Azure Linux 4.0 is Microsoft's first general-purpose Linux

boxofcables.dev

June 5, 2026

5 min read

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58/100

Summary

Azure Linux 4.0 is Microsoft’s first general-purpose Linux distribution, now available in public preview. It can be run on any Azure virtual machine and will soon be available for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

Key Takeaways

Azure Linux 4.0 is Microsoft’s first general-purpose Linux distribution, now available for public preview and can be run on any Azure virtual machine.
The new version is derived from Fedora and introduces standard dnf5 tooling, replacing Microsoft's previous package manager.
Azure Linux 4.0 includes a kernel version 6.18 LTS with Azure-specific optimizations and is designed to support various Azure compute services.
FIPS 140-3 certification for Azure Linux 4.0 is in progress, with strong security measures including SELinux support and cryptographic signing of packages.

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Community Sentiment

Mixed

Positives

Microsoft's new Linux distribution, derived from CBL-Mariner, represents a significant step in their commitment to the Linux ecosystem, particularly for cloud applications.
The integration of this Linux with Azure could streamline operations for users already invested in Microsoft's cloud services, enhancing their overall experience.

Concerns

Many users feel that labeling this OS as 'general purpose' is misleading, as it appears to be primarily optimized for Azure rather than broader hardware compatibility.
Concerns were raised about Microsoft's lack of genuine support for open-source projects like Wine and Proton, suggesting their contributions may not be as impactful as claimed.
The perception that this release is merely a tuned version of existing Linux distributions without significant innovation undermines its credibility in the community.