Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a Linux distribution developed by Red Hat for the commercial market. It is widely used in enterprise environments due to its stability, security, and support for various hardware architectures.
| Version | Status | Release Date | End of Full Support | End of Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 10.1 | 🟢 Current | 2025-11-13 | ~2032-05 | ~2035-05 |
| RHEL 9.7 | 🟢 Active | 2025-11-13 | ~2029-05 | ~2032-05 |
| RHEL 8.11 | 🟡 Maintenance | 2024-11-12 | 2024-05 | ~2029-05 |
| RHEL 7.9 | 🔴 EOL | 2020-09-29 | 2019-08 | 2024-06-30 |
| Major | Latest Minor | GA Date (Latest Minor) | Release Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 10 | 10.1 | 2025-11-13 | https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/10/html-single/10.1_release_notes/index |
| RHEL 9 | 9.7 | 2025-11-13 | https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/9/html-single/9.7_release_notes/index |
| RHEL 8 | 8.11 | 2024-11-12 | https://docs.redhat.com/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/8/html-single/8.11_release_notes/index |
| RHEL 7 | 7.9 | 2020-09-29 | https://docs.redhat.com/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/7/html-single/7.9_release_notes/index |
| RHEL 6 | 6.10 | 2018-06-19 | https://docs.redhat.com/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/6/html-single/6.10_release_notes/index |
| RHEL 5 | 5.11 | 2013-09-30 | https://docs.redhat.com/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/5/html-single/5.11_release_notes/index |
| RHEL 4 | 4.9 | 2011-02-16 | https://docs.redhat.com/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/4/html-single/4.9_release_notes/index |
| RHEL 3 | 3.9 | 2007-06-15 | https://docs.redhat.com/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/3/html-single/3.9_release_notes/index |
| RHEL 2.1 | 2.1 AS/ES/WS | 2002-03-26 | https://docs.redhat.com/documentation/ |
Lifecycle Notes: RHEL 10 (Full Support until ~2032, Maintenance until ~2035); RHEL 9 (Full Support until ~2029, Maintenance until ~2032); RHEL 8 (Maintenance Support Phase 2 until ~2029); RHEL 7 reached End of Life on 2024-06-30.
Stability and Reliability: RHEL is known for its long lifecycle, typically providing 10 years of support (with extended support options). This makes it suitable for production environments where stability is crucial.
Security: RHEL includes various security features such as SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux), which provides enhanced security policies, and tools for compliance with industry standards.
Package Management: RHEL uses the RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) and YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) for package management, allowing users to install, update, and manage software packages easily.
Support and Documentation: Red Hat provides extensive support services, including access to knowledge bases, forums, and direct support for subscribed customers.
Virtualization: RHEL supports various virtualization technologies, including KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) and Red Hat Virtualization (RHV), allowing users to create and manage virtual machines.
Development Tools: RHEL includes various development tools and libraries, making it suitable for software development and deployment.
Container Support: With the rise of containerization, RHEL offers support for Docker and Kubernetes, allowing users to build and deploy containerized applications.
Open Source: While RHEL is a commercial product, it is built on open-source software, and many components are freely available in the community-supported CentOS or Fedora distributions.
Cloud Integration: RHEL is optimized for use in cloud environments and integrates with various cloud service providers, allowing for seamless deployment and management of applications in the cloud.
Subscription Model: RHEL operates on a subscription model, which provides access to software updates, patches, and technical support.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.1 and 9.7 were released on November 13, 2025, bringing significant enhancements to the enterprise Linux platform.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| AI-Powered Command-Line Assistant | Enhanced with expanded context limit for analyzing large log files; offline version available in developer preview for disconnected environments |
| AI Accelerator Support | Validated drivers for AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA AI accelerators with secure, signed drivers for mission-critical AI/ML workloads |
| Feature | RHEL 9.7 | RHEL 10.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Quantum Cryptography | ✅ Incorporates PQC algorithms | ✅ Enhanced PQC in TLS |
| TPM Support | ✅ OpenTelemetry Collector supports TPM on AWS, Azure, GCP | ✅ OpenTelemetry Collector supports TPM on AWS, Azure, GCP |
| ACME | ✅ Automatic Certificate Management Environment (GA) | ✅ Automatic Certificate Management Environment (GA) |
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Soft-Reboots (RHEL 10.1 Image Mode) | Enables system state changes without full kernel reboot; faster updates with minimal disruption |
| Reproducible Builds | Container images built with same content are identical; enhances security and cloud-native pipeline efficiency |
| Image-Based Updates | Immutable image updates for edge and cloud deployments |
Released alongside RHEL 10.1 and 9.7:
| Feature | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Advisor Service | GA | Proactively identifies issues and configuration risks with automated recommendations |
| Vulnerability Service | Technology Preview | On-premises integration for CVE assessment, monitoring, and remediation |
| Enhanced Data Control | GA | Customers can submit minimal data required for subscription reporting |
| Component | Version | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Kernel | Linux 6.14+ | Latest LTS kernel with enterprise hardening |
| GCC | 14.x | GNU Compiler Collection |
| glibc | 2.39+ | GNU C Library |
| Python | 3.12+ | Python programming language |
| OpenSSL | 3.2+ | Cryptography and TLS |
| Podman | 5.x | Container runtime |
| Cockpit | Latest | Web-based server management |
| Component | Version | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Kernel | Linux 5.14+ | Enterprise LTS kernel |
| GCC | 13.x | GNU Compiler Collection |
| glibc | 2.34+ | GNU C Library |
| Python | 3.11+ | Python programming language |
| OpenSSL | 3.0+ | Cryptography and TLS |
| Podman | 4.x | Container runtime |
| Cockpit | Latest | Web-based server management |
| Phase | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Full Support | ~7 years | Feature updates, security fixes, bug fixes |
| Maintenance Support | ~3 years | Security fixes and critical bug fixes only |
| Extended Support | Optional | Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on available |
| Edition | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| RHEL Server | Standard server installation | General enterprise workloads |
| RHEL Workstation | Desktop environment | Developer workstations |
| RHEL for Edge | Immutable image-based | Edge computing deployments |
| RHEL for SAP | SAP-certified | SAP applications |
| RHEL for HPC | High-performance computing | Scientific computing |
| RHEL for Virtualization | KVM-based | Virtual machine hosts |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Overview
Package Management in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) History
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) FAQ
Support & Service for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)