AlmaLinux Wiki

# AlmaLinux 9.3 Release Notes

These are the release notes for AlmaLinux OS 9.3 Stable for all supported architectures:

  • x86_64
  • aarch64
  • ppc64le
  • s390x

Codename: Shamrock Pampas Cat

Distributed kernel version: 5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3

# 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

  • Updated toolchain components:

    • GCC 11.4.1

  • Performance tools and debuggers updates:

    • Valgrind 3.21
    • SystemTap 4.9
    • elfutils 0.189

  • Updated performance monitoring tools:

    • PCP 6.0.5
    • Grafana 9.2.10

  • Compiler updates:

    • GCC Toolset 13
    • LLVM Toolset 16.0.6
    • Rust Toolset 1.71.1
    • Go Toolset 1.20.10

  • Updated dynamic programming languages, web and database servers:

    • Redis 7
    • Node.js 20
    • Apache HTTP Server 2.4.57

  • Security updates:

    • Keylime 7.3.0.
    • OpenSSH was further migrated from the less secure SHA-1 message digest.
    • The pcsc-lite-ccid USB Chip/Smart Card Interface Device(CCID) and Integrated Circuit Card Device (ICCD) driver was rebased to version 1.5.2.
    • AlmaLinux 9.3 introduces further improvements to support the Extended Master Secret (EMS) extension (RFC 7627) required by the FIPS-140-3 standard for all TLS 1.2 connections.
    • SEtools, the collection of graphical tools, command-line tools, and libraries for SELinux policy analysis, was rebased to version 4.4.3.
    • OpenSCAP was rebased to version 1.3.8.
    • SCAP Security Guide was rebased to version 0.1.69 including updates:
      • ANSSI profiles were updated to version 2.0.
      • Three new SCAP profiles were added for AlmaLinux 9 aligned with the CCN-STIC-610A22 Guide.

You can reference the RHEL 9.3 release notes (opens new window) for a full list of changes in this release.

# Installation instructions

There are three installation ISO images available:

AlmaLinux-9.3-x86_64-boot.iso - a single network installation CD image that downloads packages over the Internet.

AlmaLinux-9.3-x86_64-minimal.iso - a minimal self-containing DVD image that makes possible offline installation.

AlmaLinux-9.3-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 9.3/isos/$arch/ directory of your source, for example:

$ wget https://atl.mirrors.knownhost.com/almalinux/9.3/isos/x86_64/AlmaLinux-9.3-x86_64-boot.iso

Download and import the AlmaLinux public key:

$ wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/RPM-GPG-KEY-AlmaLinux-9
$ gpg --import RPM-GPG-KEY-AlmaLinux-9

Download and verify a checksums list:

$ wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/9.3/isos/x86_64/CHECKSUM

# we are looking for “Good signature”
$ gpg --verify CHECKSUM
gpg: Signature made Sun 12 Nov 2023 06:08:57 PM EST
gpg:                using RSA key D36CB86CB86B3716
gpg: Good signature from "AlmaLinux OS 9 <packager@almalinux.org>" [unknown]
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: BF18 AC28 7617 8908 D6E7  1267 D36C B86C B86B 3716

Verify the downloaded ISO image checksum:

# calculate the downloaded ISO SHA256 checksum
$ sha256sum AlmaLinux-9.3-x86_64-boot.iso
af5377a1d16bbe599ea91a8761ad645f2f54687075802bdc0c0703ee610182e9  AlmaLinux-9.3-x86_64-boot.iso

# compare it with expected checksum, it should be the same
$ cat CHECKSUM | grep -E 'SHA256.*AlmaLinux-9.3-x86_64-boot.iso'
SHA256 (AlmaLinux-9.3-x86_64-boot.iso) = af5377a1d16bbe599ea91a8761ad645f2f54687075802bdc0c0703ee610182e9

If you decide to use the AlmaLinux-9.3-x86_64-boot.iso image, you may need to provide the 9.3/BaseOS/x86_64/kickstart/ URL repository from the selected mirror as the Installation Source in the event that the installer is not able to find the 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

To update your AlmaLinux OS 9 to 9.3 run:

$ dnf upgrade -y

# Additional packages

Here is a list of packages that are AlmaLinux-specific, and will not be found in compatible versions of RHEL.

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 packages you will not find in AlmaLinux when comparing with the compatible version of RHEL.

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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