AlmaLinux Wiki

# AlmaLinux 8.5 Beta Release Notes

These are the release notes for AlmaLinux OS 8.5 Beta for both x86_64 and ARM architectures, codename Arctic Sphynx.

# Beta Release

WARNING

This is a BETA release and should not be used for production installations. The provided upgrade instructions should not be used on production machines, unless you don't mind if something breaks. 😉

# Providing Feedback and Getting Help

Please report any issues you may encounter during tests on the AlmaLinux Bug Tracker (opens new window). Additionally, if you feel like providing feedback, talking about anything or asking any questions you might want to check out The AlmaLinux Community Chat (opens new window), The AlmaLinux Forums (opens new window) and The AlmaLinux Community on Reddit (opens new window).

# Changelog

  • Added new module streams:

    • nginx 1.20
    • Node.js 16
    • Ruby 3.0

  • Updated components:

    • PHP 7.4.19
    • Squid 4.15
    • Mutt 2.0.7

  • Compiler Updates:

    • GCC Toolset 11
    • LLVM Toolset 12.0.1
    • Rust Toolset 1.54.0
    • Go Toolset 1.16.7

  • The closest mirror will be selected automatically in network install mode

  • SCAP Security Guide has new profiles and improvements for the existing profiles:

    • A new profile aligned with the Australian Cyber Security Centre Information Security Manual (ACSC ISM).
    • The Center for Internet Security (CIS) profile restructured into four different profiles (Workstation Level 1, Workstation Level 2, Server Level 1, Server Level 2).
    • The Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) security profile updated to version V1R3.
    • A new STIG profile compatible with Server with GUI installations.
    • A new French National Security Agency (ANSSI) High Level profile, which completes the availability of profiles for all ANSSI-BP-028 v1.2 hardening levels in the SCAP Security Guide.

# Installation instructions

There are three installation ISO images available:

AlmaLinux-8.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso - a single network installation CD image that downloads packages over the Internet.

AlmaLinux-8.5-beta-1-x86_64-minimal.iso - a minimal self-containing DVD image that makes possible offline installation.

AlmaLinux-8.5-beta-1-x86_64-dvd.iso - a full installation DVD image that contains mostly all AlmaLinux packages.

You can select a mirror closest to your geographic area listed on the mirrors.almalinux.org (opens new window) website. A local mirror will be a lot quicker than using repo.almalinux.org directly. Then, download a suitable ISO image from the 8.5-beta/isos/$arch/ directory of your source, for example:

$ wget https://mirror.interserver.net/almalinux/8.5-beta/isos/x86_64/AlmaLinux-8.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso

Download and import the AlmaLinux public key:

$ wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/RPM-GPG-KEY-AlmaLinux
$ gpg --import RPM-GPG-KEY-AlmaLinux

Download and verify a checksums list:

$ wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/8.5-beta/isos/x86_64/CHECKSUM

# we are looking for “Good signature”
$ gpg --verify CHECKSUM
gpg: Signature made Wed 13 Oct 2021 02:07:37 PM UTC using RSA key ID C21AD6EA
gpg: Good signature from "AlmaLinux <packager@almalinux.org>"
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: 5E9B 8F56 17B5 066C E920  57C3 488F CF7C 3ABB 34F8
     Subkey fingerprint: E53C F5EF 91CE B0AD 1812  ECB8 51D6 647E C21A D6EA

Verify the downloaded ISO image checksum:

# calculate the downloaded ISO SHA256 checksum
$ sha256sum AlmaLinux-8.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso
0be5eb574b872737a930ae77d4163b89709cbd537be0f541dbfef046b1813feb  AlmaLinux-8.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso

# compare it with expected checksum, it should be the same
$ cat CHECKSUM | grep -E 'SHA256.*AlmaLinux-8.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso'
SHA256 (AlmaLinux-8.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso) = 0be5eb574b872737a930ae77d4163b89709cbd537be0f541dbfef046b1813feb

If you decide to use the AlmaLinux-8.5-beta-1-x86_64-boot.iso image, you will need to provide the 8.5-beta/BaseOS/x86_64/kickstart/ repository from the selected mirror as the Installation Source if the installer will not be able to find closest mirror for some reason.

There are no extra Installation Sources required if you decided to go with either the minimal or DVD ISO images.

# Upgrade Instructions

Please do not use these update instructions on production machines, unless you don't mind if something breaks. 😉

Upgrade the almalinux-release package to the 8.5-1.el8 version from the beta repositories:

$ dnf install -y https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/almalinux-release-latest-8-beta.x86_64.rpm
$ dnf clean all

the new package contains updated repository URLs so that you can just run:

$ dnf upgrade -y

to update the rest of the packages.

# Added packages

Here is a list of added packages in comparison with upstream distribution.

Package Description
almalinux-backgrounds AlmaLinux background images.
Replaces redhat-backgrounds
almalinux-indexhtml AlmaLinux default browser page
Replaces redhat-indexhtml
almalinux-logos AlmaLinux graphics for OS
Replaces redhat-logos
almalinux-logos-httpd AlmaLinux graphics for HTTPD server
Replaces redhat-logos-httpd
almalinux-logos-ipa AlmaLinux graphics for IPA server
Replaces redhat-logos-ipa
almalinux-release AlmaLinux release package, repos, and EULA
Replaces redhat-release and redhat-release-eula

# Removed packages

Here is a list of removed packages in comparison with the upstream distribution.
AlmaLinux OS is a community distribution so all changes are subject to discussion. If you would like to do so, please join AlmaLinux Chat (opens new window) as well as filing a bug report at AlmaLinux Bug Tracker (opens new window) to discuss if you think any of the packages below should be included into the repos.

Package Description
insights-client RHEL specific package to connect to upstream vendor resources
kmod-redhat-* RHEL specific modules from Driver Update Program
kpatch* RHEL specific live patches for kernel
redhat-backgrounds RHEL specific background images
redhat-indexhtml RHEL specific default browser page
redhat-logos RHEL specific graphics for OS
redhat-logos-httpd RHEL specific graphics for HTTPD server
redhat-logos-ipa RHEL specific graphics for IPA server
redhat-release RHEL specific release package and repos
redhat-release-eula RHEL specific EULA
redhat-support-lib-python RHEL specific package to connect to upstream vendor resources
redhat-support-tool RHEL specific package to connect to upstream vendor resources
rhc RHEL specific package to connect to upstream vendor resources
rhc-worker-playbook RHEL specific package to connect to upstream vendor resources
rhsm-gtk RHEL specific GUI for Subscription Manager
rhsm-icons RHEL specific GUI for Subscription Manager
spice-client-win-x64 Contains binaries built by upstream vendor
spice-client-win-x86 Contains binaries built by upstream vendor
spice-qxl-wddm-dod Contains binaries built by upstream vendor
spice-vdagent-win-x64 Contains binaries built by upstream vendor
spice-vdagent-win-x86 Contains binaries built by upstream vendor
subscription-manager-cockpit RHEL specific Cockpit module for Subscription Manager
subscription-manager-initial-setup-addon RHEL specific initial setup addon for Subscription Manager
subscription-manager-plugin-container RHEL specific Subscription Manager plugin for upstream vendor containers
virt-who RHEL specific package to connect to upstream vendor resources
virtio-win Contain binaries built by upstream vendor

Red Hat and RHEL are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

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