Open Enterprise Linux Association formed in response to Red Hat's Source code access limitation

Red Hat's decision to limit access to the source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has caused a significant shift in the Linux distribution landscape. This change has created challenges for AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, and Oracle Linux, which all used Red Hat Enterprise Linux as a base.

In response, SUSE created a RHEL fork to address the source code access issue and together with Oracle and CIQ, formed the Open Enterprise Linux Association (OpenELA). OpenELA aims to be a community repository for enterprise Linux sources, promoting openness and accessibility. The association's main goal is to support the development of RHEL-compatible distributions by providing open and free Enterprise Linux source code. The initial efforts will focus on providing sources to build RHEL 8 and 9, with potential support for RHEL 7 in the future.

SUSE's chief technology and product officer, Thomas Di Giacomo, emphasizes the importance of collaboration and open community standards. Despite Oracle's controversial reputation in the open-source ecosystem, their participation in the project is driven by their reliance on Red Hat's technology for Oracle Linux distribution and Oracle Cloud. SUSE is looking to step in and fill the gap created by Red Hat's decision, without affecting its existing Linux distribution portfolio, including openSUSE. The newly formed Linux association, OpenELA, is open for other organizations and community members to join. You can learn more and stay updated on the official project website.