HN
Today

Greg Kroah-Hartman Stretches Support Periods for Key Linux LTS Kernels

Linux kernel maintainer Greg Kroah-Hartman has announced extended Long-Term Support (LTS) periods for several key kernel versions, a decision made after consultations with major users and fellow maintainers. This move aims to provide greater stability and predictability for enterprises and distributions that rely on these kernels, reflecting real-world adoption patterns rather than strict schedules. It highlights the ongoing effort to align kernel maintenance with the practical needs of large-scale deployments, potentially saving significant costs for companies running large server fleets.

16
Score
3
Comments
#11
Highest Rank
6h
on Front Page
First Seen
Mar 5, 5:00 PM
Last Seen
Mar 5, 10:00 PM
Rank Over Time
111317172225

The Lowdown

Greg Kroah-Hartman, the lead maintainer for Linux's stable and LTS kernels, has announced a significant extension to the support lifecycle for several key Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel versions. This strategic decision, made in consultation with major industry users and fellow maintainers, aims to better align kernel support with the practical demands of enterprise deployments and distributions. It marks a continued trend of adapting kernel lifecycles to user needs.

  • The extensions were announced via the kernel.org mailing list by Kroah-Hartman, indicating collaborative decision-making.
  • This isn't the first time kernel support has been extended, reflecting a pattern of adjusting lifecycles based on real-world importance and adoption.
  • While enterprise Linux distributions like Red Hat, SUSE, and Ubuntu already provide extensive support for their included kernels (often beyond the official kernel EOL), these extensions offer additional baseline stability.
  • The specific kernel versions receiving extensions are 6.12 (from Dec 2026 to Dec 2028) and 6.18 (from Dec 2027 to Dec 2028), while 5.10, 5.15, and 6.6 retain their original EOL dates.
  • The ability to extend software lifecycles, even for officially unsupported versions via services like TuxCare, allows enterprises to realize considerable savings by prolonging the use of existing server infrastructure.

This move by Kroah-Hartman underscores a pragmatic approach to Linux kernel maintenance, emphasizing stability and long-term viability for the ecosystem's most critical users. It acknowledges the significant operational and cost implications for enterprises, ensuring that the foundational software remains robust and supported for extended periods.