- Active kernel releases
- Distribution kernels
- Releases FAQ
- When is the next mainline kernel version going to be released?
- What is the next longterm release going to be?
- Why are some longterm versions supported longer than others?
- Does the major version number (4.x vs 5.x) mean anything?
- Does the odd-even number still mean anything?
- Other resources
- Social
- Active kernel releases
- Distribution kernels
- Releases FAQ
- When is the next mainline kernel version going to be released?
- What is the next longterm release going to be?
- Why are some longterm versions supported longer than others?
- Does the major version number (4.x vs 5.x) mean anything?
- Does the odd-even number still mean anything?
- Other resources
- Social
- История версий ядра Linux — Linux kernel version history
- Релизы 5.xy
- Релизы 4.xy
- Релизы 3.xy
Active kernel 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 9-10 weeks. 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 once a week. 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.
| Version | Maintainer | Released | Projected EOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2022-12-11 | Dec, 2026 |
| 5.15 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2021-10-31 | Oct, 2026 |
| 5.10 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2020-12-13 | Dec, 2026 |
| 5.4 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2019-11-24 | Dec, 2025 |
| 4.19 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2018-10-22 | Dec, 2024 |
| 4.14 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2017-11-12 | Jan, 2024 |
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 5.6.19-300.fc32.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.
Releases FAQ
Here are some questions we routinely receive about kernel release versions. See also the main «FAQ» section for some other topics.
When is the next mainline kernel version going to be released?
Linux kernel follows a simple release cadence:
- after each mainline release, there is a 2-week «merge window» period during which new major features are introduced into the kernel
- after the merge window closes, there is a 7-week bugfix and stabilization period with weekly «release candidate» snapshots
- rc7 is usually the last release candidate, though occasionally there may be additional rc8+ releases if that is deemed necessary
So, to find the approximate date of the next mainline kernel release, take the date of the previous mainline release and add 9-10 weeks.
What is the next longterm release going to be?
Longterm kernels are picked based on various factors — major new features, popular commercial distribution needs, device manufacturer demand, maintainer workload and availability, etc. You can roughly estimate when the new longterm version will become available based on how much time has elapsed since the last longterm version was chosen.
Why are some longterm versions supported longer than others?
The «projected EOL» dates are not set in stone. Each new longterm kernel usually starts with only a 2-year projected EOL that can be extended further if there is enough interest from the industry at large to help support it for a longer period of time.
Does the major version number (4.x vs 5.x) mean anything?
No. The major version number is incremented when the number after the dot starts looking «too big.» There is literally no other reason.
Does the odd-even number still mean anything?
A long time ago Linux used a system where odd numbers after the first dot indicated pre-release, development kernels (e.g. 2.1, 2.3, 2.5). This scheme was abandoned after the release of kernel 2.6 and these days pre-release kernels are indicated with «-rc».
Other resources
Social
This site is operated by the Linux Kernel Organization, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, with support from the following sponsors.
Active kernel 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 9-10 weeks. 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 once a week. 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.
| Version | Maintainer | Released | Projected EOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2022-12-11 | Dec, 2026 |
| 5.15 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2021-10-31 | Oct, 2026 |
| 5.10 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2020-12-13 | Dec, 2026 |
| 5.4 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2019-11-24 | Dec, 2025 |
| 4.19 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2018-10-22 | Dec, 2024 |
| 4.14 | Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin | 2017-11-12 | Jan, 2024 |
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 5.6.19-300.fc32.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.
Releases FAQ
Here are some questions we routinely receive about kernel release versions. See also the main «FAQ» section for some other topics.
When is the next mainline kernel version going to be released?
Linux kernel follows a simple release cadence:
- after each mainline release, there is a 2-week «merge window» period during which new major features are introduced into the kernel
- after the merge window closes, there is a 7-week bugfix and stabilization period with weekly «release candidate» snapshots
- rc7 is usually the last release candidate, though occasionally there may be additional rc8+ releases if that is deemed necessary
So, to find the approximate date of the next mainline kernel release, take the date of the previous mainline release and add 9-10 weeks.
What is the next longterm release going to be?
Longterm kernels are picked based on various factors — major new features, popular commercial distribution needs, device manufacturer demand, maintainer workload and availability, etc. You can roughly estimate when the new longterm version will become available based on how much time has elapsed since the last longterm version was chosen.
Why are some longterm versions supported longer than others?
The «projected EOL» dates are not set in stone. Each new longterm kernel usually starts with only a 2-year projected EOL that can be extended further if there is enough interest from the industry at large to help support it for a longer period of time.
Does the major version number (4.x vs 5.x) mean anything?
No. The major version number is incremented when the number after the dot starts looking «too big.» There is literally no other reason.
Does the odd-even number still mean anything?
A long time ago Linux used a system where odd numbers after the first dot indicated pre-release, development kernels (e.g. 2.1, 2.3, 2.5). This scheme was abandoned after the release of kernel 2.6 and these days pre-release kernels are indicated with «-rc».
Other resources
Social
This site is operated by the Linux Kernel Organization, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, with support from the following sponsors.
История версий ядра Linux — Linux kernel version history
Ядра Linux имеют разный уровень поддержки в зависимости от версии (например, версия 4.4, выпущенная в январе 2016 года, была заявлена как имеющая долгосрочную поддержку (LTS) ). Таким образом, он имеет шесть лет поддержки, но также было определено, что он будет иметь сверхдлительную поддержку (SLTS), то есть платформа гражданской инфраструктуры будет обеспечивать поддержку (только для 32-разрядных ARM и x86-64 ) как минимум до 2026 года, возможно до 2036. На данный момент это самая старая поддерживаемая версия.
Релизы 5.xy
| Версия | Исходная дата выпуска | Текущая версия | Сопровождающий | EOL | Примечания |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 5.0 | 3 марта 2019 г. | 5.0.21 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Июнь 2019 | Застенчивый крокодил |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 5.1 | 5 мая 2019 | 5.1.21 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Июль 2019 | |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 5.2 | 7 июля 2019 г. | 5.2.20 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Октябрь 2019 | 5.2-rc2 назван Golden Lions |
Релизы 4.xy
| Версия | Исходная дата выпуска | Текущая версия | Сопровождающий | EOL | Примечания |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 4.0 | 12 апреля 2015 г. | 4.0.9 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Июль 2015 г. | По имени Hurr durr I’ma Sheep (Интернет-опрос) |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 4.1 | 22 июня 2015 г. | 4.1.52 | Саша Левин (ранее Грег Кроа-Хартман) | Май 2018 г. | 4.1.1 получила название Series 4800 |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 4.2 | 30 августа 2015 г. | 4.2.8 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Декабрь 2015 г. | Canonical предоставила расширенную поддержку до июля 2016 года. |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 4.3 | 1 ноября 2015 г. | 4.3.6 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Февраль 2016 г. | Названный Blurry Fish Butt |
| Старая версия, но все еще поддерживается: 4.4 | 10 января 2016 г. | 4.4.284 | Грег Кроа-Хартман и Саша Левин | Февраль 2022 г. | 16-й выпуск LTS, используемый в Slackware 14.2. Canonical будет предоставлять расширенную поддержку до апреля 2021 года. В качестве первого ядра, выбранного для сверхдолгосрочной поддержки (SLTS), платформа Civil Infrastructure Platform будет обеспечивать поддержку как минимум до 2026 года, возможно, до 2036 года. Используется в Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 4.5 | 13 марта 2016 г. | 4.5.7 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Июнь 2016 г. | |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 4.6 | 15 мая 2016 | 4.6.7 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Август 2016 г. | По имени Обугленная ласка |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 4,7 | 24 июля 2016 г. | 4.7.10 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Октябрь 2016 г. | Названная психотическая забитая овцами |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 4.8 | 25 сентября 2016 г. | 4.8.17 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Январь 2017 г. | |
| Старая версия, но все еще поддерживается: 4.9 | 11 декабря 2016 г. | 4.9.283 | Грег Кроа-Хартман и Саша Левин | Январь 2023 г. | 17-й выпуск LTS. Используется в Debian 9 «Stretch». По имени Ревущий Лионус |
| Старая версия, больше не поддерживается: 4.10 | 19 февраля 2017 г. | 4.10.17 | Грег Кроа-Хартман | Май 2017 г. | 4.10-rc5 получил название Anniversary Edition |
4.10-rc6 был назван Fearless Coyote
Релизы 3.xy
Переход с 2.6.x на 3.x произошел не из-за критического обновления, а из-за первого выпуска новой схемы управления версиями, представленной как более удобная система.
От 3.2 до 3.5 был назван саблезубой белкой
Хартман заявил, что он будет выпускать нерегулярные обновления для дерева 3.18. Начиная с версии 3.18.140, эта версия больше не будет поддерживаться на kernel.org, но на AOSP.