The installation process for Oracle Linux 8.5 is straightforward and easy to follow. The installation ISO image can be downloaded from the Oracle website, and it can be used to create a bootable USB drive or DVD. The installation process involves the following steps:
The ISO includes both the Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK) and Oracle’s Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel Release 6 (UEK R6).
Complete Guide to Oracle Linux 8.5 ISO: Download, Features, and Installation
If you opt for an Oracle Linux Premier Support subscription, you can install . This unique tool allows you to apply critical kernel and user-space security updates instantly without rebooting your system, ensuring maximum uptime for mission-critical apps. Why Choose Oracle Linux 8.5 Over Alternatives? Oracle Linux 8.5 CentOS Stream / Rocky Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Cost Requires Paid Subscription RHEL Compatibility Strict Binary Match Downstream/Rebuilt Match Enterprise Kernel Yes (Optimized UEK) No (Standard Linux Kernel) No (Standard RHCK) Live Patching Yes (Ksplice) Varies / Complex Yes (Paid add-on)
One of the primary differentiators of Oracle Linux is the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK). While the ISO includes the standard Red Hat Compatible Kernel for maximum compatibility, UEK is optimized specifically for enterprise workloads.
📊 In benchmarks (Phoronix-style), Oracle Linux 8.5 with UEK sometimes matches or beats RHEL 8.5, but not dramatically so.