Frequently Asked Questions
Oracle Linux
August 2025
Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates
Public
Table of contents
Introduction 2
What is Oracle Linux? 2
What is included with Oracle linux? 2
What is the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK)? 2
What is Oracle Ksplice zero-downtime patching? 2
Does Oracle Linux include support for container orchestration? 3
Does Oracle Linux include support for KVM? 3
Can Oracle Linux KVM be used as hard partitioning technology for Oracle software licenses? 3
What are the automation and management tools available for Oracle Linux? 3
What are the high availability solutions with Oracle Linux? 3
Get started with Oracle Linux 4
Where do I download Oracle Linux? 4
How do I get updates for Oracle Linux? 4
How does Oracle provide support for RHEL or legacy CentOS Linux installations? 4
How do I obtain Oracle Linux software updates for RHEL, legacy CentOS Linux, or Rocky Linux? 4
How do I convert from legacy CentOS Linux or Rocky Linux to Oracle Linux? 4
How do I get more information about Oracle Linux? 4
Oracle Linux in the cloud 5
Can I run Oracle Linux in public clouds? 5
Is Oracle Linux Support included with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure subscriptions? 5
Can I run Oracle Linux for SAP applications with Oracle Database in public clouds? 5
How can I update Oracle Linux in third-party public clouds? 5
Oracle Linux Support offerings 5
Why does Oracle offer Linux support? 5
What is the cost for Linux support from Oracle? 5
What levels of Linux support are available? 6
What is Oracle’s support lifecycle for Oracle Linux? 6
Does Oracle offer Oracle Linux Extended Support? 6
Does Oracle still support Python and OpenSSL that have reached end-of-life by the community? 6
Partner ecosystem 6
Where can I find details about certified hardware for Oracle Linux? 6
Are third-party applications supported on Oracle Linux? 7
What are the benefits of embedding Oracle Linux in my solution? 7
1 FAQ | Oracle Linux
Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates |Public
INTRODUCTION
This document answers commonly asked questions about Oracle Linux. Should you need additional information, please feel free to
contact the Oracle Linux team at oraclelinux-info_ww_grp@[Link] or participate in GitHub Oracle Linux discussions.
What is Oracle Linux?
• Oracle Linux is a secure and high-performance operating environment, delivering the operating system, virtualization,
management, automation, and cloud native computing tools in easy-to-manage support offerings. Oracle Linux provides a 100%
application binary–compatible alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, legacy CentOS Linux, and Rocky Linux, and is supported
across both distributed and multicloud environments.
• Unlike many other commercial Linux distributions, Oracle Linux is easy to download and completely free to use, distribute, and
update. Oracle Linux is available under the GNU General Public License (GPLv2). Support contracts are available from Oracle.
• Oracle Linux is supported on 64-bit AMD and Intel (x86_64) and 64-bit Arm (aarch64) hardware in the cloud, on-premises, or at
the edge. Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) work closely with Oracle to provide
collaborative support to customers running Oracle Linux and Oracle Virtualization environments.
WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH ORACLE LINUX?
What is the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK)?
• The Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) is a Linux kernel developed by Oracle and supported through Oracle Linux support.
Its focus is on performance, stability, and minimal backports by tracking the mainline source code as closely as is practical.
• Oracle Linux featuring UEK powers Oracle Cloud and Oracle Engineered Systems, and it is the ideal choice for running Oracle
Database. It delivers the latest Linux operating system innovations and business-critical performance and security optimizations
for on-premises, cloud, and edge deployments, while providing binary compatibility with applications certified to run on Red
Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
• Oracle Linux featuring UEK supports a wide range of hardware and devices. In close cooperation with Oracle partners, Oracle
Linux delivers support for the latest hardware features and drivers for 64-bit Intel and AMD (x86_64) and 64-bit Arm (aarch64)
systems.
• The UEK source is available on GitHub.
What is Oracle Ksplice zero-downtime patching?
• Oracle Ksplice performs patching for the Linux operating system (OS) kernels, hypervisors, and critical user space libraries while
the OS is running. An Oracle Linux Premier or Premier Plus Support subscription offers this advanced capability, making it
possible to apply critical OS security patches as soon as they are available, and without business disruptions associated with
forced reboots.
• Oracle Ksplice also includes known exploit detection, which lays down tripwires for select privilege escalation vulnerabilities
and can generate a notification and block the escalation attempt.
• Rolling back Ksplice patches is easy and done without downtime, while other Linux live patching technology may require a
reboot to revert live patches.
• Oracle Ksplice supports Oracle Linux with the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel or the Red Hat compatible kernel. Ksplice also
supports additional Linux kernels including Ubuntu.
• To explore and experience the benefits of Oracle Ksplice zero-downtime patching:
o Use an Oracle-provided free lab environment and follow the Oracle Ksplice Tutorial: "Use Oracle Ksplice on Oracle
Linux."
o Leverage Oracle Linux images in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Ksplice is enabled by default in OCI. Check out
the OCI documentation.
• To learn more about Oracle Ksplice, visit
o Oracle Ksplice training videos
o Oracle Linux blogs on Ksplice
o Oracle Linux: Ksplice User's Guide
2 FAQ | Oracle Linux
Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates |Public
Does Oracle Linux include support for container orchestration?
• Yes, Oracle Linux includes Oracle Cloud Native Environment for configuring, deploying, updating, and upgrading infrastructure
for running cloud native applications. It is based on open standards, specifications, and APIs defined by the Open Container
Initiative and Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), including a CNCF-certified Kubernetes module, container runtimes,
service mesh, storage, networking, observability, and diagnostics.
Does Oracle Linux include support for KVM?
• Oracle Linux offers the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) hypervisor for compute, supporting both x86_64 and aarch64
processor architectures. Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager, the server virtualization management platform, can be easily
deployed to configure, monitor, and manage an Oracle Linux KVM environment on x86_64 servers, providing enterprise-grade
performance and support from Oracle.
• Visit Oracle Virtualization to learn how this high-performance, secure, and affordable solution can be the ideal alternative to
proprietary virtualization solutions.
Can Oracle Linux KVM be used as hard partitioning technology for Oracle software licenses?
• Oracle Linux KVM may be used as hard partitioning technology only if specific cores are allocated per the following document:
Hard Partitioning with Oracle Linux KVM.
What are the automation and management tools available for Oracle Linux?
• Oracle Linux Automation Manager and Engine, based upon the open source AWX and Ansible projects respectively, are
included with an Oracle Linux Premier and Premier Plus Support subscriptions. Together, they provide a cost-effective,
powerful, scalable, and secure infrastructure automation framework for enterprise environments. Additionally, they streamline
software provisioning, configuration management, and application deployment, enabling infrastructure as code.
• Oracle Linux Support customers have the option of using the Oracle OS Management Hub that simplifies the management and
monitoring of updates for enterprise operating systems at scale on-premises, on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), and on
supported third-party cloud providers. OS Management Hub is included with your Oracle Linux Support and OCI Compute
subscriptions.
• Oracle Linux Manager provides an effective set of tools for managing the Oracle Linux software lifecycle in small or large
deployments. Oracle Linux Manager also helps automate a kickstart installation, system configuration, and maintenance tasks,
which enables you to rapidly deploy proven and consistent software configurations for Oracle Linux systems. Oracle Linux
Manager is covered under Oracle Linux Extended Support through June 2026.
What are the high availability solutions with Oracle Linux?
• Oracle Linux includes several open-source packages, such as Corosync and Pacemaker, to achieve high availability for
applications and services. In addition, Oracle Clusterware provides server failover capabilities that help protect Oracle and non-
Oracle applications. It can be a valuable component of a business continuity infrastructure for applications and databases
managed in a clustered environment. Oracle Linux Support customers can download and deploy Oracle Clusterware at no
additional license or support cost.
3 FAQ | Oracle Linux
Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates |Public
GET STARTED WITH ORACLE LINUX
Where do I download Oracle Linux?
• Oracle Linux can be downloaded, used, and distributed free of charge and updates and errata are freely available, excluding
certain updates and errata such as those released with Ksplice and Extended Support, which may require Oracle Linux Premier,
Premier Plus, or Extended Support.
• ISO installation images are available from the Oracle Linux yum server and Oracle Software Delivery Cloud. Individual RPM
packages are available on the Oracle Linux yum server and the Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN).
• Container images are available via Oracle Container Registry, GitHub Container Registry, and Docker Hub.
• Oracle Linux is also available on Microsoft Store to enable you to easily run Oracle Linux on your Windows desktop.
• There are additional Oracle Linux resources such as Raspberry Pi images, scripts to build Oracle Linux images, virtual machine
templates, and Vagrant projects that can help you rapidly build and provision Oracle Linux instances for Raspberry Pi, Oracle
VirtualBox, KVM, Oracle Cloud, or other clouds.
How do I get updates for Oracle Linux?
• Oracle provides security updates and bug fixes (errata) for Oracle Linux for free from the Oracle Linux yum server.
• The Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN) is a comprehensive resource for Oracle Linux Support subscribers and offers access to
Oracle Linux software packages. Oracle Ksplice and Extended Support patches require appropriate Oracle Linux Support
subscriptions. To access ULN, a valid Customer Support Identifier (CSI) is required. To obtain a CSI, purchase Linux support from
the Oracle Store or through your Oracle sales contact.
How does Oracle provide support for RHEL or legacy CentOS Linux installations?
• Oracle Linux support subscriptions can be used to support a customer's existing RHEL or legacy CentOS Linux installations
running in private data centers. It also includes support for CentOS installations running in public clouds. For CentOS
installations, Oracle only supports systems that are based on legacy CentOS Linux, not CentOS Stream. Support for RHEL and
CentOS is limited to the packages and versions provided on the Oracle Linux installation media and the topics identified in the
Scope of Coverage document. All security and bug fix errata will be Oracle Linux binaries, which are compatible with RHEL. For
additional details, refer to Oracle Open Source Support Policies.
• Customers should check their Red Hat contract to determine their Red Hat support obligations. Oracle recommends using Oracle
Linux professional services to assist with the transition.
How do I obtain Oracle Linux software updates for RHEL, legacy CentOS Linux, or Rocky Linux?
• There is no need to reinstall the existing operating system such as RHEL, legacy CentOS Linux, or Rocky Linux to obtain Oracle
Linux software updates. You simply register for an account with the Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN) using a valid customer
support identifier (CSI), then download and install registration software and use it to register your server. Once you have
completed these steps, you may use yum or update to download and install updates from ULN.
• The Getting Started – How to Connect to Oracle Linux Yum Server document provides information on how to connect to
the Oracle Linux yum server and obtain software updates via yum for Oracle Linux and compatible Linux distributions such as
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), legacy CentOS Linux, or Rocky Linux.
How do I convert from legacy CentOS Linux or Rocky Linux to Oracle Linux?
• Legacy CentOS Linux (Excluding CentOS Stream) and Rocky Linux can be converted to Oracle Linux by following the
instructions on GitHub.
How do I get more information about Oracle Linux?
• Oracle offers free and comprehensive resources such as documentation, learning paths, tutorials, hands-on labs, and videos to
help you develop your applications on Oracle Linux and get the best value from your Oracle Linux deployments.
• To purchase Oracle Linux support, visit [Link] or contact your Oracle sales representative.
• To ask questions about Oracle Linux, visit the discussion forums at GitHub, My Oracle Support Linux community, or Cloud
Customer Connect Linux community.
4 FAQ | Oracle Linux
Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates |Public
ORACLE LINUX IN THE CLOUD
Can I run Oracle Linux in public clouds?
• Yes, you can choose to run the same Oracle Linux on-premises or in the cloud, including Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Amazon
Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. This simplifies workload migration between on-premises and cloud-based
environments, providing a consistent and reliable OS experience.
Is Oracle Linux Support included with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure subscriptions?
• Yes, Oracle Linux Premier Support is included with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure subscriptions at no additional cost. This includes
support for additional Oracle Linux features and tools that integrate with and enhance the experience on Oracle Cloud
Infrastructure. Refer to the Oracle Linux for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure FAQ for more information on Oracle Linux support,
licensing, deployment, and other resources for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
Can I run Oracle Linux for SAP applications with Oracle Database in public clouds?
• Yes, Oracle and SAP have certified SAP NetWeaver-based applications using Oracle Database to run on Oracle Cloud, Amazon
Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Oracle Linux is the only supported Linux OS for these environments.
How can I update Oracle Linux in third-party public clouds?
• Oracle Linux yum server is publicly available and hosts many different types of software in repositories for which the
configuration is installed and updated via release packages.
• In addition, customers with valid Oracle Linux support subscriptions can register and access the Unbreakable Linux Network to
obtain Oracle Linux updates.
ORACLE LINUX SUPPORT OFFERINGS
Why does Oracle offer Linux support?
• Linux is the most popular and fastest growing operating system for Oracle software deployments, and as such, it is very
important to our customers. Our customers demand the highest quality support when they deploy data center and cloud
solutions using Oracle Linux. Oracle is deeply committed to delivering the industry’s best Linux support and advancing Linux
technology. Oracle has a long-standing history of supporting standards-based computing to lower the cost of IT infrastructure for
customers.
• With Oracle as your Linux support provider, you can have a single, dedicated point of contact, abundant choice and flexibility,
and a cost-effective solution, all without lock-in. Explore the value of Oracle Linux Support in-depth and see how it can help you
fortify your business.
What is the cost for Linux support from Oracle?
• Oracle’s pricing for Linux support is simple and flexible. Support pricing is calculated based on the Physical CPU Pair for the
server deployment on-premises. Please see the Global Price List for further details.
• When pricing Oracle Linux in a cloud environment, please refer to the Oracle License Definitions and Rules Booklet.
• Oracle Linux Premier Support is included with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure subscriptions and Oracle Premier Support for
Systems at no additional cost.
5 FAQ | Oracle Linux
Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates |Public
What levels of Linux support are available?
• Oracle Linux Support offerings include:
o Basic—24x7 global support, complete Linux server lifecycle management using Oracle OS Management Hub, Oracle
Clusterware software, dynamic tracing with DTrace, comprehensive indemnification, and container runtimes.
o Premier and Premier Plus—24x7 global support, with all the features of Basic support plus
▪ Ksplice for zero-downtime patching
▪ Oracle Linux Automation Manager
▪ Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager for KVM management
▪ CNCF-certified Kubernetes with Oracle Cloud Native Environment
▪ Oracle Linux high availability services with Corosync and Pacemaker
▪ Premier backports
▪ Lifetime sustaining support
• Oracle Linux Basic and Oracle Linux Premier are available for each physical CPU pair in a physical server, or for use with up to
two virtual machines per physical CPU pair. Oracle Linux Premier Plus is available for each physical CPU pair with unlimited
virtual machines. For details, please refer to Oracle License Definitions and Rules Booklet.
What is Oracle’s support lifecycle for Oracle Linux?
• Tens of thousands of customers worldwide rely on Oracle Linux to run many of their most critical enterprise systems. As part of
our commitment to long-term stable availability of the operating system, Oracle Linux Premier Plus, Premier, and Basic Support
are available for ten years from the release date of a major Oracle Linux release. Support for an Oracle Linux program may be
extended for additional years with Oracle Linux Extended Support, followed by lifetime Sustaining Support. This is just part of
Oracle’s unique Lifetime Support Policy that enables customers to move to new versions of software when they're ready. For
details, please refer to the following documents: Oracle Open Source Support Policies (PDF), Lifetime Support Policy: Coverage
for Oracle Open Source Software (PDF), and Oracle Linux Documentation.
Does Oracle offer Oracle Linux Extended Support?
• Yes. Oracle offers Extended Support for Oracle Linux releases when Premier Support ends. For more information on Extended
Support, please review the Oracle Linux Extended Support datasheet.
Does Oracle still support Python and OpenSSL that have reached end-of-life by the community?
• Yes, both Python and OpenSSL are integral parts of Oracle Linux. Oracle Linux is an enterprise Linux distribution, and support
decisions for components in the operating system are made independently from those made in the upstream community. For
example, Python 2 and OpenSSL 1.0.2 shipped with Oracle Linux 7 and continue to be supported as part of the Oracle Linux 7
lifecycle, based on the Oracle Open Source Support Policies (PDF) and the Lifetime Support Policy: Coverage for Oracle Open
Source Software (PDF).
PARTNER ECOSYSTEM
Where can I find details about certified hardware for Oracle Linux?
• The Oracle Linux and Oracle Virtualization Hardware Certification Program (HCL Program) enables partners to qualify their
server environment with Oracle Linux and Oracle Virtualization using an Oracle supplied hardware test suite.
• Qualified server environments are published on the Hardware Certification List (HCL). This list documents server environments
certified for Oracle Linux with the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) and server environments certified to support Oracle
Virtualization. Through this qualification process, Oracle and its partners help ensure that both parties are equipped to provide
collaborative support to customers who depend on Oracle Linux or Oracle Virtualization solutions.
• Read more about certified hardware for Oracle Linux on Hardware Certification List (HCL).
6 FAQ | Oracle Linux
Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates |Public
Are third-party applications supported on Oracle Linux?
• Thousands of leading independent software vendors certify their products with Oracle Linux. ISV applications certified with Red
Hat Enterprise Linux work out-of-the-box with Oracle Linux because Oracle Linux is application binary compatible with Red
Hat Enterprise Linux. Applications certified on Oracle Linux run wherever Oracle Linux runs—on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
(OCI) and other cloud and on-premises environments such as Oracle Private Cloud Appliance. Also, Oracle has strategic
development and support partnerships with key industry vendors that run on Linux. Learn how to certify hardware and
applications on Oracle Linux.
What are the benefits of embedding Oracle Linux in my solution?
• Choosing to embed Oracle Linux and Oracle Virtualization in your solutions can have a positive impact on your business. A few
of the primary benefits you can expect to achieve include reducing cost of goods sold (COGS), expanding market access and
footprint, and helping automate DevSecOps. Read the datasheet to learn more.
CONNECT WITH US
Call +1.800.ORACLE1 or visit [Link]/linux.
Outside North America, find your local office at [Link]/contact.
[Link]/linux [Link]/oraclelinux [Link]/oraclelinux
Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is provided for information purposes only, and the contents hereof are subject to change without notice. This
document is not warranted to be error-free, nor subject to any other warranties or conditions, whether expressed orally or implied in law, including implied warranties and conditions of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. We specifically disclaim any liability with respect to this document, and no contractual obligations are formed either directly or indirectly by
this document. This document may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without our prior written permission.
Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Intel and Intel Xeon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC
International, Inc. AMD, Opteron, the AMD logo, and the AMD Opteron logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open
Group.
Oracle Linux FAQ
August, 2025