designed as a developmental preview leading to the next stable AlmaLinux release.
In terms of features, AlmaLinux OS Kitten offers several enhancements not present in CentOS Stream. These include the re-enabled frame pointers, support for x86-64-v2 architecture, SPICE, KVM for IBM POWER, extended hardware support, and RPM packages for Firefox and Thunderbird.
Download AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10
You can download the AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 preview, explore its features, and provide valuable feedback by reporting any bugs or issues you encounter.
The ISO images are available for download from the following link:
Once you've downloaded the ISO image, you can write it to a USB drive using tools like Etcher or Ventoy. For alternative bootable creation tools, you can explore options on this link -> ostechnix.com/category/bootable-usb/.
AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 provides a glimpse into the upcoming AlmaLinux OS 10. By actively engaging with the preview version, we can contribute to shaping a robust and feature-rich operating system.
