Microsoft Confirms Azure Linux 4.0 Uses Fedora Base as x86-64-v3 Push Drives Performance
Updated
Updated · It's FOSS · May 19
Microsoft Confirms Azure Linux 4.0 Uses Fedora Base as x86-64-v3 Push Drives Performance
4 articles · Updated · It's FOSS · May 19
Azure Linux 4.0’s GitHub README explicitly names Fedora as its upstream base, confirming Microsoft builds the distro from Fedora packages with minimal documented deviations.
x86-64-v3 performance needs helped drive that choice: Microsoft had already backed a Fedora 45 proposal for x86-64-v3 packages tied directly to Azure Linux.
The confirmation surfaced as Microsoft previewed Azure Linux 4.0 for Azure VMs and said Azure Container Linux is now generally available, with full rollout planned for June 2.
Microsoft’s public summit announcement did not mention Fedora, a notable omission because Fedora sits upstream of Red Hat, which is both an Azure partner and an enterprise Linux rival.
With its own Linux, is Microsoft truly supporting partners or aiming to make them obsolete on Azure?
Does Azure Linux signal better cloud performance or the beginning of deeper vendor lock-in for customers?
As cloud giants launch their own OS, is the era of a universal server operating system ending?
Azure Linux 4.0: Microsoft’s General-Purpose Linux Distribution Reshapes Cloud and AI Strategy
Overview
Microsoft's launch of Azure Linux 4.0 marks a pivotal moment in its cloud strategy, introducing its first full-featured, general-purpose Linux distribution for all Azure Virtual Machines. This move highlights Microsoft's deep commitment to the open-source ecosystem and reflects its evolving role in the cloud computing landscape, where Linux continues to dominate. The official announcement of Azure Linux 4.0 signals a deliberate shift, as Microsoft aims to better serve the diverse needs of cloud developers and enterprises. Previously known as CBL-Mariner, Azure Linux now stands at the center of Microsoft's efforts to strengthen its position in the cloud market.