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Linux LTS Kernels To Now Be Maintained For Six Years (phoronix.com)

Posted by msmash on from the improving-things dept.

An anonymous reader writes: In a bid to help Android smartphone vendors the Linux LTS (Long Term Support) kernels will now be maintained for a period of six years. The Linux LTS initiative backed by the Linux Foundation has supported annual LTS kernels for two years worth of updates, but that is being changed for Linux 4.4+ at the request of Google and their Project Treble. This means the Linux 4.4 LTS kernel will be maintained through 2022 and the upcoming Linux 4.14 LTS through 2023 for security/bug fixes in order to last a complete "device lifecycle."

1 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Re:A step forward... by sexconker · · Score: -1, Troll

    Windows 8 was killed off in its infancy.
    Windows 8.1 is a neglected step child.
    Windows 10 is an abortion that will only be properly supported if you're on the latest version of Windows 10, which will soon require an annual subscription, and are buying new hardware frequently.

    We've already seen MS try to artificially kill off Windows 7 support based on hardware (but in the opposite direction, to force people to move to Windows 10). For Windows 10 it's worse. You can have new hardware but if the OEM (be it Dell or Intel) hasn't paid for the extended support packages, or MS decides they don't want to support certain hardware, you're fucked. Here's some of the specific language on the issue.

    All Windows 10 editions are managed via the Windows as a Service (WaaS) model: Updates are cumulative, with each update built upon all of the updates that preceded it. A device needs to install the latest update to remain supported. Updates may include new features, fixes (security and/or non-security), or a combination of both. Not all features in an update will work on all devices. A device may not be able to receive updates if the device hardware is incompatible, lacking current drivers, or otherwise outside of the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (“OEM”) support period . Update availability may vary, for example by country, region, network connectivity, mobile operator (e.g., for cellular-capable devices), or hardware capabilities (including, e.g., free disk space).

    https://support.microsoft.com/...

    Windows 7 support ends in January of 2020. I do not look forward to Windows 10 being the only viable Windows option.