Microsoft Launches Azure Linux 3.0 Preview for AKS

Microsoft has unveiled the preview of Azure Linux 3.0 for the Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), compatible with AKS version 1.31. This new version follows the general availability announcement made a few months prior on GitHub. For detailed release notes, you can access them here.

Key Upgrades in Azure Linux 3.0

Designed over a span of three years, Azure Linux 3.0 introduces significant upgrades compared to its predecessor, Azure Linux 2.0 (also known as Mariner). Major updates include:

• The Linux Kernel has been upgraded from 5.15 to 6.6.
• Containerd updates from 1.6.26 to 1.7.13.
• SystemD moves from version 250 to 255.
• OpenSSL transitions from 1.1.1k to 3.3.0.

How to Access the Azure Linux 3.0 Preview

To utilize the Azure Linux 3.0 preview within AKS 1.31, users must first register the relevant feature flag in their Azure subscription. This can be done using the following command:

• az feature register --namespace Microsoft.ContainerService --name AzureLinuxV3Preview

After registration, check the status with the command provided below. It may take a few minutes for the system to indicate that it is registered:

• az feature show --namespace Microsoft.ContainerService --name AzureLinuxV3Preview

Deploying Clusters with Azure Linux 3.0

When creating new clusters or node pools, you can easily deploy Azure Linux 3.0 by using the ‘ --os-sku=AzureLinux‘ option. Microsoft supports deployment through various methods, including:

• Azure CLI
• Azure PowerShell
• Terraform
• Azure Resource Manager Templates (ARM)

Important Considerations for Users

Microsoft has outlined several crucial points regarding the Azure Linux 3.0 preview:

• Version Support: Azure Linux 3.0 Preview is supported only on AKS version 1.31, meaning it is not compatible with versions 1.30 and below. Attempting to register this feature on earlier versions will default to Azure Linux 2.0.
• Cluster Upgrades: Existing clusters or node pools currently operating on Azure Linux 2.0 cannot be migrated to 3.0. New clusters or node pools must be established for Azure Linux 3.0 Preview.
• Preview Release: Azure Linux 3.0 is currently in the preview phase as part of the v20241025 release. For updates regarding availability in different regions, consult the AKS Release Tracker.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, Microsoft intends to integrate user feedback collected during the preview period to enhance the upcoming general availability of Azure Linux 3.0 in AKS version 1.32.

For further details, you can refer to the original announcement made by Microsoft.

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