Container Tools AppStream - Content Availability

Overview

Starting with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, software is delivered through a mechanism Red Hat brands Application Streams, or AppStreams for short. AppStreams enable the flexible delivery of multiple versions of software during a major release of RHEL, decoupling the respective Appstream’s content; whether RPMs or Modules from the overarching life cycle, enabling select userland content to be refreshed on a more regular cadence.

The Container Tools encompass software packages required to build and run Linux Containers on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The primary piece of software core to this set is Podman, but there are many other pieces of software including, but not limited to Buildah and Skopeo. Released via an AppStream, the content within the Container Tools can be available and released more quickly than pieces of software in core RHEL.

The objective of this document is to outline the content and support levels made available through the various Container Tools AppStreams, ensuring customers and partners can effectively plan for and deploy to their systems.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Container Tools are provided as RPM packages via a single, rolling Application Stream. This rolling stream enables developers to get access to the latest version of Container Tools content, delivered up to four times per year. These content releases will continually rebase on the latest, stable, upstream versions of Podman, Buildah, Skopeo, and other tools like CRIU and Udica. Since these are always new versions, they will include new features, bug fixes, and security updates.

Extended Update Support (EUS)

In RHEL 9, the Container Tools AppStream provides support and maintenance updates for the available Extended Update Support (EUS) channels. Systems configured to use Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 EUS will receive updates to the Container Tools content through the life of each RHEL EUS release. The version of Podman, Buildah, and Skopeo will remain the same for the first 3 months of the active RHEL 9 minor release. After this point security fixes will be backported for the life of the EUS release. Select bug fixes may be made available at Red Hat’s discretion. For more information about Extended Update Support please see the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Container Tools are delivered through two different categories of Application Stream Modules; a single rolling stream which is supported throughout the entire life of RHEL 8; and several stable streams which are released during the active phase of RHEL 8. Each of these are differentiated by the rate of change and maintenance for the content.

The Rolling Stream enables developers to get access to the latest version of Container Tools Module content, delivered up to four times per year. These content releases will continually rebase on the latest, stable, upstream versions of Podman, Buildah, Skopeo and other tools like CRIU and Udica. Since these are always new versions, they will include new features, bug fixes, and security updates. As and when required, packages may be added to the module per the Container Tools product roadmap. This Stream spans the entire RHEL 8 life cycle, and is continually updated throughout the RHEL Full Support phase to provide the latest cutting edge features for the Container Tools Module.

The Stable Streams help users manage risk. This is a traditional value proposition for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and the container-tools module continues to deliver on this. Users who just want to install, can “lock in” on a stable version, in lieu of the introduction of new features. The version of Podman, Buildah, and Skopeo will remain the same, but security fixes will be backported for the life cycle of the stream. Select bug fixes may be made available at Red Hat’s discretion. New stable streams will be delivered once a year, and supported for two years. No new streams are planned following the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6.

Extended Update Support (EUS)

Starting with the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8, the Container Tools rolling stream is supported as part of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Extended Update Support (EUS) channels. Previously, the rolling stream provided neither support nor maintenance updates in conjunction with these channels. Systems configured to use Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 EUS will receive updates to the Container Tools content through the life of each RHEL EUS release. The version of Podman, Buildah, and Skopeo will remain the same for the first 3 months of the active RHEL 8 minor release. After this point security fixes will be backported for the life of the EUS release. Select bug fixes may be made available at Red Hat’s discretion. For more information about Extended Update Support please see the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle.

Planning Roadmap