wiki:ReleaseSupport

Policy for Supporting Ubuntu and Debian Releases

Defining Support

For the purpose of this document, "support" is defined as "the infrastructure and configuration necessary to run a specific distribution". Statements about the level of telephone or e-mail support received are out of scope for this document.

All support levels are contingent upon technical capabilities. For example, we can't provide krb4-based packages for distributions that don't provide krb4 libraries.

  • Cluster Support: All packages included in -cluster are available and will receive updates. New software will also be made available. The -thirdparty package will be installable.
  • Core Support: All packages included in -workstation are available and will receive updates; other packages will be updated at the discretion of the Debathena team. New software included in the -workstation metapackage will be made available. No effort will be made to support the -thirdparty package.
  • Update Support: All packages included in -workstation will receive updates. New software will be made available at the discretion of the Debathena team.
  • Minimal Support: All packages included in -login will receive security updates whenever possible. Bugfix updates for packages in -login will be at the discretion of the Debathena team. No new software or bugfix support will be provided for the graphical environment, though existing functionality (as of the date Minimal Support begins) will not be removed.
  • Dead: The packages are removed from the Debathena APT repository, and new installations are no longer possible. Existing installations may continue to function, but will not receive updates or support assistance.

IMPORTANT: Based on user demand and availability of development resources, we reserve the right to move LTS releases from "Minimal Support" or "Update Support" to "Dead" before the date(s) listed here, though any changes will be publicized on the  release-announce mailing list.

Start of Support

For supported releases, Debathena should be installable within a week or so of the final release. Support does not officially begin until it is announced on the Debathena web page and/or the release-announce mailing list. Advanced users may attempt to install Debathena before that time for testing purposes only.

Ubuntu Releases

Ubuntu provides support for LTS releases for 3 years on "Desktop" and 5 years on "Server". Debathena defines "Desktop" as "debathena-login-graphical and higher" and "Server" as "debathena-login and lower". Based on user demand and availability of development resources, we reserve the right to move LTS releases from "Minimal Support" or "Update Support" to "Dead" before the date(s) listed here, though any changes will be publicized on the  release-announce mailing list.

NOTE: As of "Raring" (13.04), Ubuntu is in the process of modifying their support policy. We will modify ours accordingly, check back later for more information.

Dead

The following releases receive no support and anyone using them should upgrade immediately.

  • "Hardy (8.04)"
  • "Intrepid (8.10)"
  • "Jaunty (9.04)"
  • "Karmic (9.10)"
  • "Maverick (10.10)"
  • "Natty (11.04)"
  • "Oneiric (11.10)"

Supported

  • Lucid (10.04)
    • Cluster Support: through 12/31/2011
    • Core Support: through 10/31/2012
    • Update Support: through 4/30/2013
    • Minimal Support: through 4/30/2015
  • Precise (12.04)
    • Cluster Support: through 6/30/2014
    • Core Support: through 10/31/2014
    • Dead: Expected 1/1/2015
  • Quantal (12.10)
    • Cluster Support: (none)
    • Core Support: through 10/31/2013
    • Update Support: through 4/30/2014
  • Raring (13.04)
    • Cluster Support: (none)
    • Core Support: through 12/31/2013

Debian Releases

Cluster support is not currently provided for Debian releases.

In the general case, Debian stable releases will receive "Minimal Support" within a month of their release date. We strive to provide Update Support for most Debian releases, but make no guarantees. Once a new stable release comes out, the previous release is downgraded to "Minimal Support". Support for the previous release will persist for at least 6 months after that date, and at most 1 year after that date.