What is Rocky Linux?

Rocky Linux is a free, open source enterprise operating system designed to be bug-for-bug compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It was started by Gregory Kurtzer, a co-founder of the original CentOS project.

Governed by the community-owned Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation, it offers a dependable, long-supported base for production infrastructure at no cost.

Visit the official Rocky Linux website →

Key facts

TypeEnterprise Linux distribution
Based onRed Hat Enterprise Linux
Package managerDNF (RPM)
Release cadenceTracks RHEL major releases
LicenceFree and open source
First released2021

Versions on our VPS

89

Rocky Linux 9 is the current generation. Both 8 and 9 receive around a decade of updates.

Why run Rocky Linux on a Lucid Cloud VPS

A stable, enterprise-grade base with a strong community behind it.

Bug-for-bug RHEL compatible

Applications certified for Red Hat Enterprise Linux run on Rocky Linux without changes.

Ten-year lifecycle

Long support windows mean fewer rebuilds and a predictable path for production servers.

Community governed

Owned by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation, so its future is not controlled by a single vendor.

Best suited to

Production serversCentOS replacementEnterprise workloadsHosting control panels

Rocky Linux VPS FAQs

Common questions about running Rocky Linux on a VPS, answered.

Is Rocky Linux free to use?
Yes. Rocky Linux is free and open source, with no licence fee, funded by its foundation and sponsors.
Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux, which is better?
They are near-identical free RHEL rebuilds. Pick whichever your software or team prefers. See our AlmaLinux VPS.
Is Rocky Linux suitable for production?
Yes. It is enterprise-grade, RHEL-compatible and supported for around ten years per release, which suits production workloads.


Deploy Rocky Linux in minutes

Spin up Rocky Linux on a fast, guaranteed-resource VPS with full root access and instant scaling. Choose self-managed or add fully managed support.

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