CLOUD技术博"Alibaba Linux Release 3" refers to Alibaba Cloud Linux 3, a Linux operating system developed and maintained by Alibaba Cloud (part of Alibaba Group). It is designed specifically for cloud environments, offering performance optimization, stability, and long-term support for cloud servers (ECS) on Alibaba Cloud.
🔍 What is Alibaba Linux?
Alibaba Linux is a CentOS-based, independently developed Linux distribution tailored for use in Alibaba Cloud’s Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instances. It is optimized for cloud-native applications and provides enhanced performance, security, and compatibility with Alibaba Cloud infrastructure.
There are currently two major versions:
- Alibaba Linux 2
- Alibaba Linux 3
Note: Alibaba Linux 3 is not the same as CentOS Stream or Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), although it shares some source code and package compatibility.
📦 Alibaba Linux 3 Overview
- Based on: Upstream kernel and open-source components (similar to CentOS/RHEL but not binary compatible).
- Release Year: Officially launched around 2021–2022.
- Package Manager:
dnf/yum - Default Filesystem: XFS
- Supported Architectures: x86_64, ARM64 (aarch64)
- LTS (Long-Term Support): Yes — supported for several years with updates and patches provided by Alibaba Cloud.
✅ Key Features of Alibaba Linux 3
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Optimized Kernel | Custom-tuned kernel for better performance on Alibaba Cloud ECS instances. |
| Enhanced Security | Includes SELinux and regular security patches from Alibaba Cloud. |
| Compatibility | Compatible with most RPM packages built for RHEL 8+ and CentOS 8+. |
| Cloud Integration | Tight integration with Alibaba Cloud services like VPC, SLB, and Cloud Monitor. |
| Performance Tuning | Optimized I/O scheduling, CPU utilization, and networking stack for cloud workloads. |
🧪 How to Check Your Current OS Version
If you’re running an ECS instance on Alibaba Cloud and want to check if you’re using Alibaba Linux 3, run:
cat /etc/os-releaseYou should see output similar to:
NAME="Alibaba Cloud Linux"
VERSION="3 (Soaring Falcon)"
ID=alinux
ID_LIKE=rhel fedora
PRETTY_NAME="Alibaba Cloud Linux 3 (Soaring Falcon)"
ANSI_COLOR="0;31"
CPE_NAME="cpe:/o:alibaba:cloudlinux:3"
HOME_URL="https://www.alibabacloud.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://help.aliyun.com/contact-us.html"🧰 Installation & Usage
- You can select Alibaba Linux 3 as your operating system when launching an ECS instance on Alibaba Cloud.
- It’s ideal for:
- Web servers
- Databases
- Container hosts (Kubernetes, Docker)
- Microservices and serverless computing
🔄 Comparison: Alibaba Linux 2 vs. 3
| Feature | Alibaba Linux 2 | Alibaba Linux 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | CentOS 8 | CentOS Stream / RHEL 8 |
| Default Package Manager | yum |
dnf |
| Kernel Version | Older (custom tuned) | Newer (more up-to-date) |
| Supported Packages | Broad compatibility | Improved modularity and newer software |
| Use Case | General purpose | Cloud-native and modern workloads |
| LTS Support | Yes | Yes (longer roadmap planned) |
📚 Official Resources
- Alibaba Cloud Linux Product Page
- Alibaba Cloud Linux Documentation
If you have a specific question about Alibaba Linux 3, such as how to install software, configure settings, or migrate from another OS, feel free to ask!