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Rocky Linux 9 Final Release Objectives

The objective of a release (major or minor) is to provide a solid Enterprise Linux release that is suitable to:

  • Meet the needs of end users
  • Meet the needs of enterprises big or small

Rocky Linux 9 Final Release Requirements

In order for Rocky Linux to be released to the general public, a compose must be able to meet all the following criteria as provided in this document. This is allows the decision process to be straightforward and as clear as possible. This document only contains “hard requirement” items. Optional/nice to have items are not to be included in this list.

There may cases where a requirement cannot be met but only in particular configurations. In these types of cases, the Release Engineering Team should use their judgement to determine whether or not the issue should be considered to block the release. They should consider the number of users likely to be affected by said issue, the severity of the case, if the issue can be avoided with ease (by both informed and uninformed users), and if the problem exists upstream in the current Red Hat Enterprise Linux that the release is based on.

Release-blocking Server

...means bugs as it pertains to server functionality can be considered to block a release. This applies to any packages that provide a service such as httpd, nginx, etc. All architectures apply.

Release-blocking Desktop

...means bugs as it pertains to desktop functionality (GNOME) can be considered to block a release. This applies to both x86_64 and aarch64. Additional desktops (as provided by EPEL or a SIG) are not considered blockers.

Release-blocking Image

...means bugs as it pertains to the images built that can block a release. This applies to the DVD, minimal, and boot images on all architectures.

Initialization Requirements

Release-blocking images must boot

Release-blocking installer images must boot when written to optical media or USB flash drive of appropriate sizes (if applicable) via officially supported methods. It is not the testing team’s responsibility to test optical media, but they can and report back. If a bug is found, it is considered a blocker.

Optical Media Requirements

Release-blocking images must boot when written to optical media of an appropriate size. Current size requirements are: boot.iso = 789M, minimal.iso = 2.0G and dvd.iso = 10G.

Officially supported USB flash drive writing methods

The following methods of writing USB flash drives are officially support: dd
The following methods of writing USB flash drives are not supported: rufus

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VNC Graphics Mode behaviors

The VNC installation option on all release-blocking installers must function as intended. This means launching the installer or desktop and connecting with VNC to complete the installation. There must be no bugs that prevent the installer from being reached in this configuration on all systems and classes of hardware supported by the enterprise linux kernel.

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No Broken Packages

Critical errors, such as undeclared conflicts, unresolved dependencies, or modules relying on packages from another stream will be considered an automatic blocker. There are potential exceptions to this (eg, freeradius cannot be installed on an older perl stream, this is a known issue upstream).

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Repositories Must Match Upstream

Repositories and the packages within them should match upstream as closely as possible. Notable exceptions would be kmods, kpatch, or what is deemed as “spyware” like insights. Packages that are available from upstream should not have hard requirements on RHSM and packages that have it default built in should be patched out.

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Debranding

Assets and functionality that are Red Hat specific should not be included. If they are not patched out, it will be considered an automatic blocker.

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Installer Requirements

Media Consistency Verification

This means that the installer’s mechanism for verifying the install medium is intact and must complete successfully, with the assumption that the medium was correctly written. It should return a failure message if this not the case.

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Packages and Installer Sources

The installer must be able to use all supported local/remote packages and installer sources.

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NAS (Network Attached Storage)"

The installer must be able to detect and install to supported NAS devices (if possible and supported by the kernel).

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Installation Interfaces

The installer must be able to complete an installation using all supported spokes.

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Minimal Installation

A minimal installation (via network) must be able to install the minimal package set.

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Kickstart Installation

A kickstart installation should succeed, whether from optical/USB media or via the network.

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Disk Layouts

The installer must be able to create and install to any workable partition layout using any file system or format combination offered or supported by the installer. File systems that are not supported by the EL kernel is not tested here (this means btrfs, zfs, both of wish are not supported).

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Firmware RAID

The installer must be able to detect and install to firmware RAID devices. Note that system-specific bugs do not count as blockers. It is likely that some hardware support might be broken or not available at all. DUDs (driver update disks) are not considered for this criteria.

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Bootloader Disk Selection

The installer must allow the user to choose which disk the bootloader will be installed to or, if the user so chooses, not to install a bootloader.

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Storage Volume Resize

Any installer mechanism for resizing storage volumes must correctly attempt the requested operation. This means that if the installer offers a way to resize storage volumes, then it must use the correct resizing tool with the correct parameters. However, it does not require the installer to disallow resizing of unformatted or volumes with an unknown filesystem type.

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Update Image

The installer must be able to use an installer update image retrieved from removable media or a remote package source. This includes DUDs (driver update disks).

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Installer Help

Any element in the installer which contains a “help” text must display the appropriate help documentation when selected.

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Installer Translations

The installer must correctly display all complete translations that are available for use.

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Cloud Image Requirements

Images Published to Cloud Providers

Release-blocking cloud disk images must be published to appropriate cloud providers (such as Amazon) and they must successfully boot. This also applies to KVM based instances, such as x86 and aarch64 systems.

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Post-Installation Requirements

System Services

All system services present after installation must start properly, with the exception of services that require hardware which is not present. Examples of such services would be:

  • sshd
  • firewalld
  • auditd
  • chronyd
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Keyboard Layout

If a particular keyboard layout has been configured for the system, that layout must be used:

  • When unlocking storage volumes (encrypted by LUKS)
  • When logging in at a TTY console
  • When logging in via GDM
  • After logging into a GNOME desktop system, if the user does not have their own layout configuration set.
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SELinux Errors (Server)

There must be no SELinux denial logs in /var/log/audit/audit.log

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SELinux and Crash Notifications (Desktop Only)

There must be no SELinux denial notifications or crash notifications on boot, during installation, or during first login.

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Default Application Functionality (Desktop Only)

Applications that can be launched within GNOME or on the command line must start successfully and withstand basic functionality tests. This includes:

  • Web browser
  • File manager
  • Package manager
  • Image/Document Viewers
  • Text editors (gedit, vim)
  • Archive manager
  • Terminal Emulator (GNOME Terminal)
  • Problem Reporter
  • Help Viewer
  • System Settings
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Default Panel Functionality (Desktop Only)

All elements of GNOME should function properly in regular use.

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Dual Monitor Setup (Desktop Only)

Computers using two monitors, the graphical output is correctly shown on both monitors.

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Artwork and Assets (Server and Desktop)

Proposed final artwork (such as wallpapers and other assets) must be included. A wallpaper from this package should show up as a default for GDM and GNOME.

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Packages and Module Installation

Packages (non-module) should be able to be installed without conflicts or dependent on repositories outside of Rocky Linux.

  • Default modules (as listed in dnf module list) should be installed without requiring them to be enabled.
  • Module streams should be able to be switched and those packages should be able to be installed without errors or unresolved dependencies.
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Identity Management Server Setup

It should be possible to setup a IdM server (FreeIPA), use it's functionality and connect clients.

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Additional Information

If you have questions with respect to this content or to report concerns regarding the use or misuse content please do not hesitate to contact us at testing@rockylinux.org.

Rocky Linux and the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF) does not make any express or implied warranties, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of any third party intellectual property rights. RESF does not warrant that any pending trademark applications for trademarks of RESF will result in any granted trademark protection. RESF shall not be liable for any claims relating to user's activities falling within the scope of the permission and user hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold RESF and its contributors harmless against any such claim.

This work is heavily inspired by the Fedora Release Requirements documents which were made available under Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license unless otherwise noted.

This content is licensed under under Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license unless otherwise noted.