Greg Kroah-Hartman has extended the projected end-of-life dates for several active Linux long-term support kernels following discussions with companies and co-maintainer Sasha Levin. This update provides longer support windows for kernels like 6.6, 6.12, and 6.18. The change offers more time for users relying on these stable releases.
Greg Kroah-Hartman, a key maintainer of the Linux kernel, recently updated the end-of-life (EOL) projections for active long-term support (LTS) kernels through a commit. He explained the decision was "based on lots of discussions with different companies and groups and the other stable kernel maintainer." That maintainer is Sasha Levin, who co-manages these releases with Kroah-Hartman.
The revised schedule includes:
- Linux 6.6, now set to EOL in December 2027, up from December 2026, providing a four-year support window.
- Linux 6.12, extended to December 2028 from December 2026, also for four years.
- Linux 6.18, pushed to December 2028 from December 2027, ensuring at least three years of support.
Meanwhile, older kernels Linux 5.10 and 5.15 are scheduled to reach EOL in December of this year, prompting users of distributions still on these versions to consider upgrades.
LTS kernels differ from standard releases, which typically receive only about two months of active support. LTS versions get years of backported security patches and bug fixes without new features, making them ideal for desktops, embedded hardware, and servers prioritizing stability over the latest innovations.
This extension follows a 2023 announcement at the Open Source Summit Europe, where LTS support was reduced from six years to two due to maintainer burnout from unpaid work and an influx of bugs from fuzzing tools. The current update does not fully reverse that policy but extends support for the latest LTS kernels.
For everyday desktop users on distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, the change has little immediate impact, as these systems manage kernel updates automatically. However, it benefits those using embedded systems, single-board computers, or servers, where EOL means the end of security patches and version migrations can be complex. Hardware vendors and device manufacturers also gain planning flexibility, as certifying products against specific kernels requires significant effort; extended patching until 2028 alters upgrade timelines.
In summary, while regular users see no disruption, those dependent on specific LTS kernels now have additional breathing room for maintenance and security.
