Rocky Linux End of Life - Dates and Lifecycle
Rocky Linux is a free, open-source, 100% bug-for-bug compatible rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, founded by original CentOS co-founder Gregory Kurtzer as a community-driven successor to CentOS Linux.
Last updated 21 July 2026
3
Versions tracked
0
At EOL
3
Supported
All versions
| Version | Released | Active Support | Security Support | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10
|
11 Jun 2025 |
31 May 2030
Ends in 3 years, 10 months
|
31 May 2035
Ends in 8 years, 10 months
|
10.1
25 Nov 2025
|
|
9
|
14 Jul 2022 |
31 May 2027
Ends in 10 months, 1 week
|
31 May 2032
Ends in 5 years, 10 months
|
9.7
01 Dec 2025
|
|
8
|
01 May 2021 |
31 May 2024
Ended 2 years, 1 month ago
|
31 May 2029
Ends in 2 years, 10 months
|
8.10
31 May 2024
|
About Rocky Linux
Rocky Linux was founded in December 2020 by Gregory Kurtzer, a co-founder of the original CentOS project, directly in response to Red Hat's decision to discontinue traditional CentOS Linux. It's a free, open-source enterprise operating system built by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF) to be a 100% bug-for-bug compatible drop-in replacement for RHEL, a stricter compatibility commitment than some other RHEL rebuilds have kept.
Rocky Linux Lifecycle Explained
Rocky Linux follows RHEL's own 10-year lifecycle closely, split into two phases. Active Support runs for roughly the first three to five years, covering full updates and new features. Security Support extends coverage the rest of the way to 10 years total from release, with critical and important security patches continuing. Rocky Linux 8's Active Support ended in May 2024, and it's now in Security Support through May 2029. Rocky Linux 9 remains in Active Support until May 2027, with Security Support running to May 2032. Rocky Linux 10, the current major version, follows the same shape, Active Support to May 2030, Security Support to May 2035.
Within each major version, only the current minor release stays maintained. When a new minor ships, the previous one moves to what Rocky Linux calls the vault, an archive of older packages that no longer receive updates. Rocky Linux 8.10 was the final minor of the 8.x line, at which point that line entered its long Security Support phase; earlier 8.x minors like 8.9 are already in the vault even though Rocky Linux 8 as a whole remains supported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rocky Linux still alive?
Yes. Rocky Linux is actively developed, with new major versions, minor updates, and security patches shipping on a regular schedule, most recently Rocky Linux 10.1 in late 2025. It remains one of the two leading community RHEL rebuilds, alongside AlmaLinux.
What is the lifespan of Rocky Linux?
Each major version of Rocky Linux gets 10 years of total support, matching RHEL's own lifecycle: an initial Active Support phase followed by a longer Security Support phase, after which that major version reaches end of life.
Is Rocky Linux 9.6 EOL?
Effectively, yes, in the sense that matters day to day. Once Rocky Linux 9.7 shipped, 9.6 moved to the vault and stopped receiving updates, even though Rocky Linux 9 as a major version remains fully supported. Only the current minor of an actively supported major version gets ongoing patches.
Is Rocky Linux 8 end of life?
Not yet. Rocky Linux 8's Active Support phase ended in May 2024, but it's still in Security Support, which runs through May 2029. It's past its most actively developed phase, but it hasn't reached end of life.