| Active kernel releases |
| ====================== |
| |
| :slug: releases |
| :category: Releases |
| |
| There are several main categories into which kernel releases may fall: |
| |
| Prepatch |
| Prepatch or "RC" kernels are mainline kernel pre-releases that are |
| mostly aimed at other kernel developers and Linux enthusiasts. They |
| must be compiled from source and usually contain new features that |
| must be tested before they can be put into a stable release. |
| Prepatch kernels are maintained and released by Linus Torvalds. |
| |
| Mainline |
| Mainline tree is maintained by Linus Torvalds. It's the tree where |
| all new features are introduced and where all the exciting new |
| development happens. New mainline kernels are released every 2-3 |
| months. |
| |
| Stable |
| After each mainline kernel is released, it is considered "stable." |
| Any bug fixes for a stable kernel are backported from the mainline |
| tree and applied by a designated stable kernel maintainer. There are |
| usually only a few bugfix kernel releases until next mainline kernel |
| becomes available -- unless it is designated a "longterm maintenance |
| kernel." Stable kernel updates are released on as-needed basis, |
| usually 2-3 a month. |
| |
| Longterm |
| There are usually several "longterm maintenance" kernel releases |
| provided for the purposes of backporting bugfixes for older kernel |
| trees. Only important bugfixes are applied to such kernels and they |
| don't usually see very frequent releases, especially for older |
| trees. |
| |
| .. table:: Longterm release kernels |
| |
| ======== ==================== ============ ================== |
| Version Maintainer Released Projected EOL |
| ======== ==================== ============ ================== |
| 4.9 Greg Kroah-Hartman 2016-12-11 Jan, 2019 |
| 4.4 Greg Kroah-Hartman 2016-01-10 Feb, 2022 |
| 4.1 Sasha Levin 2015-06-21 May, 2018 |
| 3.16 Ben Hutchings 2014-08-03 Apr, 2020 |
| 3.10 Willy Tarreau 2013-06-30 Oct, 2017 |
| 3.2 Ben Hutchings 2012-01-04 May, 2018 |
| ======== ==================== ============ ================== |
| |
| Distribution kernels |
| -------------------- |
| Many Linux distributions provide their own "longterm maintenance" |
| kernels that may or may not be based on those maintained by kernel |
| developers. These kernel releases are not hosted at kernel.org and |
| kernel developers can provide no support for them. |
| |
| It is easy to tell if you are running a distribution kernel. Unless you |
| downloaded, compiled and installed your own version of kernel from |
| kernel.org, you are running a distribution kernel. To find out the |
| version of your kernel, run `uname -r`:: |
| |
| # uname -r |
| 3.7.5-201.fc18.x86_64 |
| |
| If you see anything at all after the dash, you are running a distribution |
| kernel. Please use the support channels offered by your distribution |
| vendor to obtain kernel support. |
