CIQ partner in Europe
RLC Pro: Rocky Linux with LTS and support
RLC Pro is CIQ's enterprise edition of Rocky Linux: the same RHEL-compatible system, with LTS releases of up to four years, FIPS 140-3 cryptography and someone behind it when something breaks. As a CIQ partner, we set up your subscription, migrate your servers and look after them with our own team.
One subscription per server and year covering every major version, on x86_64 and ARM.
The problem it solves
Community Rocky Linux only patches the latest minor version. As soon as 9.7 comes out, 9.6 stops getting fixes, and that clashes with how many companies work: the ERP, the database or the vendor application is certified on one specific version and cannot be upgraded every six months.
RLC Pro freezes that version and keeps patching it for years, with CIQ answering for bugs and vulnerabilities. With LTS releases, a major version can reach up to 13 years of support.
| LTS releases | Up to four years of patches on even minor versions such as 9.2, 9.6 or 8.10. |
|---|---|
| FIPS 140-3 | Cryptographic modules validated by NIST on 8.6, 8.10 and 9.2; 9.6 in process. |
| Bugs and vulnerabilities | CIQ fixes the bugs reported to it and commits to response times for critical and high vulnerabilities. |
| Indemnification | Legal protection for the Rocky Linux components. |
| ELM | A console to approve updates before applying them and roll back if something fails, including on air-gapped networks. |
| Where | x86_64 and ARM, in your data centre or on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and Oracle Cloud; as ISO, VM, container or bootc. |
How long you get patches
In grey, the free community patches; in green, what RLC Pro LTS adds. Data from CIQ, subject to change.
- Free patches (community)
- With RLC Pro LTS
From RHEL to RLC Pro, without reinstalling
If your servers run RHEL 8 or 9, there is no migration in the classic sense. CIQ's migrate2rlc tool switches the repositories and the system becomes RLC Pro with one command and one reboot: same applications, same packages, same configuration. It also works from AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux and CentOS Stream.
This is how we do it: an inventory of servers and certified software, a test in pre-production, server-by-server switching starting with the least critical, and a check that everything boots exactly as before. For many servers, with an Ansible playbook.
| From | RHEL, AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux, CentOS Stream or Rocky, versions 8 and 9 |
|---|---|
| To | RLC Pro, on the same major version |
| How | One command and one reboot per server, or an Ansible playbook |
| Not for | RHEL or CentOS 7, or jumping from 8 to 9: those need a reinstall |
Is RLC Pro what you need?
RLC Pro
If you need LTS releases, FIPS, someone to call and legal protection. It is the edition for most production servers.
RLC Pro Hardened
If you are also audited against DISA STIG or CIS: RLC Pro hardened out of the box, with runtime kernel protection.
RLC Pro AI
For GPU servers running AI: a newer kernel and the NVIDIA stack already tested, though without LTS or FIPS.
Free Rocky Linux
If you can always stay on the latest minor version and our support is enough.
All four editions compared on Rocky Linux support.
What we bring
The subscription is CIQ's; the day-to-day work is ours.
- Before buying
Which version, on which servers
We review what software you have certified and on which version, to pin the right LTS on each server.
- Subscription
Only what you need
We set up RLC Pro per server and year, mixing editions where it makes sense, and handle the renewals.
- Migration
From RHEL, CentOS or free Rocky
Without reinstalling wherever possible, tested in pre-production first. More in migration to Linux.
- Day to day
Support and patching
24/7 or 8×5 support from Europe, with ELM to approve every update and CIQ behind us for operating system bugs.
- Your team
Training
Our Linux courses apply as they are to Rocky.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between free Rocky Linux and RLC Pro?
It is the same RHEL-compatible system. The community release only patches the latest minor version and has nobody to call. RLC Pro adds LTS releases of up to four years, FIPS 140-3 validated cryptography, bug fixes by CIQ, response times for critical vulnerabilities, legal indemnification and the ELM console to manage updates.
What is an LTS release of Rocky Linux?
A minor version that keeps being patched long after the next one comes out. It matters when an ERP, a database or a software vendor only certifies one specific version (9.2, for example) and you cannot upgrade at the community's pace.
Is RLC Pro FIPS 140-3 certified?
Yes. Its cryptographic modules hold NIST FIPS 140-3 validation on versions 8.6, 8.10 and 9.2 (certificates #5095, #5113, #5116, #5117 and #5200), and 9.6 is in process.
Can I move from RHEL to RLC Pro without reinstalling?
Yes, from RHEL, AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux, CentOS Stream or Rocky on versions 8 and 9. CIQ's migrate2rlc tool switches the repositories with one command and one reboot, and the server keeps its applications and configuration. From version 7 you need to reinstall.
Does RLC Pro run on IBM Power?
No. RLC Pro is available for x86_64 and ARM (aarch64). On IBM Power we stay with Red Hat, SUSE or Ubuntu.
Tell us which versions you run
With your list of servers, versions and certified software we will tell you which LTS to pin on each one and what it would cost.
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Our mission
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