RHEL 10 vs RHEL 9 and RHEL 8: What Changed and What It Means for Admins
RHEL 10 is a powerful update to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, offering several key improvements over its predecessors, including enhanced security, performance optimizations, cloud integration, and better container support. It introduces new tools for developers and system administrators, as well as advanced encryption and cloud-native features to help businesses scale and secure their IT environments. Whether you’re using RHEL 8 or RHEL 9, upgrading to RHEL 10 will provide a more flexible, secure, and future-proof operating system for your enterprise workloads.
Quick answer: RHEL 10, released in May 2025, builds on RHEL 9 with a 6.12 kernel, Python 3.12, a supported image mode for RHEL (bootc), the RHEL Lightspeed command-line assistant, post-quantum cryptography support and a newer x86-64 hardware baseline. RHCSA EX200 is now based on RHEL 10. Upgrades use Leapp one major version at a time: 8 to 9, then 9 to 10.
Key takeaways
- RHEL 10 was released in May 2025. RHEL 9 dates from May 2022 and RHEL 8 from May 2019.
- Headline changes: kernel 6.12, Python 3.12, image mode (bootc), RHEL Lightspeed, post-quantum crypto and a higher x86-64 baseline.
- All three major versions have a 10-year lifecycle: 5 years Full Support plus 5 years Maintenance.
- In-place upgrades go one major version at a time with Leapp, so RHEL 8 goes to 9 first.
- RHCSA EX200 is based on RHEL 10, so practise on RHEL 10, not 8 or 9.
How do RHEL 10, 9 and 8 compare?
| Area | RHEL 8 | RHEL 9 | RHEL 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial release | May 2019 | May 2022 | May 2025 |
| Kernel base | 4.18 | 5.14 | 6.12 |
| Default Python | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.12 |
| Package manager | DNF with yum alias | DNF | DNF |
| Image-based option | No | Image mode introduced as a preview in 9.x | Image mode (bootc) supported |
| AI assistant | No | No | RHEL Lightspeed command-line assistant |
| Cryptography | OpenSSL 1.1.1 era | OpenSSL 3, stricter default policies | Post-quantum algorithm support added |
| Lifecycle | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
Version numbers above are the major component versions Red Hat announced for each release. Minor releases update many of them, so check the release notes for the exact minor version you run. RHEL 7 reached the end of maintenance support in 2024. Versions before 7 are long out of support and not worth studying.
What is new in RHEL 10?
Image mode for RHEL
Image mode uses bootc to build and ship the operating system as a container image, with updates applied as whole images. It suits fleets where consistency and rollback matter. Traditional package-based RHEL remains fully supported.
RHEL Lightspeed
Red Hat added a command-line assistant that answers questions in natural language from the terminal. It helps people look up commands and troubleshooting steps. See our guide on what is new in RHEL 10 for features in more detail. Treat AI suggestions as drafts and check them before you run them.
Security and cryptography
RHEL 10 adds support for post-quantum cryptographic algorithms in its crypto libraries, continuing the system-wide crypto policies model that began in RHEL 8. SELinux remains enabled by default.
Hardware and desktop changes
RHEL 10 raises the minimum x86-64 microarchitecture level compared with earlier releases, so very old CPUs may not run it. Check hardware support in the release notes before planning a migration. Red Hat has also moved the desktop to Wayland, and 32-bit application support is reduced.
Networking
NetworkManager remains the standard. Configuration continues to move toward keyfile format and away from legacy ifcfg files, so avoid relying on old file layouts. Use nmcli.
How long is each version supported?
RHEL major versions have a 10-year lifecycle: 5 years of Full Support followed by 5 years of Maintenance Support, with paid add-ons available after that. See Red Hat's Enterprise Linux life cycle page for current dates.
Can you upgrade directly from RHEL 8 to RHEL 10?
No. Red Hat's in-place upgrade tool, Leapp, supports upgrading one major version at a time: RHEL 8 to 9, then 9 to 10, from a supported minor release at each step. Take a backup, run the pre-upgrade report, and fix the findings before you upgrade. For production, many teams prefer a fresh install and data migration.
What does this mean for RHCSA?
RHCSA (EX200) is based on RHEL 10, so build your practice environment on RHEL 10. Core skills are still the same: users, permissions, storage with LVM, networking, SELinux, systemd, containers with Podman and basic shell scripting. Read the official objectives at Red Hat Training and Certification. Related reading: RHEL 10 features and enhancements and RHEL 10 for modern enterprises.
Common mistakes
- Studying RHEL 7 or 8 command habits for an RHEL 10 exam.
- Planning a migration without checking CPU support.
- Assuming Leapp can skip a major version.
- Trusting AI assistant output without reading the command.
Next steps
Next steps: to practise on RHEL 10, see our RHCSA EX200 course, and read the RHEL 10 what's new guide.
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Vaishnavi is a skilled tech professional at the Ethical Hacking Training Institute in Pune, responsible for managing and optimizing the technical infrastructure that supports advanced cybersecurity education. With deep expertise in network security, backend operations, and system performance, she ensures that practical labs, online modules, and assessments run smoothly and securely. Her behind-the-scenes contributions play a vital role in delivering a seamless and secure learning experience for aspiring ethical hackers.
