Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 10.1 and 9.7 are now generally available, marking a significant step forward in providing a robust and intelligent foundation for modern IT infrastructure and application stacks. These releases build upon the innovations of RHEL 10, focusing on bridging IT skills gaps with AI-powered capabilities, enhancing resistance to quantum threats, and improving operational efficiency across hybrid cloud environments.
AI-Powered Linux Management
A key feature of RHEL 10.1 and 9.7 is the introduction of AI-powered Linux management tools. The RHEL command-line assistant, designed to lower the skills barrier for managing and troubleshooting connected systems, now boasts an expanded context limit, enabling users to attach more data for better analysis of large log files and data streams.
For organizations operating in disconnected or air-gapped environments, an offline, locally available version of the command-line assistant is available as a developer preview for those with a Red Hat Satellite subscription. This self-contained tool provides AI-powered guidance for various RHEL tasks without requiring external network connectivity, making it ideal for security-sensitive industries like finance, government, and industrial control.
Enhanced Security Measures
Security enhancements are a prominent aspect of these releases. Building on the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) capabilities introduced in RHEL 10, RHEL 9.7 now incorporates these same PQC algorithms to address potential threats from future quantum computing. RHEL 10.1 adds enhanced support for PQC in Transport Layer Security (TLS), providing protection for data in transit.
Furthermore, the OpenTelemetry Collector, included in RHEL 9 and 10 cloud images, now supports Trusted Platform Module (TPM) on AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. This support helps protect cryptographic keys and attestation data, improving the overall integrity of operations within tamper-resistant hardware.
Developer-Focused Improvements
RHEL 10.1 and 9.7 include several updates to enhance the developer experience. These include:
- Updated Toolsets and Compilers: RHEL 10.1 offers updated versions of programming languages and services, including Go 1.24, LLVM 20, and Rust 1.88. These updates bring new features, performance improvements, and expanded hardware support.
- AI Accelerator Drivers: Vendor-validated AI accelerator drivers from AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA are now available in the RHEL Extensions and Supplementary Repositories. This provides a secure foundation for AI workloads, reduces bottlenecks, and accelerates the AI/ML lifecycle.
- Image Mode Updates: RHEL 10.1 introduces soft-reboots, a new systemd capability in image mode that allows administrators to change system states without a full kernel reboot. This reduces downtime and enhances system agility. Additionally, both RHEL 10.1 and 9.7 feature reproducible builds for container tools in image mode, enhancing security and improving the efficiency of cloud-native application pipelines.
Addressing Hybrid Cloud Complexities
These releases are designed to address the growing complexities of hybrid cloud computing and the increasing demand for AI workloads. According to a Red Hat-sponsored IDC study, IT infrastructure teams are an average of 32% more efficient with Red Hat solutions compared to non-paid open source alternatives. The operating system empowers teams to be more adaptable to dynamic business needs, with modern tooling and simplified management.
Additional Enhancements
Other notable enhancements in RHEL 10.1 and 9.7 include:
- Offline AI Guidance: An offline, locally available command-line AI assistant is included for secure, disconnected environments.
- Improved Operational Consistency: The releases offer tools and capabilities to maintain more consistent systems and management practices, regardless of where workloads run.
- Hybrid Cloud Encryption: OpenTelemetry Collector now supports Trusted Platform Module (TPM) on major cloud platforms.
- Vulnerability Service: Enables on-premises integration to assess, monitor, report, and remediate CVEs affecting RHEL deployments.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.1 and 9.7 provide a strategic and durable operating system platform to address the evolving needs of modern IT infrastructure, offering enhanced AI capabilities, security measures, and developer tools for a wide range of workloads across hybrid cloud environments.
