RHEL 10: Complete Guide to Features, System Requirements & Installation (2025)

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 (RHEL 10) was officially released on May 20, 2025, at the Red Hat Summit in Boston. This major release brings significant improvements including AI integration, enhanced security features, and a modernized system architecture. In this comprehensive guide, we cover everything you need to know about RHEL 10 – from new features and system requirements to step-by-step installation instructions.

What is RHEL 10?

RHEL 10, codenamed “Coughlan,” is the latest version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the world’s leading enterprise Linux platform. Built on Linux kernel 6.12, RHEL 10 represents a significant evolution in enterprise computing, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence workloads, hybrid cloud deployments, and enhanced security.

Red Hat made the download available on May 13, 2025, through the Red Hat Customer Portal, with the official General Availability (GA) announcement following at the Red Hat Summit one week later.

RHEL 10 Key Features and Improvements

1. AI-Powered Command Line Assistant (RHEL Lightspeed)

One of the most exciting additions to RHEL 10 is the RHEL Lightspeed command line assistant. This AI-powered tool allows system administrators to ask natural language questions directly in the terminal.

Key capabilities include:

• Instant answers to Linux administration questions
• Actionable recommendations and guidance
• Command suggestions based on natural language queries
• Integration with Red Hat’s decades of Linux expertise

2. Updated Kernel and Core Components

RHEL 10 ships with significant updates to core system components:

3. Architecture Changes – x86-64-v3 Baseline

RHEL 10 makes a significant change by targeting the x86-64-v3 microarchitecture as the minimum requirement. This means:

• Intel: Haswell (4th Gen Core) or newer processors required
• AMD: Excavator architecture or newer required
• 32-bit support completely removed – including libraries

This change allows Red Hat to optimize binaries for modern CPU features like AVX2, BMI1/BMI2, and FMA instructions.

4. Enhanced Security Features

Security improvements in RHEL 10 include:

• Post-Quantum Cryptography: FIPS-compliant PQC support to protect against future quantum computing threats
• Native TLS 1.3: All system communications use TLS 1.3 by default
• Improved SELinux: Stronger enforcement with better usability
• DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH): Built-in protection for DNS queries
• Confidential Computing: Support for protecting data in use

5. PipeWire Replaces PulseAudio

RHEL 10 removes PulseAudio entirely and uses PipeWire as the default audio and video handling system. PipeWire provides:

• Better latency and performance
• Unified handling of audio and video streams
• Improved Bluetooth audio support
• Better compatibility with professional audio applications

6. Image Mode – Immutable Container Images

RHEL 10 introduces Image Mode, allowing you to deploy the operating system as an immutable, bootable container image. This approach:

• Simplifies system updates and rollbacks
• Ensures consistency across deployments
• Aligns with modern GitOps practices
• Reduces configuration drift

7. Improved Cockpit Web Console

The Cockpit web management console gains new features including:

• New file browser via cockpit-files package
• Easier file and directory management
• Enhanced system monitoring capabilities

8. AI/ML Foundation

RHEL 10 is designed as a foundation for AI workloads:

• Integration with Postgres Vector Database for Generative AI
• Support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI
• Planned support for Model Context Protocol (MCP)
• Optimized for Red Hat OpenShift AI deployments

9. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Support

RHEL 10 is now officially validated for Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), enabling developers to run a full RHEL development environment directly on Windows machines.

RHEL 10 System Requirements

Before installing RHEL 10, ensure your system meets these requirements:

Minimum Hardware Requirements

Supported Architectures

• x86_64: Intel Haswell or newer, AMD Excavator or newer
• ARM64 (AArch64): 64-bit ARM processors
• IBM Power: POWER9 and later
• IBM Z: z14 and later mainframes

BIOS/Firmware

• UEFI (recommended) or Legacy BIOS supported
• Secure Boot supported for enhanced security

How to Install RHEL 10 – Step by Step Guide

Step 1: Download RHEL 10 ISO

1. Visit the Red Hat Customer Portal
2. Log in with your Red Hat account (free developer account available)
3. Download the “Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Binary DVD” ISO (~6.46 GB)

Step 2: Create Bootable Installation Media

On Linux:

sudo dd if=~/Downloads/rhel-10.0-x86_64-dvd.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync

On Windows:

Use Rufus or Balena Etcher to write the ISO to a USB drive.

Step 3: Boot from Installation Media

1. Insert the USB drive and restart your system
2. Enter BIOS/UEFI settings (usually F2, F12, DEL, or ESC)
3. Set USB drive as the first boot device
4. Save and exit BIOS

Step 4: Start Installation

1. Select “Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0” from the boot menu
2. Choose your preferred language and click Continue

Step 5: Configure Installation Settings

The Anaconda installer presents the Installation Summary screen. Configure the following:

Localization

• Keyboard: Select your keyboard layout
• Language Support: Add additional languages if needed
• Time & Date: Set timezone and enable NTP

Software

• Installation Source: Keep as local media
• Software Selection: Choose base environment:
  • Server with GUI (recommended for beginners)
  • Server (minimal with text mode)
  • Minimal Install (smallest footprint)
  • Workstation (for desktop use)

System

• Installation Destination: Select target disk and partitioning scheme:
  • Automatic partitioning (recommended for new users)
  • Custom partitioning (for advanced users)
• Network & Host Name: Configure network and set hostname

User Settings

• Root Password: Set a strong root password
• User Creation: Create a regular user account with admin privileges

Step 6: Begin Installation

1. Click “Begin Installation”
2. Wait for the installation to complete (15-30 minutes)
3. Click “Reboot System” when prompted

Step 7: Post-Installation Setup

After rebooting:

1. Accept the license agreement
2. Register your system with Red Hat Subscription Manager:

sudo subscription-manager register --username your-username --password your-password
sudo subscription-manager attach --auto

3. Update your system:

sudo dnf update -y

RHEL 10 vs RHEL 9 – Key Differences

Upgrading from RHEL 9 to RHEL 10

Red Hat provides the Leapp utility for in-place upgrades from RHEL 9 to RHEL 10:

# Install Leapp
sudo dnf install leapp-upgrade

# Run pre-upgrade assessment
sudo leapp preupgrade

# Review and fix any reported issues
# Then perform the upgrade
sudo leapp upgrade

# Reboot to complete
sudo reboot

Important: Always backup your system before upgrading and test in a non-production environment first.

RHEL 10 Support Lifecycle

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 follows the standard RHEL support lifecycle:

• Full Support: 5 years from release (until 2030)
• Maintenance Support: Additional 5 years (until 2035)
• Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS): Available as add-on

Getting RHEL 10 for Free

You can use RHEL 10 for free through these programs:

• Red Hat Developer Subscription: Free for development and personal use (up to 16 systems)
• Red Hat Academic Program: Free for educational institutions
• 60-day Evaluation: Trial subscription for testing

Sign up at developers.redhat.com to get your free subscription.

Conclusion

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 represents a significant milestone in enterprise Linux evolution. With AI integration through RHEL Lightspeed, enhanced security features including post-quantum cryptography, and modern architecture requirements, RHEL 10 is well-positioned for the next decade of enterprise computing.

Whether you’re deploying traditional workloads, containers, or AI applications, RHEL 10 provides a stable, secure, and supported foundation. The move to x86-64-v3 baseline and removal of 32-bit support signals Red Hat’s commitment to optimizing for modern hardware while maintaining the enterprise-grade reliability RHEL is known for.

Have questions about RHEL 10? Leave a comment below or check out our other Red Hat tutorials.