# AlmaLinux 8.4 Release Notes

Distributed kernel version: 4.18.0-305.

# Providing Feedback and Getting Help

Please report any issues you may encounter on theAlmaLinux Bug Tracker(opens new window). Additionally, if you feel like providing feedback, talking about anything or asking any questions you might want to check outAlmaLinux Chat(opens new window),The AlmaLinux Forums(opens new window) andThe AlmaLinux Community on Reddit(opens new window).

# Changelog

• Secure Boot is now fully supported (almbz#3(opens new window))

• OpenSCAP security profiles are now ready for production

• devel repo released with extra packages and build dependencies not included in upstream distribution. This is developers only and shouldn’t be enabled on production installations

• PowerTools repo is now disabled by default to match upstream distribution and moved to separate filealmalinux-powertools.repo (almbz#74(opens new window))

• Added new module streams:

  • Python 3.9
  • SWIG 4.0
  • Subversion 1.14
  • Redis 6
  • PostgreSQL 13
  • MariaDB 10.5

• Compiler Updates:

  • GCC Toolset 10
  • LLVM Toolset 11.0.0
  • Rust Toolset 1.49.0
  • Go Toolset 1.15.7

You can reference the upstreamRHEL 8.4 release notes(opens new window) for a full list of changes in this release.

# Installation instructions

There are three installation ISO images available:

AlmaLinux-8.4-x86_64-boot.iso - a single network installation CD imagethat downloads packages over the Internet.

AlmaLinux-8.4-x86_64-minimal.iso - a minimal self-containing DVD imagethat makes possible offline installation.

AlmaLinux-8.4-x86_64-dvd.iso - a full installation DVD image thatcontains mostly all AlmaLinux packages.

The recommended way to download ISO images is using thetorrent(opens new window) links. Alternatively, you can select a mirror closest to your geographic area listed on themirrors.almalinux.org(opens new window) website (local mirrors will be a lot quicker than usingrepo.almalinux.org directly) and download a suitable ISO image from the 8.4/isos/x86_64/ directory, for example:

$wget https://mirror.interserver.net/almalinux/8.4/isos/x86_64/AlmaLinux-8.4-x86_64-boot.iso

Download and import the AlmaLinux public key:

$wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/RPM-GPG-KEY-AlmaLinux$ gpg--import RPM-GPG-KEY-AlmaLinux

Download and verify a checksums list:

$wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/8.4/isos/x86_64/CHECKSUM# we are looking for “Good signature”$ gpg--verify CHECKSUMgpg: Signature made Wed26 May2021 08:21:40 AM UTC using RSA key ID C21AD6EAgpg: Good signature from"AlmaLinux <packager@almalinux.org>"gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature!gpg:          There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner.Primary key fingerprint: 5E9B 8F56 17B5 066C E920  57C3 488F CF7C 3ABB 34F8     Subkey fingerprint: E53C F5EF 91CE B0AD1812  ECB8 51D6 647E C21A D6EA

Verify the downloaded ISO image checksum:

# calculate the downloaded ISO SHA256 checksum$ sha256sum AlmaLinux-8.4-x86_64-boot.iso76e8f56892e6d90706b142868eec51b6b8c015ec3792f8d9e0730da93a2d1162  AlmaLinux-8.4-x86_64-boot.iso# compare it with expected checksum, it should be the same$cat CHECKSUM|grep-E'SHA256.*AlmaLinux-8.4-x86_64-boot.iso'SHA256(AlmaLinux-8.4-x86_64-boot.iso)= 76e8f56892e6d90706b142868eec51b6b8c015ec3792f8d9e0730da93a2d1162

If you've decided to use theAlmaLinux-8.4-x86_64-boot.iso image, you willneed to provide the8.4/BaseOS/x86_64/kickstart/ repository from theselected mirror as the Installation Source.

There are no extra Installation Sources required if you decided to go witheither the minimal or DVD ISO images.

# Upgrade Instructions

Just run:

$ dnf upgrade-y

to update your AlmaLinux OS 8.3 stable to 8.4.
If you’re upgrading from 8.4 beta then you should run

$ dnf upgrade-y

twice.

# Known issues

• The mirrors support implemented with help of the DNF fastestmirror plugin is known to be a bit "quirky". We are going to switch to geo-location-based mirror selection soon.
• We don’t provide OVAL definitions for AlmaLinux updates yet so theEnsure Software Patches Installed OpenSCAP check will be marked asnotchecked. However, OpenSCAP is already configured for AlmaLinux OVAL sources so no configuration will be needed when definitions become available.

# Added packages

Here is a list of added packages in comparison with upstream distribution.

# Removed packages

Here is a list of removed packages in comparison with the upstream distribution.
AlmaLinux OS is a community distribution so all changes are subject to discussion. If you would like to do so, please joinAlmaLinux Chat(opens new window) as well as filing a bug report atAlmaLinux Bug Tracker(opens new window) to discuss if you think any of the packages below should be included into the repos.

Red Hat and RHEL are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

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