linux operating-systems

LTS (LTS)

lts long-term-support ubuntu release-cycle updates
Plain English

LTS means a version of software that will be supported for a long time. Instead of upgrading every few months, you can install an LTS release and keep getting security fixes for years. That makes it the safe choice for servers, work machines, and learning, because tutorials and tools stay valid longer.

Technical Definition

Long Term Support (LTS) is a release policy, not a technology. The vendor commits to backporting security and critical fixes to a frozen version for a published period.

Ubuntu:

  • An LTS release every two years in April (XX.04 in even years: 22.04, 24.04, 26.04)
  • 5 years of standard security maintenance for the main repository
  • Extended Security Maintenance through Ubuntu Pro (free for personal use on a small number of machines) adds coverage for the universe repository and extends support further
  • Interim releases (XX.10 and odd-year .04) get only 9 months
  • Point releases (26.04.1, 26.04.2) roll up updates and refresh install media

Other LTS examples: Linux kernel longterm branches (kernel.org), Node.js even-numbered releases, Debian (about 5 years with Debian LTS), RHEL (10 years).

Tradeoff: stability and predictability in exchange for older package versions. New features arrive only at the next LTS or through hardware enablement (HWE) kernels.

Upgrade path: Ubuntu offers LTS-to-LTS upgrades with do-release-upgrade once the first point release is out.

Source: Ubuntu release cycle

Checking support status on Ubuntu 

# Release and codename
$ lsb_release -a
Description:    Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
Release:        26.04

# Support status of installed packages
$ pro security-status
2104 packages installed:
     1987 packages from Ubuntu Main/Restricted repository

# Upgrade to the next LTS when offered
$ sudo do-release-upgrade
In the Wild

Running unsupported software is one of the most common findings in security audits, and end-of-life dates are why. Track the EOL date of every OS you run, plan upgrades before it, and prefer LTS for anything that has to stay up. For learners, LTS means the lab you build today still matches the docs years from now.

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