Linux Kernel

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The Linux kernel is a free and open-source, monolithic, modular, multitasking, Unix-like operating system kernel. Linux is deployed on a wide variety of computing systems, such as embedded devices, mobile devices (including Android), personal computers, servers, mainframes, and supercomputers.

Release Schedule Image Gantt Chart for Linux Kernel
Release Released Security Support Latest
6.8 2 weeks and 3 days ago
(10 Mar 2024)
Ends in 3 months and 2 weeks
(10 Jul 2024)
6.8.2
(26 Mar 2024)
6.7 2 months and 2 weeks ago
(07 Jan 2024)
Ends in 1 month and 1 week
(07 May 2024)
6.7.11
(26 Mar 2024)
6.6 (LTS) 4 months and 4 weeks ago
(30 Oct 2023)
Ends in 2 years and 9 months
(31 Dec 2026)
6.6.23
(26 Mar 2024)
6.5 7 months ago
(27 Aug 2023)
Ended 4 months ago
(28 Nov 2023)
6.5.13
(28 Nov 2023)
6.4 9 months ago
(25 Jun 2023)
Ended 6 months ago
(13 Sep 2023)
6.4.16
(13 Sep 2023)
6.3 11 months ago
(23 Apr 2023)
Ended 8 months ago
(11 Jul 2023)
6.3.13
(11 Jul 2023)
6.2 1 year ago
(19 Feb 2023)
Ended 10 months ago
(17 May 2023)
6.2.16
(17 May 2023)
6.1 (LTS) 1 year and 3 months ago
(11 Dec 2022)
Ends in 2 years and 9 months
(31 Dec 2026)
6.1.83
(26 Mar 2024)
6.0 1 year and 5 months ago
(02 Oct 2022)
Ended 1 year and 2 months ago
(12 Jan 2023)
6.0.19
(12 Jan 2023)
5.19 1 year and 8 months ago
(31 Jul 2022)
Ended 1 year and 5 months ago
(24 Oct 2022)
5.19.17
(24 Oct 2022)
5.18 1 year and 10 months ago
(22 May 2022)
Ended 1 year and 7 months ago
(21 Aug 2022)
5.18.19
(21 Aug 2022)
5.17 2 years ago
(20 Mar 2022)
Ended 1 year and 9 months ago
(14 Jun 2022)
5.17.15
(14 Jun 2022)
5.16 2 years ago
(09 Jan 2022)
Ended 1 year and 11 months ago
(13 Apr 2022)
5.16.20
(13 Apr 2022)
5.15 (LTS) 2 years and 4 months ago
(31 Oct 2021)
Ends in 2 years and 7 months
(31 Oct 2026)
5.15.153
(26 Mar 2024)
5.10 (LTS) 3 years ago
(13 Dec 2020)
Ends in 2 years and 9 months
(31 Dec 2026)
5.10.214
(26 Mar 2024)
5.4 (LTS) 4 years ago
(25 Nov 2019)
Ends in 1 year and 9 months
(31 Dec 2025)
5.4.273
(26 Mar 2024)
4.19 (LTS) 5 years ago
(22 Oct 2018)
Ends in 9 months
(31 Dec 2024)
4.19.311
(26 Mar 2024)
4.14 (LTS) 6 years ago
(12 Nov 2017)
Ended 2 months and 2 weeks ago
(10 Jan 2024)
4.14.336
(10 Jan 2024)
4.9 (LTS) 7 years ago
(11 Dec 2016)
Ended 1 year and 2 months ago
(07 Jan 2023)
4.9.337
(07 Jan 2023)

There are several main categories into which kernel releases may fall:

  • 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.

  • Mainline is 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 is labeled after each mainline kernel is released. 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 (LTS) 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.

The “projected EOL” dates are not set in stone. Each new longterm kernel usually starts with only a 2-year projected EOL (as opposed to the 4 months of a non-LTS release) 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.

More information is available on the Linux Kernel website.

You should be running one of the supported release numbers listed above in the rightmost column.

You can check the version that you are currently using by running:
uname -r

You can submit an improvement to this page on GitHub :octocat: . This page has a corresponding Talk Page.

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