IronXL Linux Compatibility & Setup Guide
IronXL is built using pure .NET Standard, meaning it will work on all Linux distros that support .NET Core, .NET 5, and .NET 6. It will also work on all Docker, Azure, macOS platforms that support .NET frameworks and Windows.






We recommend using .NET Core 3.1, .NET Core 5, or .NET Core 6, as well as any other runtimes marked as LTS by Microsoft, because they have guaranteed long-term support and are generally well-tested on Linux.
No code changes are required to run IronXL on Linux. Generally, IronXL works out of the box thanks to extensive testing and configuration by our engineers.
Linux support is important because many cloud services, such as Azure Web Apps, Azure Functions, AWS EC2, AWS Lambda, and Azure DevOps Docker, rely heavily on Linux. At Iron Software, we regularly use these cloud tools and understand that many of our Enterprise and SAAS customers do too.
Officially Supported Linux Distros That Support .NET
We officially support and recommend the latest 64-bit Linux OS's below for a "zero configuration" setup of IronXL.
- Ubuntu 20
- Ubuntu 18
- Debian 11
- Debian 10 [Currently the Microsoft Azure Default Linux Distro]
- CentOS 7
- CentOS 8
Please read "Other Linux Distros" below for advice on installing IronXL on a version of Linux that is not officially supported.
We recommend using Microsoft's Official Docker Images. Other Linux distros are supported in part but may require manual configuration using apt-get
. See "Linux Manual Setup" at the end of this document.
IronXL NuGet Packages
# The :ProductInstall directive might be specific to a certain setup or package manager.
# You should replace it with the appropriate command for installing IronXL, e.g., with the dotnet CLI:
dotnet add package IronXL
# The :ProductInstall directive might be specific to a certain setup or package manager.
# You should replace it with the appropriate command for installing IronXL, e.g., with the dotnet CLI:
dotnet add package IronXL
Ubuntu Compatibility
Ubuntu is our most tested Linux operating system. This is because it is heavily used in the Azure infrastructure, which we use for continuous testing and deployment. This platform also has official Microsoft .NET support and Official Docker Images.
Ubuntu 20






Official Microsoft Docker Images:
- 64-bit Ubuntu 20.04 Docker Image for .NET Runtime 3.1 ('3.1-focal')
- 64-bit Ubuntu 20.04 Docker Image for .NET Runtime 5.0 ('5.0-focal')
Ubuntu 18






Official Microsoft Docker Images:
- 64-bit Ubuntu 18.04 Docker Image for .NET Runtime 3.1 ('3.1-bionic')
- Although there is no official Docker image for .NET 5 on Ubuntu 18, compatibility is very high.
Debian 11






Debian 10 is the default Linux distribution used by Microsoft when adding Docker support to a .NET project in Visual Studio.
Official Microsoft Docker Images:
- 64-bit Debian 11 Docker Image for .NET Runtime 3.1
- 64-bit Debian 11 Docker Image for .NET Runtime 5.0
Debian 10






Debian 10 is the default Linux distribution used by Microsoft when adding Docker support to a .NET project in Visual Studio.
Official Microsoft Docker Images:
- 64-bit Debian 10 Docker Image for .NET Runtime 3.1
- 64-bit Debian 10 Docker Image for .NET Runtime 5.0
CentOS 7 & CentOS 8: Ensure you have sudo admin privileges. There is no special configuration needed to run IronXL; just install the NuGet package and run.
Other Linux Distros: Ensure your distro supports .NET and you have sudo admin privileges. Like with CentOS, there's no special configuration needed; just install the NuGet package and run.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I perform Excel operations in a Linux environment?
You can use IronXL, a .NET Standard-based library, to perform Excel operations in various Linux environments including Ubuntu and CentOS. It is compatible with .NET Core and requires no code changes for Linux.
Which Linux distributions are officially supported for running Excel operations?
IronXL officially supports Ubuntu 20, Ubuntu 18, Debian 11, Debian 10, CentOS 7, and CentOS 8 for running Excel operations.
What are the recommended .NET versions for using IronXL on Linux?
The recommended .NET versions for using IronXL on Linux are .NET Core 3.1, .NET 5, and .NET 6, as they provide long-term support and reliability.
Is it necessary to modify code to use IronXL on Linux?
No, it is not necessary to modify code to use IronXL on Linux. The library is designed to work out of the box across supported Linux distributions.
How do I install IronXL on a Linux system?
IronXL can be installed on a Linux system using NuGet package manager with the command: dotnet add package IronXL
.
Can IronXL be used with Docker containers on Linux?
Yes, IronXL is compatible with Docker containers on Linux. You can use Microsoft’s official Docker Images for seamless integration.
Why is using IronXL on Linux beneficial for cloud applications?
Using IronXL on Linux is beneficial for cloud applications because many services like Azure and AWS run predominantly on Linux, making it essential for enterprise and SAAS solutions.
What if my Linux distribution is not officially supported by IronXL?
If your Linux distribution is not officially supported, ensure it is compatible with .NET and you have the necessary admin privileges. You may need to perform manual configurations using tools like apt-get
.
Is Ubuntu the best choice for running IronXL?
Yes, Ubuntu is highly recommended for running IronXL as it is the most extensively tested platform, especially within Azure environments.
Are there any special requirements for using IronXL on CentOS?
No special requirements are needed for using IronXL on CentOS. Just ensure you have admin privileges and follow the standard installation process using the NuGet package.