Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Basic Information

• Model: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (RHEL 8)
• Version: 8.x (latest stable is 8.10)
• Release Date: May 7, 2019 (initial release)
• Minimum Requirements:
  • RAM: 1 GB minimum, 1.5 GB per logical CPU recommended for x86-64.
  • Disk Space: 10 GiB (unpartitioned or in deletable partitions).
• Supported Architectures: AMD and Intel 64-bit (x86-64), 64-bit ARM, IBM Power Systems (Little Endian), 64-bit IBM Z.
• Latest Stable Version: 8.10 (released May 22, 2024).
• End of Full Support Date: May 31, 2024.
• End of Maintenance Support Date: May 31, 2029.
• End of Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) Add-on Date: May 31, 2032.
• License Type: Subscription-based (open-source Linux kernel).
• Deployment Model: Bare-metal, virtualized, containerized, and cloud environments (hybrid cloud).

Technical Requirements

• RAM: Minimum 1 GB, recommended 1.5 GB per logical CPU. Maximum certified system memory is 6 TB on x86-64 architecture.
• Processor: 64-bit AMD and Intel, 64-bit ARM, IBM Power Systems (Little Endian), 64-bit IBM Z.
• Storage: Minimum 10 GiB of available disk space.
• Display: Specific display resolution requirements are outlined in Red Hat documentation.
• Ports: Standard network connectivity for installation and updates. OpenSSH is the required SSH software.
• Operating System: RHEL 8 is an operating system itself, built on the Linux kernel 4.18.

Analysis of Technical Requirements: RHEL 8 supports a broad range of 64-bit architectures, making it suitable for diverse enterprise environments from traditional servers to modern cloud deployments. The minimum RAM and disk space requirements are modest, allowing for flexible deployment on various hardware configurations. However, performance-critical applications benefit significantly from higher memory allocations. The focus on 64-bit architectures indicates a move away from 32-bit support.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: 8.10.
• OS Support: RHEL 8 is a standalone operating system. It supports deployment as a guest on supported hypervisors and cloud provider environments, as well as on physical infrastructure.
• End of Full Support Date: May 31, 2024.
• End of Maintenance Support Date: May 31, 2029.
• Localization: Supports various international languages.
• Available Drivers: RHEL 8 includes extensive hardware enablement and drivers for a wide range of components. Specific driver availability depends on hardware vendor support and Red Hat's certification program.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status: RHEL 8 offers robust long-term support through its lifecycle phases, including Full Support, Maintenance Support, and an Extended Life Phase, with an ELS add-on available. This ensures continued security updates and bug fixes for an extended period. It is compatible with major hardware architectures and virtualization platforms, emphasizing its role in hybrid cloud strategies. Red Hat's commitment to enterprise-grade stability means a wide array of drivers and hardware are supported, though users should always consult the hardware compatibility list for specific devices.

Security Status

• Security Features: System-wide cryptographic policies (TLS 1.3 by default), enhanced SELinux integration, OpenSCAP for compliance scanning, improved auditing, fapolicyd for application control, kernel integrity subsystem, container security (Podman, rootless containers, SELinux for containers), and Red Hat Insights for vulnerability management.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Red Hat provides continuous vulnerability monitoring and rapid security updates.
• Blacklist Status: Not applicable as an operating system.
• Certifications: Supports FIPS mode for cryptographic compliance. Red Hat offers various certifications for professionals working with RHEL 8, such as RHCSA, RHCE, and RHCA.
• Encryption Support: Native support for full disk encryption using LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup), with LUKS2 as the default format. Supports AES-128 and AES-256 encryption types; RC4 is deprecated. Network-Bound Disk Encryption (NBDE) with Tang servers is also supported.
• Authentication Methods: Enhanced user access controls.
• General Recommendations: Enable FIPS mode during installation for FIPS compliance. Utilize system-wide cryptographic policies. Encrypt partitions using LUKS. Regularly scan for compliance with OpenSCAP. Keep systems updated.

Analysis on Overall Security Rating: RHEL 8 provides a robust and comprehensive security framework. Key features like system-wide cryptographic policies, enhanced SELinux, and FIPS mode support make it highly suitable for environments with stringent security and compliance requirements. The deprecation of weaker ciphers like RC4 and the focus on modern encryption standards (TLS 1.3, AES) demonstrate a commitment to strong security. Tools like OpenSCAP and Red Hat Insights aid in proactive vulnerability management and compliance. Overall, RHEL 8 maintains a high security posture, making it a trusted choice for enterprise workloads.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: RHEL 8 shows significant performance improvements over RHEL 7.6 across various workloads.
• Real-World Performance Metrics:
  • Throughput: Up to 35% greater throughput in AIM7 shared mix tests at saturation compared to RHEL 7.
  • Database Performance: Higher absolute throughput and better scaling for transaction processing using databases like MariaDB.
  • Networking: Performance gains up to 46% in networking, with improvements in small and mid-size packet handling. Network virtualization protocols (VXLAN, GRE, Geneve) show 24%-760% performance improvements over RHEL 7.6.
  • Disk I/O: 15% increased disk I/O and 40% increase in disk throughput on XFS filesystem.
  • Memory Usage: Approximately 20% less memory usage compared to RHEL 7.6.
  • CPU: Similar performance to RHEL 7 for traditional CPU loads like Linpack and SPECcpu (est).
• Power Consumption: Not explicitly detailed in provided snippets, but performance optimizations often lead to more efficient resource utilization.
• Carbon Footprint: Not explicitly detailed in provided snippets.
• Comparison with Similar Assets:
  • vs. RHEL 7: RHEL 8 offers significant performance improvements, particularly in I/O, networking, and memory efficiency. It features a newer kernel (4.18 vs 3.10), updated compilers (GCC 8.2.1 vs 4.8.5), and improved filesystem journaling for XFS. RHEL 8 also has a much higher physical memory capacity limit (4PB vs 64TB).
  • vs. Ubuntu LTS/Clear Linux: RHEL 8 delivers much better out-of-the-box performance than its predecessor but competes with Ubuntu LTS and Clear Linux, which often feature newer kernels and compilers for bleeding-edge performance.

Analysis of Overall Performance Status: RHEL 8 demonstrates substantial performance enhancements over its predecessor, RHEL 7, especially in I/O, networking, and memory management, making it highly efficient for modern enterprise workloads. While traditional CPU-bound tasks show comparable performance, the improvements in syscall overhead and XFS journaling contribute to better scaling under heavy loads. Its optimized kernel tuning, advanced resource management, and support for emerging hardware architectures ensure high throughput and reduced latency, crucial for demanding applications and hybrid cloud environments. Specific performance gains in network virtualization are particularly notable.

User Reviews & Feedback

User feedback highlights RHEL 8 as a powerful, versatile, and stable operating system designed for enterprise needs. Strengths include its robust features, security, and reliability. It is praised for streamlining the developer experience with features like Application Streams, Podman, Buildah, and Skopeo, which facilitate containerized application development. System administrators appreciate the reduced administrative complexity, increased reliability, and tools for automation (e.g., Ansible integration) and standardized environments across physical, virtual, and cloud deployments. The web console simplifies sysadmin tasks. Users note the significant performance improvements over RHEL 7. Some feedback indicates that while RHEL 8 brings many updates, the core user/sysadmin experience remains largely familiar, with changes like yum becoming a symlink to dnf. A point of discussion has been the kernel version (4.18) at release, with some users wishing for a newer upstream kernel.

Strengths:

• Enhanced security features and cryptographic policies.
• Significant performance improvements over RHEL 7, especially in I/O and networking.
• Improved developer experience with Application Streams and container tools (Podman, Buildah, Skopeo).
• Reduced administrative complexity and increased reliability.
• Strong support for hybrid cloud deployments.
• Long-term support and stability.

Weaknesses:

• Initial kernel version (4.18) was considered older by some users compared to contemporary upstream kernels.
• RC4 encryption is deprecated, which might require adjustments for compatibility with older Active Directory environments.

Recommended Use Cases:

• Mission-critical enterprise workloads requiring high stability, security, and long-term support.
• Hybrid cloud environments, including bare-metal, virtualized, and containerized deployments.
• Development and deployment of containerized applications and microservices.
• Environments with strict compliance requirements (e.g., FIPS, PCI-DSS, HIPAA) due to enhanced security features and OpenSCAP integration.
• High-performance computing (HPC) and large-scale database clusters.

Summary

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (RHEL 8) is a powerful, enterprise-grade operating system designed for stability, security, and performance across hybrid cloud environments. Released on May 7, 2019, it introduced significant advancements over its predecessor, RHEL 7. Key improvements include a modernized kernel (4.18), enhanced system-wide cryptographic policies with TLS 1.3 by default, and robust security features like SELinux integration and OpenSCAP for compliance.

Technically, RHEL 8 supports a wide array of 64-bit architectures, including AMD/Intel, ARM, IBM Power Systems, and IBM Z, with minimum requirements of 1 GB RAM (1.5 GB recommended per logical CPU) and 10 GiB disk space. Performance benchmarks indicate substantial gains over RHEL 7, with up to 35% higher throughput, 15% increased disk I/O, and significant networking improvements, making it highly efficient for demanding workloads. It also boasts a higher maximum physical memory capacity of 4PB.

RHEL 8 offers comprehensive long-term support, with Maintenance Support extending until May 31, 2029, and an Extended Life Cycle Support add-on until May 31, 2032. It provides extensive hardware compatibility and localization options. Security is a core strength, featuring native LUKS encryption, FIPS mode support, and advanced tools for threat mitigation and compliance.

User feedback consistently praises RHEL 8 for its stability, security, and developer-friendly features such as Application Streams and container tools (Podman, Buildah, Skopeo), which streamline application development and deployment. It is highly recommended for mission-critical enterprise applications, hybrid cloud deployments, and environments requiring stringent security and compliance. While the initial kernel version drew some discussion, Red Hat's commitment to backporting features ensures its continued relevance and performance.

In summary, RHEL 8 is a highly capable and secure enterprise operating system, offering a stable foundation for modern IT infrastructures. Its strengths lie in its robust security, significant performance enhancements, and strong support for cloud-native and hybrid cloud strategies. Its long support lifecycle and comprehensive feature set make it a reliable choice for businesses seeking a powerful and adaptable Linux platform.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.