AlmaLinux 8 vs AlmaLinux 9: What Changed and Should You Upgrade?

Major Differences Between Almalinux 8 And Almalinux 9

Kernel and Core System Updates
AlmaLinux 9 ships with Linux kernel 5.14, a significant jump from AlmaLinux 8’s kernel 4.18. This newer kernel brings improved hardware support, better performance for modern CPUs (including latest gen Intel and AMD processors), and enhanced security features like kernel lockdown mode.

The kernel upgrade matters most if you’re running newer server hardware or need support for recent storage controllers, network adapters, or GPU acceleration for workloads like machine learning inference.

Security Enhancements
AlmaLinux 9 includes OpenSSL 3.0, which deprecates several older cryptographic algorithms and ciphers. If your applications rely on SHA-1 signatures or legacy TLS configurations, you’ll need to update them before migrating.

SELinux policies in AlmaLinux 9 are more restrictive by default, which improves security but may require policy adjustments.

Package and Toolchain Changes
• Python: AlmaLinux 9 ships with Python 3.9 as default, with Python 3.11 available
• GCC: Upgraded from GCC 8.5 to GCC 11
• PHP: Drops PHP 7.2/7.3, offers PHP 8.0, 8.1, and 8.2
• PostgreSQL: Includes PostgreSQL 13 as default, with PostgreSQL 15 available

Removed and Deprecated Packages
• NTP replaced by Chrony
• MySQL 5.7 removed (use MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB)
• iptables redirected to nftables
• Python 2 completely removed

Should You Upgrade?

Upgrade to AlmaLinux 9 if you’re running newer hardware, need long-term support until 2032, have applications compatible with the newer stack, or want improved security.

Stick with AlmaLinux 8 if you’re running legacy applications dependent on Python 3.6, PHP 7.4, or MySQL 5.7.

Running AlmaLinux on InMotion Hosting? Our VPS and dedicated server plans support both versions with full root access and optional migration assistance through Launch Assist.