Knowledge Base

What is AlmaLinux and Why Did It Emerge?

AlmaLinux is a free and open-source enterprise Linux distribution built from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) source code. With the end of CentOS Linux's support for RHEL, there was a need for a stable and long-term enterprise Linux distribution. AlmaLinux was developed by CloudLinux to fill this gap and is supported by the community.

Why AlmaLinux?

• Free and Open Source: It can be used without any fees, and the source code is open to everyone.
• Enterprise-Level Stability: Because it is compatible with RHEL, it offers a reliable platform for enterprise applications.
• Long-Term Support: Long-term support is typically provided for up to 10 years, which allows you to keep your systems up-to-date and secure for a long time.
• Community Support: It is supported by a large community, which provides advantages in terms of troubleshooting and information sharing.
• Easy Migration: Migration from CentOS to AlmaLinux is generally easy and compatible with most of your existing applications.

What are the Key Features and Advantages of AlmaLinux?

AlmaLinux is a Linux distribution designed for enterprise environments and offers a number of important features and advantages:

• RHEL Compatibility: It has binary compatibility with RHEL, which means that applications and software running on RHEL can also run smoothly on AlmaLinux.
• Security: Keeps your system secure with regular security updates and patches.
• Performance: Offers high performance thanks to its optimized kernel and system components.
• Customizability: Can be customized to suit different usage scenarios.
• Container Support: Works compatibly with container technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.

Advantages:

• Cost Savings: Eliminates license costs because it is free.
• Reliability: Offers a reliable platform for enterprise applications.
• Flexibility: Can run on different hardware and software platforms.
• Community Support: It is supported by a large community, which provides advantages in terms of troubleshooting and information sharing.

How Do I Install AlmaLinux?

Installing AlmaLinux is quite simple and can be done in several different ways. The most common methods are:

1. Installation with ISO Image:
   1. Download the latest ISO image from the official AlmaLinux website (almalinux.org).
   2. Burn the downloaded ISO image to a USB drive or DVD.
   3. Boot your computer from the USB drive or DVD.
   4. Follow the installation wizard to install AlmaLinux. During the installation, you will need to complete steps such as disk partitioning, network configuration, and user account creation.
2. Installation from an Existing Linux System (e.g., CentOS):

   If you have a Linux distribution like CentOS, you can follow these steps to migrate to AlmaLinux:

   
   # Add AlmaLinux repositories
   sudo dnf install -y https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/almalinux-release-latest.el8.x86_64.rpm
   
   # Enable AlmaLinux repositories
   sudo dnf update -y
   
   # Perform system updates
   sudo dnf upgrade -y
   
   # Install the AlmaLinux kernel and other core packages
   sudo dnf distro-sync -y
   
   # Update GRUB configuration
   sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
   
   # Reboot the system
   sudo reboot
   

3. Installation on Cloud Platforms:

   AlmaLinux images are available on cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). You can easily create AlmaLinux virtual machines through these platforms.

Things to Consider During Installation:

• Disk Partitioning: Make sure you create partitions of appropriate sizes during disk partitioning. Pay particular attention to the `/`, `/boot`, `/home`, and `swap` partitions.
• Network Configuration: Configure your network settings correctly. If you are using a static IP address, enter the IP address, network mask, and gateway correctly.
• Firewall: Enable the firewall and allow only the necessary ports.
• User Account: Create a user account with a strong password and configure this account with administrator privileges.

What are the Differences Between AlmaLinux and CentOS?

Although AlmaLinux and CentOS are built from RHEL source code, there are some important differences:

Key Differences:

• Support Duration: AlmaLinux typically offers long-term support up to 10 years, while CentOS has a shorter support duration, and support for CentOS 8 unexpectedly ended.
• Developer: AlmaLinux is developed by CloudLinux, while CentOS was previously developed by the community, but the development model changed after being acquired by Red Hat.
• Purpose: AlmaLinux aims to be a stable and long-term enterprise distribution, while CentOS aimed to be a community distribution close to RHEL.

What Use Cases is AlmaLinux Suitable For?

AlmaLinux has a wide range of uses and is particularly preferred in the following areas:

• Enterprise Servers: It is an ideal platform for enterprise servers such as web servers, database servers, application servers, and file servers.
• Cloud Computing: It can be run on virtual machines and containers on cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and GCP.
• Container Environments: It works compatibly with container technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes and provides a reliable foundation for containers.
• Development Environments: It is a suitable platform for software development, testing, and integration environments.
• Scientific Computing: It can be used for high-performance computing (HPC) and scientific research.
• Education: It can be used by educational institutions in server and laboratory environments.

Real-Life Examples:

• Web Hosting Companies: Web hosting companies can choose AlmaLinux to provide their customers with a reliable and stable hosting platform.
• E-commerce Companies: E-commerce companies can use AlmaLinux to run their high-traffic websites and applications.
• Financial Institutions: Financial institutions can choose AlmaLinux to securely store and process their sensitive data.
• Healthcare Organizations: Healthcare organizations can use AlmaLinux to securely store and manage patient data.

How to Ensure Security in AlmaLinux?

AlmaLinux includes a number of security measures and offers various tools and techniques to keep your system secure:

• Regular Security Updates: AlmaLinux regularly releases security updates and patches. By installing these updates regularly, you can protect your system against the latest vulnerabilities.
• Firewall: AlmaLinux comes with the `firewalld` firewall by default. By enabling the firewall and allowing only the necessary ports, you can protect your system against unauthorized access.
• SELinux: Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) is a security mechanism that provides mandatory access control (MAC). By enabling SELinux, you can make your system even more secure.
• Malware Scanning: You can regularly scan your system using malware scanners such as ClamAV and detect and clean up malware.
• Authentication: You can protect your user accounts by using strong passwords and taking additional security measures such as two-factor authentication (2FA).
• System Monitoring: You can detect suspicious activities and take necessary precautions by regularly monitoring system logs.

Security Tips:

• Change Default Passwords: Change all default passwords to strong passwords.
• Disable Unnecessary Services: Reduce the attack surface by disabling services you don't use.
• Keep Software Up to Date: Close security vulnerabilities by keeping all software up to date regularly.
• Create Security Policies: Ensure that users and administrators are aware of security by creating security policies.

Example: Using Firewalld

# Start Firewalld
sudo systemctl start firewalld

# Enable Firewalld (to start automatically on system reboot)
sudo systemctl enable firewalld

# Allow SSH access
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=ssh

# Allow HTTP access
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http

# Allow HTTPS access
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https

# Reload the configuration
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

# List active rules
sudo firewall-cmd --list-all

What are the Resources and Communities Related to AlmaLinux?

To learn more about AlmaLinux and join the community, you can use the following resources and communities:

• Official Website: almalinux.org - You can find the most up-to-date information, download links, and documentation about AlmaLinux.
• Wiki: wiki.almalinux.org - Contains detailed information, installation guides, and troubleshooting tips about AlmaLinux.
• Forum: forums.almalinux.org - You can ask questions, share information, and get help from other AlmaLinux users.
• Reddit: reddit.com/r/AlmaLinux - You can follow news, discussions, and community events about AlmaLinux.
• GitHub: github.com/AlmaLinux - You can review AlmaLinux's source code, contribute, and submit bug reports.
• Slack: You can join AlmaLinux's Slack channel to communicate with other users in real-time (check the official website for a Slack invitation).
• Social Media: You can follow AlmaLinux on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to get the latest news and updates.

Important Notes:

• Refer to Documentation: If you encounter any problems, refer to the official documentation first.
• Join the Community: Ask your questions in the forums or other community channels.
• Submit Bug Reports: If you find a bug, submit a bug report via GitHub.
• Contribute: To contribute to the development of AlmaLinux, you can review the source code, submit bug fixes, or develop new features.

What is AlmaLinux's Licensing Model?

AlmaLinux is a completely free and open-source operating system. This means:

• Free to Use: You can download, install, and use AlmaLinux without paying any fees.
• Open Source Code: The source code of AlmaLinux is open to everyone and can be reviewed, modified, and distributed.
• GPL License: AlmaLinux is generally licensed under open-source licenses such as the GNU General Public License (GPL). These licenses ensure that the software can be freely used, modified, and distributed.

Advantages of the Licensing Model:

• Cost Savings: Reduces costs because there are no license fees.
• Flexibility: You can customize it according to your needs because the source code is open.
• Security: Open source code allows security vulnerabilities to be detected and fixed more quickly.
• Community Support: Supported by a large community, which provides advantages in terms of troubleshooting and information sharing.

Commercial Use:

You are also free to use AlmaLinux for commercial purposes. You can run and distribute your commercial applications on AlmaLinux without paying any license fees.

How is AlmaLinux's Performance and Scalability?

AlmaLinux is designed for enterprise workloads and offers high performance and scalability. This is based on the following factors:

• Optimized Kernel: AlmaLinux uses a kernel optimized for performance. This ensures more efficient use of system resources and higher performance.
• Up-to-Date Software Components: AlmaLinux includes the latest software components. This allows you to take advantage of the latest performance improvements and security updates.
• Scalable Architecture: AlmaLinux has a scalable architecture. This allows you to easily scale your system to meet your growing workloads.
• Container Support: Works compatibly with container technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes and is optimized for containers. This allows you to run and scale your applications more efficiently.

Tips to Improve Performance:

• Choose the Right Hardware: Select hardware that is appropriate for your workloads. Ensure you have sufficient CPU, memory, and disk space.
• Update the System Regularly: Take advantage of the latest performance improvements by updating the system regularly.
• Disable Unnecessary Services: Free up system resources by disabling services you are not using.
• Use System Monitoring Tools: Monitor performance and identify bottlenecks using system monitoring tools.