Getting Started with Rocky Linux 8 on Your VPS

Rocky Linux 8 is a stable, production-ready Linux distribution that is 1:1 compatible with RHEL 8. While still supported, Rocky Linux 8 is older than Rocky Linux 9. It's ideal for stable production environments and legacy systems that don't require the latest features.

About Rocky Linux 8

• Release date: June 2021
• Support until: May 2029
• RHEL compatible: 1:1 compatible with RHEL 8
• Status: Stable, well-tested, proven
• Best for: Legacy systems, conservative deployments

RHEL 8 Compatibility

Rocky Linux 8 is a binary-compatible RHEL 8 replacement, meaning:

• All RHEL 8 packages work on Rocky 8
• cPanel, DirectAdmin, and other control panels work identically
• Enterprise tools and software are fully compatible
• Documentation for RHEL 8 applies directly to Rocky 8

Connect via SSH

ssh root@your-vps-ip

# With SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa root@your-vps-ip

Update System

# Update system
dnf update -y     # or yum update -y on older systems

# Install automatic updates
dnf install dnf-automatic -y
systemctl enable dnf-automatic.timer

Firewall Setup

# Enable firewall
systemctl enable firewalld
systemctl start firewalld

# Allow SSH (critical!)
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=ssh

# Allow HTTP/HTTPS
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https

# Reload
firewall-cmd --reload

Install Software

# Development tools
dnf groupinstall "Development Tools" -y
dnf install git curl wget -y

# Utilities
dnf install htop tmux vim -y

# Common server software
dnf install nginx -y
dnf install mysql-server -y
dnf install php php-fpm -y

Package Managers: dnf vs yum

Upgrade Path

Rocky Linux 8 support ends May 2029: Plan to upgrade to Rocky Linux 9 or Ubuntu 24.04 LTS before support ends.

Related: Rocky Linux 9 | OS comparison | VPS setup | RHEL-based systems

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