Oracle Linux 8.5 was released in November 2021 as a significant update to the Oracle Linux 8 series. As an enterprise-class operating system, it maintains application binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8.5 while offering unique Oracle-specific enhancements like the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK). Key Features and Updates
Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) R6: This release prominently features UEK Release 6, based on the mainline Linux 5.4 kernel. It also introduced the option to install UEK R7 for users requiring newer kernel features.
Enhanced Performance Management: Includes the schedutil CPU frequency governor for both the Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK) and UEK R6, which better manages CPU frequency based on system load data.
Developer Toolset Updates: Several core tools received version bumps, including Go 1.16.6, Rust 1.54.0, LLVM 12.0.1, and CMake 3.20.2.
High Availability Improvements: New pcs commands were added for cluster setup and updating SCSI fencing devices without restarting all resources.
Security: Includes live kernel and user-space patching to improve security and availability without reboots. Understanding ISO Variants oracle linux 8.5 iso
When downloading Oracle Linux 8.5, you will typically find several types of ISO images on the Oracle Linux yum server or the Oracle Software Delivery Cloud:
Full ISO: Contains all packages required for a complete installation without needing an internet connection during the process.
UEK Boot ISO: A smaller image used to boot the system with the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel to start a network-based installation.
Boot ISO: Similar to the UEK Boot ISO but utilizes the Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK) for the installation environment.
Source ISO: Contains the source code for the packages included in the Full ISO. Installation Requirements Oracle Linux 8
To install Oracle Linux 8.5 on a physical or virtual machine, the following minimum specifications are generally recommended: Processor: 2 logical CPUs or cores.
Memory: At least 1.5 GB RAM (2 GB or more is recommended for GUI environments).
Disk Space: Minimum 10 GB, though 20 GB is suggested for standard server use. Oracle Linux ISOs | Oracle, Software. Hardware. Complete.
| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Version | Oracle Linux 8.5 |
| Release Date | November 2021 |
| ISO Filename (Example) | OracleLinux-8.5-x86_64-dvd.iso |
| Size | Approx. 7–9 GB (full DVD image) |
| Architectures | x86_64, aarch64 |
| Package Format | RPM |
| Default Kernel | UEK R6 (5.4.17-2102.201.3.el8uek) |
Tab and add:inst.text console=tty0 console=ttyS0,115200
The installation will proceed in command-line mode. After reboot, install VMware tools or VirtIO drivers. inst.text console=tty0 console=ttyS0
Use dd carefully:
sudo dd if=OracleLinux-8.5-x86_64-dvd1.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress && sync
(Replace /dev/sdX with your actual USB device – do not guess, or you may overwrite your hard disk.)
Use Rufus (rufus.ie) or BalenaEtcher. Both handle hybrid ISOs automatically.
Oracle Linux 8.5 comes with firewalld running and SELinux in enforcing mode.
sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=http --permanentgetenforce| Feature | Comment | |--------|---------| | Kernel | UEK R6 (5.4.17-based) – tuned for OLTP, InfiniBand, and NUMA. RHCK (4.18.0) optional. | | Kernel live patching | Yes (Ksplice) – but requires ULN subscription or Oracle Cloud account. | | Dtrace | Fully supported (unlike RHEL) – dynamic tracing for production. | | Btrfs support | UEK includes it, RHCK does not. | | DNF modules | Works as expected (AppStream). | | System roles | RHEL-compatible (SELinux, network, storage). | | OCI integration | Good for moving workloads to Oracle Cloud. |
✅ Best Dtrace & kernel tracing in RHEL-class distros.