Azure Linux 3.0 now Generally Available with Azure Kubernetes Service v1.32

We are excited to announce that Azure Linux 3.0, the next major version release of the Azure Linux container host for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), is now Generally Available on AKS version 1.32. After extensive testing and valuable feedback from our early adopters, 3.0 is the highest quality release of Azure Linux for broad Azure usage. Azure Linux 3.0 offers increased package availability and versions, an updated kernel, and improvements to performance, security, and tooling and developer experience.

Azure Linux 3.0 supports both x86_64 & ARM64 architectures. With this 3.0 release, we’re committed to supporting new platforms like Azure’s Cobalt architecture for the best performance.

Some of the major components upgraded from Azure Linux 2.0 to 3.0 include:

For more details on the key features and updates in Azure Linux 3.0 see the 3.0 GitHub release notes.

New features since Azure Linux 3.0 Preview

• Azure Linux 3.0 is now defaulting to containerd 2.0.
• Azure Linux 3.0 nodepools now support Trusted Launch on AKS.
• Azure Linux 3.0 now supports a FIPS enabled ARM64 image, making it the only distribution on AKS to do so.

Using Azure Linux 3.0

Creating New Azure Linux 3.0 Clusters and Nodepools

Any new AKS clusters or node pools created using the --os-sku=AzureLinux flag and that run AKS version 1.32 default to Azure Linux 3.0. You can deploy clusters or node pools using the method of your choice to use Azure Linux 3.0 as the node OS:

• CLI
• PowerShell
• Terraform
• ARM

Upgrading Existing Azure Linux 2.0 Clusters and Nodepools to Azure Linux 3.0

To upgrade existing Azure Linux 2.0 clusters and node pools to Azure Linux 3.0, you can upgrade them to AKS version 1.32. For more information about AKS cluster upgrades, see Upgrade an AKS cluster.

Upgrade an existing Azure Linux 2.0 cluster to Azure Linux 3.0

Considerations

• Azure Linux 3.0 is not supported on Kubernetes version 1.30 and below. Azure Linux 3.0 Preview is supported on Kubernetes version 1.31.
• AKS Kubernetes version 1.32 roll out has been delayed and is now expected to reach all regions on or before the end of April. Please use the az-aks-get-versions command to accurately capture if Kubernetes version 1.32 is available in your region.
• Kubernetes version 1.31 will be the last AKS version to support Azure Linux 2.0.

Growing the Partner Ecosystem

We want to express our gratitude to all the partners who participated in the Azure Linux 3.0 preview. The following partners have successfully completed their validation of Azure Linux 3.0:

You can find the entire list of Azure Linux AKS Container Host partner solutions here.

Upcoming Events

• KubeCon EU: The Azure Linux team will be available at the Microsoft booth at KubeCon EU from April 2-4, ready to chat with customers and address inquiries. The team is looking forward to connecting at KubeCon!
• LinuxFest Northwest: Another opportunity to connect with the Azure Linux team will be at LinuxFest Northwest, a local Linux conference in Bellingham, WA, taking place from April 24-25. The Azure Linux team will present a session on their learnings and challenges in building a Linux distribution at Microsoft, as well as showcasing features and benefits of Azure Linux.

How to Keep in Touch with the Azure Linux Team

For updates, feedback, and feature requests related to Azure Linux, there are a few ways to stay connected to the team:

• Ask questions & submit feedback via Azure Linux GitHub Issues
• We have a public community call every other month for Azure Linux users to come together to ask questions, share learnings, and get updates. Join the next community call on May 22^nd at 8AM PST: here
• Partners with support questions can reach out to AzureLinuxISV@microsoft.com