• The image-buildercommand-line interface (CLI) tool is now generally available.
• The web console provides an integrated workflow to build bootc-compatible container images from local container environments.
• Output formats and target identifiers are aligned across both the web console and CLI, for example, aws for Amazon Machine Images and guest-image for QEMU Copy-On-Write 2 qcow2.
• Includes automated system registration during first boot, support for user-specified custom base images, and safety warnings when building image-mode assets without a default user account.

Key highlights for RHEL installer:

• The newly created users will have administrative privileges by default, unless you deselect the option.
• You can now set the required time zone by using new options instead of the time zone map.
• The remote desktop protocol (RDP) for graphical remote access replaces VNC.

Key highlights for RHEL image builder:

• General availability of the image-builder CLI: The image-builder command-line interface (CLI) tool is now generally available for building operating system artifacts and image-mode assets directly from the terminal.
• Streamlined web console image mode: Build bootc-compatible images from local containers directly in cockpit-image-builder.
• Unified format names across the CLI and user interface (UI), such as aws for Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) and guest-image for QEMU Copy-On-Write 2 (qcow2).
• Expanded image mode support: Added automated system registration during first boot, support for custom base images, and missing default-user warnings.

For more information, see New features and enhancements - Installer and image creation.