AlmaLinux 9 and Rocky Linux 9 are now available on our Linux VPS hosting platform. Both are open-source distributions that track RHEL 9, giving you enterprise-grade stability with community-driven governance.
What’s new in RHEL 9 (and AlmaLinux/Rocky 9)
Version 9 is a significant step up from version 8. The kernel is much newer, which means better hardware support, improved container performance, and newer filesystem features. The default system compiler (GCC 11) produces faster binaries. Python 3.9 is the system Python, and newer versions of Node.js, Ruby, PHP, and other runtimes are available through module streams.
Security defaults have been tightened. OpenSSL 3.0 is the default cryptographic library, SHA-1 is disabled for signatures by default, and the system-wide crypto policy enforces stronger defaults out of the box. If you’re running a VPS that handles sensitive data or needs to meet compliance requirements, these defaults save you from manual hardening.
AlmaLinux 9 vs Rocky Linux 9: which to choose
Both aim for 1:1 binary compatibility with RHEL 9. In practice, there’s very little technical difference between them. The choice comes down to governance and ecosystem:
AlmaLinux: Backed by CloudLinux Inc., which brings commercial backing and a hosting-focused ecosystem. The ability to convert to CloudLinux OS with one command is a strong advantage if you’re running cPanel on your Linux VPS. AlmaLinux also has a foundation (the AlmaLinux OS Foundation) with elected board members.
Rocky Linux: Founded by Gregory Kurtzer, one of the original CentOS founders. Community-governed with a charter that aims to keep it independent. Rocky has a strong following among sysadmins who valued CentOS for its community-first approach.
For most VPS hosting workloads (web servers, databases, application hosting, Docker), either one works identically. If you plan to use cPanel with CloudLinux, AlmaLinux is the smoother path. If community governance matters to you, Rocky is a great choice.
Upgrading from version 8
If you’re running AlmaLinux 8 or Rocky Linux 8 on an existing VPS, the recommended path is to deploy a new virtual server with version 9 and migrate your data and configuration. In-place upgrades from 8 to 9 are possible but can be risky for production servers. A fresh deployment ensures a clean environment.
Deploy now
Log into the Client Portal, create a new Linux VPS, and select AlmaLinux 9 or Rocky Linux 9 as your OS template. Both are available at all six data centers. Your VPS is ready in minutes. Contact us if you need help choosing or migrating.