Version info
As BlueOnyx is available in different flavours, it may become more difficult for you to pick the right one for the purpose you have in mind.
This page aims at helping you to make the right decissions to pick the flavour of BlueOnyx that suits you the most.
Latest version of BlueOnyx:
The newest version of BlueOnyx is the AlmaLinux 10 based BlueOnyx 5212R. It was released on 20th July 2025. If you do a new installation of BlueOnyx, then you are encouraged to use BlueOnyx 5212R.
The next oldest (stable) version of BlueOnyx is the AlmaLinux 9 based BlueOnyx 5211R. It was released on 21st November 2022. This is currently our most widely used version of BlueOnyx and still a prime choice.
The oldest (still supported) version of BlueOnyx is the AlmaLinux 8 based BlueOnyx 5210R. It was released in October 2019 and was initially based on CentOS 8, but got rebased onto AlmaLinux 8 when RedHat phased out CentOS 8 early.
CD version or "dnf groupinstall blueonyx"?
Generally it doesn't really matter if you pick the ISO image version or use the YUM/DNF install method to install BlueOnyx 5212R, 5211R or 5210R. The resulting install of BlueOnyx will be the same as if you used the ISO image for install.
The "dnf groupinstall blueonyx" method is fairly simple and requires you to just a few commands. The CD-installer is as easy as it gets: Boot off the ISO, hit return in the menu and wait 5-10 minutes for the install to finish. After the install (and the reboot it asks for) you have a perfectly installed BlueOnyx that is ready for immediate usage. It simply can't get any easier than that.
If you can, it would always be advisable to pick the ISO version. It sets up the OS and the partitions in a fashion that makes it the most hassle free type of install.
What about BlueOnyx 5209R?
That was the CentOS 7 based version of BlueOnyx with the old Adminica GUI. It went EOL on June 30, 2024.
What about BlueOnyx 5207R/5208R?
Those were the 32-bit and 64-bit versions with the new GUI on CentOS 6. These went EOL on November 30, 2020.
What about BlueOnyx 5107R/5108R?
Those were the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of BlueOnyx with the old style GUI on CentOS6 and Scientific Linux 6. The EOL for the GUI was advanced to 2019-07-23 and on that day we released YUM updates that automatically upgraded these to 5207R and 5208R respectively, which in turn went EOL on November 30, 2020.
What about BlueOnyx 5106R?
That was the 32-bit CentOS5 based version of BlueOnyx. The undelying CentOS5 was supported with updates until the CentOS5 EOL at March 31, 2017. At that point we then also declared the end of life of 5106R. If you still do operate a BlueOnyx 5106R, then please CMU-migrate sites and users to newer versions of BlueOnyx instead.
Virtualization / BlueOnyx in a VPS?
Generally BlueOnyx works fine in a VPS. If your virtualization solution allows you to install the guest OS from a CD, pick the CD-Version of BlueOnyx 5212R, 5211R or 5210R and install the VPS from the ISO image.
The server where www.blueonyx.it runs on is a Container instance on Aventurin{e} 6110R, which uses Incus for virtualization. Pre-made BlueOnyx images are available for Incus.
For OpenVZ 7 based virtualization (Aventurin{e}, Virtuozzo or Proxmox) we offer pre-created OS template caches for BlueOnyx 5210R. However, due to architectural reasons BlueOnyx 5210R is the only BlueOnyx version that can run on OpenVZ 7, as newer BlueOnyx versions require a more modern kernel.
If your virtualization solution isn't Incus or OpenVZ based and doesn't allow you to install the guest OS from a CD either? Then install a supported base OS (AlmaLinux, RockyLinux or RHEL) via supported means and then install BlueOnyx with the instructions matching the version of BlueOnyx you want to install.
We hope this answers your questions, but feel free to ask on the BlueOnyx mailing list for more advice or suggestions.