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Azure Linux 4.0 is the next major release of Microsoft's Linux distribution for Azure. It brings a newer kernel (6.18 LTS), a new package manager (dnf5), and updated core libraries across the stack. For a deeper look at how the operating system (OS) is structured, see the Architecture overview.
Note
Azure Linux 4.0 is now in preview and is strictly limited to evaluation and testing purposes. It's not suitable for production use.
Key components
The following table lists the core component versions included in Azure Linux 4.0:
| Component | Version | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Kernel | 6.18 LTS | New hardware drivers, improved Hyper-V integration, GPU/AI accelerator support |
| glibc | 2.42 | Performance improvements in string operations, memory allocation, and thread handling |
| OpenSSL | 3.5.4 | Modern cryptographic algorithms, deprecated older cipher suites removed |
| systemd | 258.4 | Fast boot sequences, improved service management and logging |
| Python 3 | 3.14.3 | JIT compiler, new syntax features, updated standard library |
| bash | 5.3.9 | Scripting improvements and bug fixes |
| binutils | 2.45.1 | Modern toolchain |
| coreutils | 9.7 | Security fixes and utility improvements |
| curl | 8.15.0 | Protocol updates and security patches |
| util-linux | 2.41.3 | Updated system utilities |
| rpm | 6.0.1 | Modernized database backend, improved signature verification |
| Package manager | dnf5 | Faster dependency resolution, lower memory usage |
| FIPS 140-3 | In progress | Certification pending; use a certified release for FIPS-required workloads |
Package manager: dnf5
Azure Linux 4.0 uses dnf5 as its package manager. dnf5 is a complete rewrite that delivers faster dependency resolution and lower memory usage compared to older package managers.
If you have scripts, Dockerfiles, or CI pipelines that reference tdnf (the package manager used in earlier Azure Linux releases), update those references to dnf5 or dnf before deploying on Azure Linux 4.0.
Related content
- For a deeper understanding of the OS structure, see the Architecture overview.
- To get started with Azure Linux 4.0, see the Quickstart guide.
- To plan your update strategy, review the Release cadence and lifecycle.