Microsoft releases Azure Linux 4.0, a Fedora‑based OS
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- Microsoft announced Azure Linux 4.0, its first full Linux distribution, available as a VM image on Azure and as a WSL image for Windows 11.
- Azure Linux 4.0 is based on Fedora Linux, uses RPM packages, and is open‑sourced on GitHub.
- Azure Container Linux (ACL) is a hardened, immutable container host derived from Flatcar Container Linux, packaged for Azure Kubernetes Service.
- Azure Linux 4.0 offers a two‑year support window (later clarified to four years) with monthly security updates and a stable kernel version policy.
- Microsoft plans to ship Azure Linux 4.0 as a general‑purpose VM image for all Azure customers, expanding beyond its previous AKS‑only availability as Azure Linux 3.x.
- Developers can run the distribution locally via Windows Subsystem for Linux, but Microsoft has no plans for a graphical desktop environment.
Why it matters: Azure customers gain a Microsoft‑curated, Fedora‑based Linux image with a guaranteed support window and monthly security patches, simplifying migration from local Windows development via WSL to Azure cloud workloads while reducing reliance on third‑party distros; the move also underscores Microsoft’s full embrace of Linux after years of opposition, strengthening its position against rival cloud providers.
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