Rocky Linux 9.6 is here, and it packs plenty of updates for developers, sysadmins, and enterprise users. Whether you’re deploying in the cloud, running containers, or managing bare-metal servers, this latest release delivers across the board.
The big additions include support for newer versions of popular programming languages and tools, such as PHP 8.3 and 8.4, nginx 1.26, and MySQL 8.4. Development and debugging toolchains are also getting a refresh, with updated packages for Valgrind 3.24.0, SystemTap 5.2, and Performance Co-pilot 6.3.2. Rust, Go, and LLVM toolsets are all here too, making Rocky Linux 9.6 a solid foundation for modern development workflows.
But one of the most interesting changes isn’t about Linux alone – it’s about Windows. For the first time, Rocky Linux now offers container images built for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). That means Windows 10 and Windows 11 users can run Rocky Linux containers natively, further blurring the line between Microsoft’s and Linux’s ecosystems.
This release also features improvements to image creation thanks to KIWI, a modern image-building system now used to generate most of Rocky’s cloud and container images. Oracle Cloud utilities have also been updated.
That said, there are a few issues users should be aware of. The current ZFS module won’t load on Rocky Linux 9.6, so anyone using ZFS on 9.5 should hold off on upgrading. There’s also an SELinux bug that affects systems with passt installed. Those deploying in workstation or virtual host setups should check the upstream reports before proceeding.
For anyone already on a 9.x release, updating is straightforward. Just run sudo dnf -y upgrade or use GNOME Software or KDE Discover. Migrating from other Enterprise Linux 9 clones is also supported through the migrate2rocky tool. However, there’s no official upgrade path from version 8, so a fresh install is required in that case.
As usual, the Rocky Linux team has tested this release extensively. And if you want to get involved in future testing efforts, they’re inviting folks to join the ~Testing channel on Mattermost.
Rocky Linux 9.6 is available now from the official website, with downloads for installation media, containers, cloud deployments, and live environments.
