How To Get One Year Free Red Hat Subscription

Learn how to get a one-year free Red Hat subscription for developers. Follow this step-by-step guide to access Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) at no cost for personal use and development. #centlinux #linux #redhat

What is Red hat Subscription?

A Red Hat Subscription is a licensing model that provides access to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and other Red Hat products, along with enterprise support, security updates, and certified software packages. Unlike traditional software licenses, a Red Hat subscription includes:

• Access to RHEL & Updates – Get the latest versions, patches, and security updates.
• Enterprise Support – Technical support from Red Hat experts, with different support levels based on the subscription plan.
• Certified Software & Ecosystem – Access to Red Hat-certified software, cloud platforms, and partner integrations.
• Red Hat Insights & Automation – Proactive monitoring, automation tools, and system optimization recommendations.

Red Hat offers free subscriptions for developers (via the Red Hat Developer Program) and paid subscriptions for businesses that require enterprise-level support and security.

Problem Definition

Almost every Linux user has encounter the following error message on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux server, while trying to install a software package by using dnf command.

# dnf update -y
Updating Subscription Management repositories.
Unable to read consumer identity
This system is not registered to Red Hat Subscription Management. You can use subscription-manager to register.
Error: There are no enabled repos.

Many Linux users think that, there must be a Red Hat subscription cost and they prefer to switch to other free Linux distro.

Up-till now the most preferred choice of RHEL based users is the CentOS Linux, that was the largest community supported, free and 100% binary compatible fork of RHEL.

As the CentOS Linux is discontinued and the CentOS 8 alternatives are currently on the way such as AlmaLinux (Beta Released) and RockyLinux. Most users are now sticked with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Luckily, The vendor is now offering 1 year free Red Hat subscription for up to 16 Computer systems to Individuals.

In this article, we will show you how simple it is to get one year free Red Hat subscription for your RHEL 8 server.

Recommended Training: Complete Linux Training Course to Get Your Dream IT Job 2025 from Imran Afzal

Sign Up for a Red Hat Developer Account

The first step in obtaining a free one-year Red Hat subscription is to create a Red Hat Developer account. This account is essential for accessing Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and other developer resources.

You can sign up for a Red Hat Developer account completely free of charge by visiting the official Red Hat website. The registration process is simple and requires basic details such as your name, email address, and password. Once registered, you gain access to Red Hat’s developer tools, software downloads, documentation, and community support, making it easier to explore and experiment with RHEL in a non-production environment.

Once you have successfully signed up for a Red Hat Developer account, it is important to securely note down your login credentials (username and password). These credentials are essential, as you will need them later to register your Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) server with the Red Hat Subscription Manager (RHSM).

RHSM is a vital tool that allows your system to receive software updates, security patches, and official Red Hat support. Without proper registration, your RHEL installation may not have access to essential repositories and updates. Keeping your credentials safe ensures a smooth registration process and uninterrupted access to Red Hat’s developer resources.

Acquire Free Red Hat Subscription

To begin the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 subscription registration process, you need to connect to your RHEL 8 server as the root user using an SSH client such as PuTTY (for Windows) or the ssh command (for Linux/macOS). Root access is required to execute administrative commands and manage system subscriptions.

By default, the necessary tools for interacting with the Red Hat Subscription Manager (RHSM) come pre-installed on both standard and minimal installations of RHEL 8. This means you don’t need to install additional packages before proceeding with the registration.

To initiate the subscription registration process, execute the following command at the Linux Bash prompt. This command will authenticate your system with Red Hat’s servers and enable access to software repositories, updates, and official support.

# subscription-manager register
Registering to: subscription.rhsm.redhat.com:443/subscription
Username: centlinux
Password:
The system has been registered with ID: 89a88c49-fe24-46d2-9231-2723b03bb7ac
The registered system name is: rhel8.centlinux.com

To successfully register your Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 system, the Red Hat Subscription Manager (RHSM) requires valid login credentials. You can use the same Red Hat Developer account credentials that you created earlier to authenticate and link your system to Red Hat’s subscription services. This step is crucial, as it grants your server access to official Red Hat repositories, security updates, and software packages.

Once the registration process is successfully completed, you must execute an additional command to attach and activate the free Red Hat subscription. This step ensures that your system is fully subscribed and can receive updates, patches, and software from Red Hat’s official sources. Without attaching the subscription, your RHEL installation will remain unregistered and unable to access essential repositories.

# subscription-manager attach --auto
Installed Product Current Status:
Product Name: Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64
Status:       Subscribed

Congratulations! Your system has been successfully subscribed to the free Red Hat Developer subscription. This means your Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 server is now officially registered with Red Hat Subscription Manager (RHSM) and has access to essential software repositories, security updates, and system patches.

To verify the subscription status and ensure that your system is properly registered, you can check the details of active Red Hat subscriptions on your Linux server. This step is important as it confirms that your subscription is valid and that your system is linked to Red Hat’s update and support infrastructure. Running the appropriate command will display information such as subscription type, expiration date, and assigned entitlements, ensuring that everything is set up correctly.

# subscription-manager list
+-------------------------------------------+
    Installed Product Status
+-------------------------------------------+
Product Name:   Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64
Product ID:     479
Version:        8.0
Arch:           x86_64
Status:         Subscribed
Status Details:
Starts:         02/14/2021
Ends:           02/13/2022

Read Also: How to find the Best Linux Distro in 2024

Update RHEL 8 Software Packages

To ensure that your free Red Hat subscription is working correctly, you should test it by running a system update. This can be done using the dnf package manager, which is the default package management tool in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8. Executing the dnf update command will allow your system to fetch the latest software updates, security patches, and bug fixes from Red Hat’s official repositories.

Before proceeding with the update, it is also recommended to refresh and build the cache for YUM repositories. This step ensures that your system has the most up-to-date metadata for available software packages, reducing potential dependency issues during installation and updates. By performing these steps, you confirm that your RHEL 8 system is fully registered and capable of receiving updates through the Red Hat subscription service.

# dnf makecache
Updating Subscription Management repositories.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 for x86_64 - AppStre 244 kB/s |  25 MB     01:44
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 for x86_64 - BaseOS  242 kB/s |  27 MB     01:54
Last metadata expiration check: 0:00:12 ago on Sun 14 Feb 2021 12:52:05 PM EST.
Metadata cache created.

Keeping your Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 system updated is essential for security, stability, and performance. To ensure your server has the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches, you should regularly update all installed software packages.

This can be achieved using the dnf package manager, which is the default package management tool in RHEL 8. The dnf update command fetches the latest available updates from Red Hat’s official repositories and applies them to your system. Running this command ensures that your RHEL 8 installation remains secure, optimized, and compatible with the latest enterprise software and dependencies.

# dnf upgrade -y

Check the updated Linux Kernel and operating system versions.

# uname -r
4.18.0-80.el8.x86_64

# cat /etc/redhat-release
Red Hat Enterprise Linux release 8.3 (Ootpa)

Final Thoughts

Obtaining a one-year free Red Hat subscription is a great opportunity for developers and IT professionals to explore and utilize Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) without any financial commitment.

By registering for the Red Hat Developer Program, you gain access to enterprise-grade features, security updates, and a robust ecosystem for learning and testing. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this free subscription allows you to enhance your skills, build applications, and gain hands-on experience with RHEL in a real-world environment.

Struggling with AWS or Linux server issues? I specialize in configuration, troubleshooting, and security to keep your systems performing at their best. Check out my Fiverr profile for details.

FAQs

1. Who is eligible for the free Red Hat subscription?
The free Red Hat Developer Subscription is available to individual developers for personal use, learning, and development.

2. How can I sign up for the free Red Hat subscription?
You can register on the Red Hat Developer Program website, create an account, and download Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) at no cost.

3. What features are included in the free subscription?
The subscription provides access to RHEL, updates, software repositories, and documentation but does not include enterprise support.

4. Can I use the free subscription for production?
No, the free subscription is intended for development, testing, and personal learning—not for production or commercial use.

5. How long does the free subscription last, and can it be renewed?
The subscription is valid for one year and can be renewed annually as long as you remain eligible.