In early March 2024, Microsoft decided to rename the Azure Linux repository of its Linux distribution project, previously known as CBL-Mariner (Common Base Linux), which serves as a Linux distribution for Microsoft’s internal infrastructure. This special-purpose distribution, developed by Microsoft’s Linux System Group, which is responsible for creating the Linux kernel for the WSL2 subsystem, now redirects to the Microsoft/AzureLinux project on GitHub when attempting to access the old name.
All other references and links to the CBL-Mariner project have also been rebranded as Azure Linux. It’s worth noting that Microsoft also offers a Linux-based Azure Sphere OS designed for IoT and microcontrollers.
The latest release of Azure Linux (formerly CBL-Mariner) version 2.0.20240301 includes some updates to the source code, and efforts are underway to rename artifacts, such as transitioning from “MARINER_VERSION” to “AZL_VERSION” for Azure Linux.
The package system for Azure Linux (formerly CBL-Mariner) is based on RPM and utilizes the dnf and Tiny DNF package managers inherited from Photon OS, a VMware container system for cloud applications.
