Linux Kernel Lifecycle: End Of Life And Support Status
Last updated on January 19, 2024
Linux Kernel is the underlying main component of the Linux operating system. It is the interface between the operating system and the computer hardware responsible for translating and communicating between the two.
The Linux Kernal is an open-source, modular, monolithic kernel that is very much like the Unix kernel. It is installed wherever Linux is installed, which includes machines like Android devices, embedded systems, personal computers, servers, and mainframes.
Support status guide
End of life (EOL) is the end of a product’s useful life. When a product reaches the end of its life cycle, the manufacturer no longer supports it. The following table explains the different phases of a product’s lifecycle. Testing status is when the product is initially released and EOL is when product support is no longer offered. The time between these two points is the support timeframe.
Testing
The software is not yet publicly available. It is in testing phase i.e., alpha, beta, release preview etc.
Active
The software is actively supported by the vendor.
Phasing Out
The software will soon reach its end of life. You need to look for upgrade or migration options. The software will automatically go into phasing out status 2 months before end of life.
End Of Life
The software is no longer supported by the vendor. You need to make sure your system and environment are safe.
Version
Released
Security Support
The above-given EOL dates are not always accurate since the project handlers can extend the duration of support for a specific Kernel version depending on whether there is enough interest. However, they usually start with at least 2 years of support for the LTS releases, and 4 months for the non-LTS versions.
That said, Linux Kernel is published from different channels, which are as follows:
- Prepatch/RC: These are pre-releases, or preview releases, that are usually designed for other kernel developers and Linux enthusiasts. These releases may include new features, but since it is a preview version, it is not encouraged to use them on production environments, since major bugs may exist.
- Mainline: A newer version is released every 9 to 10 weeks in the mainline channel. This is where most of the excitement lies, as this channel receives new developments and new features.
- Stable: The releases in this channel are labeled after the release in the Mainline channel. Bug fixes for a stable kernel are backported from the mainline channel, and implemented by a kernel maintainer (contributor). This channel usually receives updates once a week but is on an as-needed basis.
- Long Term Servicing (LTS): Versions released from this channel receive support for extended durations. They only receive critical bug fixes and don’t usually see frequent updates.
EOLs