August 22, 2023
CIQ, SUSE, and Oracle have formed the Open Enterprise Linux Association (OpenELA), a trade association that will provide source code compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
The alliance was formed in response to Red Hat’s decision to restrict access to RHEL source code to paying customers. OpenELA says it will provide the source code necessary for downstream distributions compatible with RHEL to exist, starting later this year.
OpenELA’s homepage waves the open source Linux flag, with the following words: “No subscriptions. No passwords. No barriers. Freeloaders welcome.”
Rocky Linux, backed by CIQ, and Oracle Linux, have both said they will continue to be 1:1 and bug-for-bug compatible with RHEL. Rocky Linux plans to obtain source code through UBI container images based on RHEL, available from multiple sources, or by leveraging pay-per-use public cloud instances. Oracle previously acknowledged that compatibility issues may arise, but promised to make binaries and source code publicly and freely available as long as it distributes Linux.
OpenELA called on other organizations and community members to join and contribute actively as it “seeks to build a robust, community-driven standard that ensures impartiality and equilibrium in the EL ecosystem.” The association said it would welcome AlmaLinux, a notable absence from the association, and even Red Hat, as members.
The sources for this piece include an article in ITWorldCanada.
