RHEL 10 Overview: Features, Updates, and Derivatives Comparison

RHEL 10 was designed to address the most pressing challenges in modern IT infrastructure, positioning itself as the definitive operating system for organizations navigating digital transformation, hybrid cloud adoption, and increasingly complex security landscapes.

In this blog, we'll explore the new features in RHEL 10 and explain how it compares to RHEL 9. We'll also consider its value within the broader Enterprise Linux ecosystem of RHEL derivatives, to help organizations determine if a RHEL subscription is still worth the investment. 

About the RHEL 10 Release

RHEL 10 was released on May 20, 2025 and goes by the code name "Coughlan" like the upstream CentOS Stream 10 release which came out in December 2024. RHEL 10 is based on Fedora 40 and will be supported until 2035. 

RHEL 10 is focused on three core pillars: enhanced security, cloud-native optimization, and AI-powered automation. The release targets a diverse range of enterprise applications, including containerized workloads, hybrid cloud operations, and Dev Ops workflows, to support organizations transitioning toward more agile, secure, and scalable infrastructure models.

RHEL 10 Features and Updates

For a complete list of new RHEL 10 features, as well as removed ones, refer to the official release notes. In this section, we will highlight the most impactful changes.

Security Enhancements

• Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Integration represents perhaps the most significant security advancement. This FIPS-compliant implementation defends against sophisticated "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, where adversaries collect encrypted data today with the intention of decrypting it using future quantum computing capabilities. Organizations handling sensitive data or operating in regulated industries will find this protection essential for long-term data security.
• Improved SELinux delivers enhanced flexibility and usability without compromising security. The updated implementation offers more intuitive configuration options, enhanced auditing capabilities, and improved troubleshooting tools, making it easier for system administrators to implement and maintain robust access controls.
• Encrypted DNS integration includes both DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT) protocols, protecting DNS queries from interception and manipulation. This capability becomes increasingly critical as organizations implement zero-trust security models.
   

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Performance and Hardware Upgrades

• The updated Linux Kernel 6.12.0 provides foundational performance improvements and expanded hardware compatibility. This kernel update ensures optimal performance on the latest server hardware while maintaining stability across diverse infrastructure environments.
• Support for New Hardware includes comprehensive compatibility with next-generation processors, storage systems, and networking equipment. This expanded support ensures organizations can leverage cutting-edge hardware while maintaining their existing RHEL environment.

Cloud Integration and Hybrid Cloud Support

• Image Mode for RHEL (bootc) revolutionizes deployment flexibility by enabling OS deployment as a container image directly to hardware, virtual machines, or cloud environments. This container-native approach streamlines deployment processes and enhances consistency across diverse infrastructure platforms.
• Enhanced Compatibility with Major Cloud Providers delivers deeper integration with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. These optimizations reduce deployment complexity and improve performance when running RHEL workloads in public cloud environments.
• Optimized for OpenShift improves integration with Red Hat OpenShift, enabling more efficient container orchestration and management. Organizations leveraging Kubernetes will benefit from enhanced performance and simplified operations.

Developer Tools and System Administration Improvements

• Updated Application Streams include newer versions of essential programming languages: Python 3.12, Perl 5.40, Go 1.23, and GCC 14.2. These updates ensure developers have access to the latest language features and performance improvements.
• RHEL Lightspeed integrates generative AI directly into the platform, offering context-aware guidance for system administration tasks. This AI-powered assistance reduces the learning curve for complex administrative operations and improves operational efficiency.
• Expanded Ansible System Roles automate configuration management, application deployment, and infrastructure provisioning across diverse environments. These roles significantly reduce manual administrative overhead while ensuring consistent configurations.
• Improved Podman and Buildah Support streamlines building, testing, and deploying containerized applications.

Comparing RHEL 10 vs. RHEL 9

The transition from RHEL 9 to RHEL 10 introduces several fundamental changes that will impact user experience and operational capabilities. 

The most significant architectural change involves dropping x86-64-v2 support in favor of x86-64-v3 baseline requirements. This change improves performance on modern hardware but may impact organizations running older infrastructure. 

The shift toward AI integration and container-native operations reflects Red Hat's strategic focus on emerging technologies and modern deployment patterns. Organizations planning upgrades should evaluate their current infrastructure compatibility and strategic technology direction.
 

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RHEL Derivatives Ecosystem: Rocky Linux 10 and AlmaLinux 10

Both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux continue building their distributions using CentOS Stream as their primary upstream source, supplemented by publicly available resources and RHEL sources obtained through Red Hat's licensing framework.

These distributions maintain Application Binary Interface (ABI) compatibility with RHEL 10, ensuring applications compiled for RHEL 10 will execute seamlessly on AlmaLinux 10 and Rocky Linux 10 without modification. This compatibility provides organizations with deployment flexibility while maintaining application integrity.

AlmaLinux 10 (codename "Purple Lion") was released on May 27 (one week after RHEL 10) and offers a unique advantage through its continued support for x86-64-v2 architecture, making it viable for organizations with older hardware that cannot meet RHEL 10's x86-64-v3 requirements. This capability extends infrastructure lifespan and reduces hardware replacement costs.

Rocky Linux 10 (codename "Red Quartz") came out on June 11 and includes support for RISC-V computers. 

Both distributions benefit from active community ecosystems and third-party commercial support options, often at significantly lower costs.

Is RHEL Still Worth the Cost?

Weighing RHEL's value proposition requires balancing comprehensive enterprise capabilities against significant licensing costs and vendor lock-in risk.

RHEL Advantages

• Enterprise-Grade Stability and Reliability: Rigorous testing and quality assurance processes guarantee a stable platform for mission-critical workloads.
• Predictable Lifecycle: Each major RHEL release is supported for 10 years, which means extended availability of security fixes and patches.
• Support: RHEL subscriptions comes with 24/7 technical support with SLAs, which is invaluable during critical incidents or for complex deployments.
• Security and Compliance: RHEL is consistently updated with the latest security patches, including proactive vulnerability remediation. Organizations in regulated industries particularly benefit from RHEL's comprehensive certifications that ensure security and compatibility with various other solutions.
• Integrated Ecosystem: RHEL subscriptions often include access to other Red Hat tools for lifecycle management, analytics, and automation that your organization might also want to utilize.  

RHEL Derivatives Benefits

• No License Costs: This is by far the most compelling differentiator because it eliminates a substantial line item from IT budgets, freeing up resources for other projects and investments.
• Freedom and Flexibility: By using RHEL derivatives, organizations can avoid getting locked into the RHEL ecosystem of products and retain greater control over their infrastructure.
• Binary Compatibility: Applications designed for RHEL 10 should be able to run without modification.
• Community and Third-Party Support: Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux have very active communities and good documentation, and commercial support vendors like OpenLogic can provide expert, 24/7 SLA-backed Enterprise Linux support for less than the cost of a RHEL subscription.
• Niche Use Cases: AlmaLinux 10's continued support for x86-64-v2 makes it a more viable option for organizations that cannot meet RHEL 10's x86-64-v3 baseline and want to defer hardware replacement costs.

Final Thoughts

With its advanced security capabilities, AI-powered administration, and comprehensive cloud integration, RHEL 10 and its derivatives set a new benchmark for Enterprise Linux distributions. The choice ultimately depends on organizational priorities: Enterprises requiring extensive certifications and preferring integrated management tools may find the ROI for RHEL worthwhile. Organizations prioritizing cost optimization and operational flexibility may find Rocky Linux 10 or AlmaLinux 10 more attractive, particularly when combined with third-party commercial support.

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Additional Resources

• Blog - How to Choose the Best Linux Distro For Your Organization
• Blog - Applying CIS Benchmarks to Your Linux OS With Hardened Images
• Blog - Rocky Linux vs. AlmaLinux: Exploring the Key Differences
• Video - How Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux Keep Their Distributions Secure
• Blog - Comparing Rocky Linux vs. RHEL
• Blog - State of Open Source Report: Top Enterprise Linux Distributions