The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has officially released AlmaLinux OS 9.6, codenamed Sage Margay, marking the latest stable update to this free and open-source clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

Built from the same sources as RHEL 9.6, this release maintains full compatibility while introducing a range of improvements in performance, developer tools, and system security.

🔧 Developer & Debugging Tools Improved

AlmaLinux OS 9.6 delivers updates to core debugging and monitoring tools, including:

• elfutils 0.192

• Valgrind 3.24.0

• SystemTap 5.2

• Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) 6.3.2

These updates enhance the ability to profile applications and monitor system behavior in real time, making it easier for developers and sysadmins to fine-tune performance.

💻 Updated Module Streams

For web and database application developers, AlmaLinux OS 9.6 introduces refreshed module streams:

• Maven 3.9

• MySQL 8.4

• nginx 1.26

• PHP 8.3

These updates improve compatibility and functionality for cloud-native and web-based workloads.

🔒 Security and SELinux Enhancements

On the security front, AlmaLinux 9.6 benefits from:

• SELinux-policy 38.1.53

• SSSD 2.9.6

These components improve access control, identity management, and auditing, aligning with modern security best practices.

🛠️ New Compiler and Language Versions

To support advanced development and performance tuning, the release also features:

• GCC 11.5

• LLVM 19.1.7

• Go 1.23.6

• Rust 1.84.1

These tools bring language-level optimizations and better compatibility for newer applications.

🌐 Virtualization & Networking Improvements

AlmaLinux OS 9.6 continues to expand its enterprise capabilities with:

• Podman 5.4.0

• Buildah 1.39.4

• libvirt 10.10.0

• QEMU 9.1

The introduction of new snpguest and snphost packages enhances virtualization, and a tech preview of KVM support for IBM Power architecture signals future expansion.

Network components like NetworkManager 1.52 and iproute 6.11.0 also received key updates to bolster reliability and flexibility in server environments.

📦 Additional Noteworthy Updates

Other updated packages in AlmaLinux 9.6 include:

• Git 2.47.1

• Git-LFS 3.6.1

• Apache HTTP Server 2.4.62

• Node.js 22

These provide newer features and improved support for development, version control, and web hosting.

🧱 Powered by Linux Kernel 5.14

Like its upstream RHEL counterpart, AlmaLinux OS 9.6 runs on the Linux 5.14 kernel, delivering long-term stability, performance improvements, and enhanced hardware support.

📥 Download & Upgrade Options

Installation ISOs are available for:

• x86_64 (64-bit)

• AArch64 (ARM64)

• ppc64le (PowerPC Little Endian)

• s390x (IBM System Z)

Existing users can upgrade with a simple terminal command:

More detailed instructions and release notes are available on the official AlmaLinux website.

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