Skip to Content
Repository Architecture

Repository Architecture

Rocky Linux from CIQ delivers packages through a layered repository architecture. The repositories available to your system depend on your product tier (RLC Pro or RLC+).

All RLC repositories are hosted on CIQ's US-based infrastructure and accessed through authenticated connections via the Depot CLI.

Note
Repositories are activated after you run depot enable for your product. A freshly deployed RLC image will only show the ciq-depot-client repository until you enable your product.

Repository Tiers

CIQ Repositories

These repositories contain packages built and signed by CIQ (GPG key: rpm-gpg-key-ciq):

RepositoryDescriptionRLC+RLC Pro
rlc-9-coreCIQ core packages including the CIQ-built kernel, release packages, and foundational enhancements
rlc-9-proCIQ enterprise enhancements and priority bug fixes
rlc-9-supplementalAdditional CIQ-provided packages such as the Depot CLI, supporting utilities, and dependencies not present in upstream Rocky

Rocky Linux Repositories

These repositories contain upstream Rocky Linux packages (GPG key: RPM-GPG-KEY-Rocky-9):

RepositoryDescriptionDefault
rocky-9-baseosCore OS packagesEnabled
rocky-9-appstreamApplication stream packagesEnabled
rocky-9-extrasAdditional community packagesEnabled
rocky-9-crbCodeReady Builder (development headers/libraries)Disabled
rocky-9-highavailabilityHigh Availability cluster packagesDisabled
rocky-9-resilientstorageResilient Storage (GFS2, Gluster)Disabled
rocky-9-nfvNetwork Function VirtualizationDisabled
rocky-9-rtReal-Time kernel and packagesDisabled
rocky-9-sapSAP applications supportDisabled
rocky-9-saphanaSAP HANA supportDisabled
rocky-9-plusRocky Plus SIG packagesDisabled
rocky-9-develDevelopment packagesDisabled

Each repository is also available in source and debug variants (disabled by default).

Repository Priority

CIQ repositories are configured with higher priority than Rocky Linux repositories, ensuring CIQ-enhanced packages take precedence:

RepositoryPriority
rlc-9-pro45 (highest)
rlc-9-core50
Rocky repos99 (default)

This means when CIQ provides an enhanced version of a package (e.g., the CIQ kernel or a priority bug fix), it will be preferred over the upstream Rocky version during dnf update.

Enabling Additional Repositories

Repositories that are disabled by default can be enabled as needed:

# Enable CRB repository (for development headers) sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled rocky-9-crb.x86_64 # Enable High Availability repository sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled rocky-9-highavailability.x86_64

Or enable temporarily for a single transaction:

sudo dnf install --enablerepo=rocky-9-crb.x86_64 <package-name>

Viewing Repository Configuration

List all configured repositories:

# Show enabled repositories sudo dnf repolist # Show all repositories (including disabled) sudo dnf repolist all

GPG Keys

RLC uses two GPG signing keys:

KeyURLUsed By
CIQhttps://ciq.com/keys/rpm-gpg-key-ciqrlc-9-core, rlc-9-pro, rlc-9-supplemental
Rocky Linux 9https://download.rockylinux.org/pub/rocky/RPM-GPG-KEY-Rocky-9All rocky-9-* repositories

Both keys are pre-installed on RLC systems. Package signature verification (gpgcheck) is enabled on all repositories.

Repository Access

Repository access is managed through the Depot CLI. Repositories require authentication - packages cannot be accessed without a valid subscription.

# Verify Depot status sudo depot list # Log in if needed sudo depot login -u [USER STRING] -t [USER TOKEN]

Content Management (Satellite, Foreman, Rsync)

For organizations managing large fleets with tools like Red Hat Satellite, Foreman, or Spacewalk, RLC repositories can be mirrored using reposync or rsync. See the Depot reposync and rsync guides for details (coming soon).

Rocky Linux 8

RLC 8 follows the same repository architecture with rlc-8-* and rocky-8-* repository naming. Rocky Linux 8 repositories use the RPM-GPG-KEY-Rocky-8 signing key.