FAQs
FAQ¶
What is Rocky Linux from CIQ (RLC)?¶
Rocky Linux from CIQ (RLC) is the enterprise distribution of Rocky Linux, built and maintained by CIQ. It includes CIQ-built packages, validated supply chain, and enterprise features not available in community Rocky Linux. RLC is available in two tiers: RLC Pro and RLC+.
What is the difference between RLC Pro and RLC+?¶
RLC+ provides Rocky Linux with commercial backing: CIQ-built kernel, CIQ Core repositories, supply chain validation, NVIDIA GPU support, and dedicated repository access.
RLC Pro includes everything in RLC+ plus: CIQ Pro repositories with enterprise enhancements, Long Term Support (LTS) versions, FIPS 140-3 compliance, version pinning, priority bug fixes, indemnification for Rocky Linux components, and professional support with SLAs.
Is RLC compatible with RHEL?¶
Yes. RLC is binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, validated through the ELValidated program from OpenELA. Applications, RPMs, configurations, and automation built for RHEL work on RLC without modification.
What is the difference between RLC and community Rocky Linux?¶
Community Rocky Linux is a free, community-maintained rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. RLC adds vendor accountability: CIQ-built kernel, validated supply chain, dedicated US-based repositories, and (for Pro) enterprise enhancements like LTS, FIPS, GPU driver support, and indemnification.
What versions are supported?¶
RLC Pro supports Rocky Linux major versions 8 and 9, with version 10 coming soon. RLC+ 9 is coming soon, with versions 8 and 10 to follow. A single subscription provides access to all supported major versions.
How do I get RLC?¶
Sign up at portal.ciq.com. RLC+ is available with a free license. RLC Pro is available with a free developer license or enterprise trial. Production use of RLC Pro requires contacting CIQ Sales.
Once you have a subscription, deploy through cloud marketplaces, QCOW2 images, bootc containers, or by converting an existing Rocky Linux system.
Can I convert my existing Rocky Linux system to RLC?¶
Yes. Install the Depot CLI, log in with your CIQ Portal credentials, enable RLC Pro or RLC+, run dnf update, and reboot. No reinstall required. See the Migration Guide for details.
Can I migrate from RHEL to RLC?¶
Yes, for systems on the same major and minor version. RLC is binary compatible with RHEL. Contact CIQ Support for guidance on RHEL migration.
What happens to my existing RLC subscription?¶
Existing RLC customers can migrate to RLC Pro using sudo depot enable rlc-pro-9. Your system will continue to function during the transition. All existing packages and configurations remain intact.
What is the CIQ kernel?¶
Both RLC Pro and RLC+ include a CIQ-built kernel that provides a unified kernel experience across all deployment methods (cloud, on-prem, bootc). The CIQ kernel is identifiable by the _ciq suffix in uname -r output.
What is version pinning?¶
Version pinning allows RLC Pro customers to stay on a specific Rocky Linux minor release (e.g., 9.6) instead of following the latest release. Combined with LTS, pinned versions continue to receive security updates and critical bug fixes.
What LTS versions are available?¶
RLC Pro includes access to Long Term Support versions: 9.2, 9.4, and 9.6 for Rocky Linux 9, and 8.6 and 8.10 for Rocky Linux 8. Enable LTS with sudo depot enable lts-9.6. See Version Pinning & LTS for details.
Is FIPS 140-3 included?¶
FIPS 140-3 cryptographic modules are available to RLC Pro subscribers. Both Certified and Compliant configurations are available for select minor versions. FIPS requires enabling the appropriate FIPS repository. See FIPS 140-3 for details.
What GPU support is available?¶
RLC Pro and RLC+ both include NVIDIA GPU driver support through integrated repositories and pre-built images. GPU-enabled QCOW2 and cloud images ship with NVIDIA datacenter drivers and CUDA 12.8 pre-installed (newer CUDA versions supported). AMD GPU support is coming soon.
What architectures are supported?¶
RLC supports x86_64 and aarch64 architectures across all deployment methods.
What cloud platforms are supported?¶
RLC images are available on AWS, Azure, GCP, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) on both x86_64 and aarch64 architectures. To find RLC images, go to portal.ciq.com, select your product, and you will be guided to the appropriate marketplace listing.
Can I downgrade from RLC Pro to RLC+?¶
Yes. Run sudo depot enable rlc-plus-9, then dnf update and reboot. You will lose access to Pro repositories, LTS, and FIPS, but the CIQ kernel remains as it is included in both tiers.
What happens if I deploy an image but never run depot enable?¶
RLC images ship with the CIQ kernel and identity, but package repositories are not activated until you log in and enable your product. Without running depot enable, dnf update will not have access to RLC or Rocky Linux package repositories. The Depot CLI configures your DNF repository files — you could also configure them manually if needed.
How do I get security updates?¶
Security updates are delivered through the standard dnf update workflow. RLC repositories are configured when you enable the product through Depot CLI.
What happens if my subscription lapses?¶
If your subscription lapses, you will lose access to CIQ repositories and security updates. Your system will continue to operate but will not receive updates from CIQ.
Is support available?¶
Professional Linux support with SLAs is available for RLC Pro. Contact CIQ Support for details.
How do I report an issue?¶
Contact CIQ Support for technical issues. For Portal access issues, email csm-help@ciq.com.
Can I use Red Hat Satellite, Foreman, or Spacewalk with RLC?¶
Yes. RLC repositories can be mirrored using reposync or rsync for use with content management tools. See the Depot reposync guide and Depot rsync guide for details.
How much does RLC cost?¶
RLC+ is available with a free license. RLC Pro offers free developer licenses and enterprise trials. Production use of RLC Pro requires contacting CIQ Sales for pricing.