Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Basic information

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 is a robust enterprise-grade operating system. The General Availability (GA) release occurred on May 18, 2022, following an announcement at Red Hat Summit on May 10, 2022. The latest stable version, as of November 14, 2025, is RHEL 9.7, released on November 12, 2025.

Minimum requirements include 2 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended) and 10 GiB of available disk space for installation (20 GB unallocated disk space recommended). It supports AMD and Intel 64-bit architectures (specifically x86-64-v2 microarchitecture), 64-bit ARM architecture (ARMv8.0-A), IBM Power Systems, Little Endian (POWER9), and 64-bit IBM Z (z14).

The full support phase for RHEL 9 ends on May 31, 2027, followed by maintenance support until May 31, 2032. An Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on is available, extending support until May 31, 2035. Minor releases typically reach end-of-life when the subsequent minor release becomes available, unless Extended Update Support (EUS) is purchased.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 operates under a commercial, subscription-based license, though it is freely available for individual developers through the Red Hat Developer program. Its deployment model is highly flexible, supporting physical infrastructure, various hypervisors (such as KVM and VMware), cloud provider environments, and container deployments using Red Hat Universal Base Images (UBIs).

Technical Requirements

• RAM: Minimum 2 GB, with 4 GB or more recommended for general use. For Identity Management deployments, 4 GB is required for 10,000 users and 16 GB for 100,000 users.
• Processor: 64-bit AMD and Intel architectures (requiring x86-64-v2 microarchitecture), 64-bit ARM architecture (ARMv8.0-A), IBM Power Systems, Little Endian (POWER9), and 64-bit IBM Z (z14).
• Storage: A minimum of 10 GiB of available disk space is necessary for installation, with 20 GB of unallocated disk space recommended. The system supports diverse local and remote storage options, including disk partitions, Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), iSCSI, NVMe over Fabrics, and Stratis.
• Display: No specific high-resolution display requirements are noted, supporting standard graphical interfaces like GNOME 40.
• Ports: General hardware compatibility implies support for standard input/output ports.
• Operating System: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 is the operating system itself, designed to run on the specified hardware architectures.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 maintains moderate base technical requirements, aligning with contemporary server and workstation hardware standards. The adoption of the x86-64-v2 microarchitecture for x86-64 CPUs ensures optimized performance on newer processors. RAM and storage demands are scalable, increasing significantly for enterprise services like Identity Management, reflecting its design for diverse and demanding workloads.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.7, released on November 12, 2025.
• OS Support: Supports AMD and Intel 64-bit architectures (x86-64-v2), 64-bit ARM architecture (ARMv8.0-A), IBM Power Systems, Little Endian (POWER9), and 64-bit IBM Z (z14).
• End of Support Date: Full support concludes on May 31, 2027. Maintenance support extends until May 31, 2032. An optional Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on is available until May 31, 2035.
• Localization: As an enterprise-grade operating system, RHEL 9 provides comprehensive localization options.
• Available Drivers: RHEL 9 integrates with Linux kernel 5.14.0, offering broad hardware support. Red Hat maintains a Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) for certified hardware.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 offers robust, long-term support, which is critical for enterprise environments, with additional extended support options available. Its broad compatibility across major hardware architectures, including x86-64, ARM, IBM Power, and IBM Z, coupled with an updated kernel, ensures adaptability to a wide array of modern systems. The comprehensive support lifecycle and expected extensive localization capabilities underscore its suitability for global enterprise deployments.

Security Status

• Security Features: Includes OpenSSL 3.0, enhanced system-wide crypto-policies (disabling outdated protocols like TLS 1.0/1.1, DTLS 1.0, RC4, and increasing minimum RSA key sizes), and protection against hardware-level vulnerabilities such as Spectre and Meltdown. It features Integrity Measurement Architecture (IMA) for verifying OS integrity, Smart Card authentication, and detailed SSSD logging. SELinux userspace release 3.6 introduces deny rules for precise access control.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Red Hat continuously addresses vulnerabilities through updates and advisories, with Red Hat Insights assisting in vulnerability assessment.
• Blacklist Status: Not applicable for the operating system itself.
• Certifications: RHEL 9 is designed for readiness with compliance standards such as PCI DSS and HIPAA, and supports FIPS 140-3 compliant cryptographic mechanisms.
• Encryption Support: Provides full disk encryption (FDE) using LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) for block devices, including during installation. OpenSSL 3.0 underpins its cryptographic functions.
• Authentication Methods: Supports Smart Card authentication, SSH (with OpenSSH 8.7p1 and SFTP replacing SCP/RCP), and SSSD for enterprise single sign-on. Root user authentication via password over SSH is disabled by default.
• General Recommendations: Enable FIPS mode for cryptographic compliance, utilize strong system-wide cryptographic policies, implement full disk encryption during installation, protect auditing rules, and enforce strong password policies, disallowing blank or null passwords.

Analysis of Overall Security Rating

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 exhibits a high overall security rating, integrating advanced cryptographic standards, robust hardware vulnerability mitigations, and stringent authentication controls. Its compliance readiness for industry standards and FIPS certification makes it suitable for highly regulated environments. The default security posture is hardened, emphasizing secure-by-default configurations and providing comprehensive tools for ongoing security management.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Benchmarking indicates a significant performance uplift compared to RHEL 8.6, particularly on modern Intel Xeon Scalable and AMD EPYC servers. While Clear Linux may show slightly higher scores in some specific benchmarks, RHEL 9 consistently performs strongly.
• Real-World Performance Metrics: RHEL 9 demonstrates faster boot times, reduced system latency, and improved resource utilization compared to its predecessor. Performance enhancements are particularly evident on post-2008 Intel and AMD CPUs due to the adoption of the x86-64-v2 microarchitecture. It also includes optimizations for cloud workloads, such as support for AWS Graviton processors.
• Power Consumption: While direct power consumption benchmarks for the OS are not typically available, RHEL 9's performance optimizations and efficient resource management contribute to overall system power efficiency, which is highly dependent on the underlying hardware.
• Carbon Footprint: The carbon footprint is primarily determined by the hardware infrastructure and data center efficiency, rather than the operating system itself.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: RHEL 9 provides substantial performance gains over RHEL 8.6, especially when deployed on newer hardware. It consistently ranks as a top performer among enterprise Linux distributions in various benchmarks.

Analysis of Overall Performance Status

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 offers a strong overall performance status, delivering notable improvements in speed, latency, and resource utilization. These gains are largely attributable to kernel and system component refinements, alongside the adoption of the x86-64-v2 microarchitecture, which optimizes performance on modern processors. RHEL 9 is well-suited for demanding enterprise workloads and hybrid cloud environments, providing a highly efficient and responsive platform.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback highlight Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9's strengths in providing a stable, secure, and consistent foundation for hybrid cloud deployments. Users appreciate the tools that facilitate faster workload delivery and the improved image builder. The robust security features and compliance readiness are frequently cited as significant advantages, along with the notable performance improvements on newer hardware. The long-term support lifecycle is also a key benefit for enterprise users.

A common area of complexity noted by some users is the intricate lifecycle management of minor releases, particularly regarding end-of-life dates and the need for Extended Update Support (EUS) to prolong their lifecycle. This can sometimes make tracking support status challenging.

Recommended use cases for RHEL 9 span across hybrid cloud environments, edge deployments, physical servers, virtualized guests, and containerized applications. It is particularly recommended for enterprises requiring a highly stable, secure, and performant platform for critical workloads, especially those operating under strict regulatory compliance such as PCI-DSS and HIPAA.

Summary

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 stands as a highly capable and secure operating system designed for modern enterprise environments. Its strengths lie in its robust security features, including OpenSSL 3.0, FIPS 140-3 compliance, and advanced hardware vulnerability protections, making it suitable for regulated industries. Performance is significantly enhanced on contemporary hardware, driven by kernel optimizations and the adoption of the x86-64-v2 microarchitecture, resulting in faster boot times and reduced latency. The platform offers flexible deployment across physical, virtual, cloud, and edge environments, supported by a comprehensive, long-term lifecycle.

While the overall support is extensive, the management of minor release lifecycles can be complex, potentially requiring additional Extended Update Support (EUS) for prolonged stability on specific versions. Despite this, RHEL 9 is highly recommended for organizations seeking a stable, secure, and high-performance foundation for critical workloads and hybrid cloud strategies.

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.