Oracle Linux 10: The Secure, High-Performance Foundation for Modern Enterprise
Aaron Rose
Software Engineer & Technology Writer
Introduction
On June 26, 2025, a new era for enterprise computing dawned with the release of Oracle Linux 10. Far from an incremental update, this release is a major leap forward, built to tackle the challenges of modern infrastructure with a focus on cutting-edge security, powerful developer tools, and unrivaled performance.
Whether you're a system administrator, a developer, or an IT manager, Oracle Linux 10 offers a compelling platform designed for the future. It maintains 100% application binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, ensuring a seamless transition, while its default Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) 8, based on the modern Linux 6.12 kernel, provides a robust and reliable core. (Users also have the option of the Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK).)
Key Features and Enhancements
Security 🔐
Oracle Linux 10 significantly boosts its security posture. It includes modernized cryptographic capabilities with new key usage restrictions and adds experimental support for post-quantum cryptography (ML-KEM-203) to prepare for future threats from quantum computing. The release also offers improved SELinux policy packaging for EPEL, simplifying the application of security policies.
Developer Tooling 💻
For developers, Oracle Linux 10 provides a comprehensive set of updated tools. The compiler toolchains (GCC) have been refreshed, offering new features and better performance. Valkey (a community-driven fork of Redis) is introduced as a high-performance, in-memory key-value store, fully compatible with Redis, providing a powerful alternative. Observability tools have been refined, and Grafana features a new UI and stronger user access controls. The release also includes updates to .NET with new APIs for networking and data access.
Performance and Scalability 🚀
Oracle Linux 10 is engineered for demanding workloads at cloud scale. The new Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) 8, based on Linux 6.12, is optimized for data and compute-intensive tasks, with improvements in memory management, file systems, and networking. This focus on performance and scalability makes Oracle Linux 10 ideal for running applications like Oracle Database and AI/ML workloads.
Installation and Management
Streamlined Installation and Boot ⚙️
Oracle Linux 10 improves the installation and remote access experience. It replaces Virtual Network Computing (VNC) with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for graphical remote access. This change provides secure sessions with encrypted connections, enhancing security during installation and ongoing management.
Automation and Software Management 🤖
To simplify system administration, Oracle Linux 10 introduces several new and updated management tools. The createrepo_c package, a C implementation of createrepo
, is now included for managing RPM package repositories. It uses zstd as the default compression algorithm, resulting in smaller metadata and faster decompression times. The release also includes Oracle Linux Automation Manager and Engine, based on AWX and Ansible, for managing infrastructure automation tasks, and Oracle OS Management Hub for simplifying updates and patches.
Resilient Infrastructure
Oracle Linux 10 includes features to build highly available and resilient infrastructures. It supports HAProxy and Keepalived for load balancing and high availability. It also integrates Oracle Clusterware for server failover and includes DTrace and Gprofng for performance analysis and bottleneck diagnosis. These tools enable IT teams to build robust systems that can withstand failures and maintain optimal performance.
Storage and File Systems 💾
The new release enhances storage management, particularly for modern hardware. It includes enhanced commands for managing NVMe SEDs (Self-Encrypting Drives), automating encryption management and simplifying drive unlocking.
Upgrading to Oracle Linux 10
Upgrading from Oracle Linux 9 to Oracle Linux 10 is facilitated by the LEAP utility, which automates much of the migration process. This ensures a smooth and efficient upgrade path for organizations.
Conclusion
Oracle Linux 10 represents a significant evolution in enterprise computing, delivering a resilient and reliable platform designed for the challenges of today and tomorrow. By focusing on enhanced security, streamlined development tools, and powerful performance capabilities, Oracle has created an operating system that not only meets but exceeds the demands of modern cloud-native and on-premises environments.
The continued commitment to compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, coupled with the introduction of innovative features and management tools, solidifies Oracle Linux 10's position as a leading choice for businesses seeking a secure, scalable, and high-performance operating system.
Aaron Rose is a software engineer and technology writer at tech-reader.blog and the author of The Rose Theory series on math and physics.
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