Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.0–7.9 and 8.0–8.2 are the supported OS versions for PSM for SSH

Outline (brief)

• What PSM for SSH does and why OS compatibility matters

• The compatible Linux family: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.x and 8.x

• Why the other options don’t fit the same enterprise pattern

• Quick notes on checking compatibility and keeping systems aligned

• Practical steps for a smooth deployment on RH 7.x/8.x

• Typical questions and small troubleshooting tips

• Closing thoughts: reliability, security, and peace of mind

PSM for SSH and the OS puzzle

CyberArk’s Privileged Session Manager for SSH is built to quietly guard and monitor those powerful sessions admins use to manage critical systems. Think of it as a gatekeeper that records what happens during privileged access, helps enforce policies, and keeps an auditable trail. To do all that well, the underlying operating system needs to play nice with the software stack—the right kernel features, the right libraries, and solid security frameworks. In the world of enterprise security, that compatibility isn’t a fluff item; it’s the foundation that keeps everything stable under load, when logs are flying, and when you’re trying to meet compliance demands.

Which OS versions are officially compatible?

Here’s the straight answer you’ll typically see in the compatibility matrix: Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 7.0 through 7.9 and 8.0 through 8.2. These are the RH releases that CyberArk documentation and patch cycles commonly target for PSM for SSH in many enterprise environments. Red Hat’s enterprise lines are a natural fit for this kind of tool because they’re designed for long-term support, strong security features, and predictable updates—factors that matter when you’re guarding privileged access.

Why Red Hat 7.x and 8.x, not the others?

Let me explain with a quick analogy. Imagine you’re equipping a security system for a high-rise building. You’d want hardware and software that have proven reliability, interoperable components, and a track record of timely updates. Red Hat 7.x and 8.x give you that steadiness. They come with mature system services, robust auditing, and well-supported SSH implementations, all of which CyberArk PSM relies on for accurate session recording and policy enforcement.

Now, what about the other options?

• Fedora 33: Fedora is a superb testing ground for new features and technologies, but it isn’t designed to be a long-term enterprise platform. For mission-critical security tooling, the lifecycle and support expectations don’t line up the same way. That’s why Fedora generally isn’t the suggested host for PSM in production environments.

• Windows 10: This is a desktop operating system, not the server-class family that PSM for SSH expects to work with in typical privileged session workflows. While CyberArk does support a broad ecosystem, the SSH-focused session manager is designed around UNIX-like platforms, where OpenSSH and PAM-style controls are central.

• Ubuntu 18.04: Ubuntu is popular and solid, but the specific compatibility window for PSM for SSH often centers on Red Hat Enterprise Linux lines, especially in environments that standardize on RHEL for server workloads. If you’re considering Ubuntu, you’d want to check the exact PSM release notes for your version, because the standard support statement you’ll see emphasizes RHEL 7.x and 8.x in the common enterprise deployment context.

So the quick takeaway: if you’re planning a deployment and prioritizing stability, you’ll usually align with RH 7.x or 8.x. Always cross-check the latest CyberArk compatibility guide because product versions and supported OS matrices do evolve.

A few practical notes on compatibility

• Always verify your PSM version against the OS version. The same OS update can sometimes affect library versions that PSM relies on, so a quick compatibility check saves you headaches later.

• Pay attention to the security stack. On RH 7.x and 8.x, you’ll likely see SELinux, auditd, and PAM-based controls playing a role in session management. Make sure those components are configured in a way that complements PSM’s monitoring and recording features.

• Patch management matters. Enterprise deployments often ride a cadence of security updates. Keeping both the OS and PSM components in sync helps you avoid surprises in production.

• Documentation is your friend. The official CyberArk notes will spell out the exact minor versions that are supported for a given PSM release. If you’re in a governance-heavy environment, having those references handy helps with audits and change control.

Preparing for a smooth deployment on RH 7.x/8.x

If you’re configuring PSM for SSH on a Red Hat system, here are practical steps that tend to yield a stable setup:

• Confirm the base OS version. Ensure you’re on a supported 7.x or 8.x release with the latest security patches.

• Align SSH and PAM. The SSH daemon needs to work in concert with the PAM modules that CyberArk uses for session tracking and control. This often means ensuring PAM stack entries are correctly ordered and that any required CyberArk PAM modules are present.

• Enable auditing and logging. A strong audit trail helps with security reviews and compliance reporting. On Red Hat, you’ll want to have auditd engaged and journald or a centralized log sink configured to collect relevant PSM events.

• Plan for storage and performance. PSM sessions can generate a lot of metadata and recordings. Ensure sufficient disk space and I/O performance so that logging doesn’t starve the host.

• Define access policies early. Align your privilege policies with how PSM will broker and monitor SSH sessions. A clear policy reduces friction when you roll out to multiple hosts.

• Test in a controlled environment. A staging or pilot host farm lets you validate the end-to-end flow: user authentication, session capture, policy enforcement, and log delivery.

• Document the integration points. List the key services, files, and daemons that participate in the PSM workflow so operators know where to look if something isn’t behaving as expected.

What kinds of questions come up in practice?

If you’re talking with a team about deploying PSM for SSH on RH 7.x/8.x, you’ll usually hear questions along these lines:

• Is this OS version truly supported for PSM on SSH, or is there a corner case where a newer RH update could break compatibility?

• Do we need any specific kernel parameters or security policies to support session recording?

• How do we verify that a privileged session is being captured and logged correctly?

• What happens if a host is temporarily moved to a separate network zone? Will PSM still capture sessions from that host?

• How do we handle SSH features like multiplexing or advanced authentication methods within PSM’s governance model?

If you run through these questions and keep the conversations anchored to concrete tests and logs, you’ll move forward with confidence rather than guesswork.

A few tradeoffs to keep in mind

Every deployment has a few tensions to balance. For PSM on SSH, you’ll find that:

• Stability vs. feature novelty. The RH 7.x/8.x line is chosen for its stable foundation; new OS features aren’t typically the reason to switch. The payoff is predictable behavior and reliable security workflows.

• Security controls vs. operational ease. Strong audit and policy enforcement can feel like extra steps at first. The long-term benefit is clearer visibility into privileged activity and easier compliance reporting.

• Centralized control vs. local flexibility. Centralized session governance is powerful, but it should still accommodate legitimate admin workflows. Make sure there’s a well-documented exception process for unusual cases.

Closing thoughts: reliability you can count on

If your goal is a robust, auditable, and controllable environment for privileged SSH sessions, OS compatibility matters as much as the tools themselves. Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 7.0–7.9 and 8.0–8.2 are the common, well-supported targets for PSM for SSH in many production landscapes. They offer the stability, security posture, and ecosystem maturity that enterprise teams rely on to keep critical systems safe and responsive.

That said, environments aren’t one-size-fits-all. Always cross-check the latest compatibility guidance from CyberArk for your exact product version, because software evolves and so do the supported platforms. In practice, a well-planned rollout—one that aligns OS choice, authentication methods, auditing, and logging—feels less like a sprint and more like a careful, resilient rhythm you can count on day after day.

If you’re part of a team shaping this kind of deployment, you’re not alone. The challenge isn’t just choosing an OS; it’s building a reliable, transparent security layer around every privileged action. And when you pull that off, you’ll enjoy smoother operations, stronger security posture, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing governance is doing its quiet, essential work in the background.