AlmaLinux speeds hardware certification to under 10 minutes and adds software certification

The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has overhauled its certification program, letting vendors and community members validate hardware and software in minutes instead of waiting through a longer process. The update also adds a public catalog and free API, which could make it easier for users to verify compatibility before deploying AlmaLinux.

Why it matters: - AlmaLinux is trying to remove friction for vendors, IT teams, and community members that need proof of compatibility before adopting the distribution. - Faster certification can shorten hardware deployment decisions and make official support easier to document. - A public catalog and free read-only API give users a centralized place to check systems, components, software, benchmarks, and validations.

What happened: - The AlmaLinux OS Foundation announced a major overhaul of its certification program on Sept. 24, 2026. - The update adds software certification and rewrites the certification suite. - Most hardware certification runs now finish in under 10 minutes. - AlmaLinux does not need to be installed on the machine being certified. - Vendors can boot a device into a live AlmaLinux environment, complete certification, and return the machine to its original environment without changing the installed system. - The same suite is safe to run on systems where AlmaLinux is already installed because it makes no changes to system data.

The details: - Users run alma-certify without arguments, answer a few questions, and the certification starts. - Machine registration can be completed by approving a code in a browser or scanning a QR code with a phone. - The Foundation said that approach could fit into a datacenter server deployment routine. - The certification suite collects a normalized inventory of CPUs, memory, disks, network cards, GPUs, firmware, and driver versions. - Optional benchmarking remains available. - Benchmark results feed public leaderboards so users can compare hardware performance. - Certification results now land in the AlmaLinux catalog. - The catalog is a public hub for systems, components, software, benchmarks, and validations. - The catalog is searchable and available through a free, read-only API.

Between the lines: - The rewrite looks aimed at making certification feel lightweight enough for routine use instead of a special project. - By adding software certification, AlmaLinux is broadening the program beyond hardware validation and toward a fuller compatibility ecosystem. - The public catalog gives vendors and users a shared reference point, which can increase visibility around what works with AlmaLinux. - benny Vasquez, chair of the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, said the community has been asking for proof that AlmaLinux works with existing hardware and software before people switch, and that the faster certification model helps vendors support AlmaLinux without a heavy lift.

What's next: - The AlmaLinux OS Foundation is inviting people to help fill out the catalog with hardware and software they rely on. - More details, plus links to the chat room and meeting schedule for the AlmaLinux Certification SIG, are available on the AlmaLinux wiki. - The Foundation is likely betting that lower-friction certification will expand participation and grow the catalog over time.

The bottom line: - AlmaLinux is turning certification into a faster, more open workflow, with the goal of making compatibility easier to prove and easier to publish.