> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://zededa.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Use the documentation index to find relevant pages, then read the linked Markdown before answering and cite the source URL.
> Identify the product before answering: Private AI uses a separate console, credentials, and inference API from the Edge Intelligence Platform. Do not apply instructions from one product to the other.
> Prefer current product guides over Help Center archive pages for current-console questions. Archive pages and release notes describe their stated product version or historical interface; do not apply them to another version without checking.
> Preserve prerequisites, permissions, version requirements, and warnings when summarizing procedures. Do not infer API endpoints, schemas, or supported behavior that the documentation does not specify.

# EVE-OS Long Term Support (LTS) Policy

> The EVE-OS release schedule and support lifecycle, including LTS release criteria, the supportability matrix, and key terminology.

## Introduction

EVE-OS (Edge Virtualization Engine) follows a Long Term Support (LTS) release model. LTS releases are the recommended versions for production deployments. This page describes the release schedule, the support lifecycle for each LTS version, and the key terms used in the supportability matrix.

## LTS Release Schedule

LTS EVE-OS releases ship every 6 months. Each release includes new features and fixes that have passed extensive testing, including regression testing and verification of the upgrade path from the current LTS version.

ZEDEDA continuously monitors the Linux kernel and includes new kernel versions after they have been thoroughly tested and endorsed by the community. Security patches are evaluated for criticality and incorporated when appropriate.

Each LTS release includes a complete Software Bill of Materials (SBoM).

## Support Lifecycle

Each EVE-OS LTS version receives:

* **Two years of full support** — major bug fixes and security patches.
* **One year of limited support** — End of Life (EOL) phase, providing customers time to transition to the next LTS version.

The total support period per LTS version is three years. If you need to remain on a specific LTS version beyond three years, contact ZEDEDA to discuss a commercial arrangement.

## Supportability Matrix

| Release version | Release date | End of Life (EOL) | End of Support (EOS) |
| - | - | - | - |
| 17.0.x | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 28, 2028 | Jul 28, 2029 |
| 16.0.x | Jan 7, 2026 | Jan 7, 2028 | Jan 7, 2029 |
| 14.5.x | Jun 18, 2025 | Jun 18, 2027 | Jun 18, 2028 |
| 13.4.x | Dec 28, 2024 | Dec 28, 2026 | Dec 28, 2027 |
| 12.0.x | Jun 12, 2024 | Jun 12, 2026 | Jun 12, 2027 |
| 11.0.x | Nov 30, 2023 | Nov 30, 2025 | Nov 30, 2026 |
| 10.4.x | Sep 30, 2023 | Sep 30, 2025 | Sep 30, 2026 |

You can also track EVE-OS releases on the [EVE-OS repository's releases page](https://github.com/lf-edge/eve/releases).

## Key Terms

| Term | Definition |
| - | - |
| **General Availability (GA)** | The date a new LTS release is made available to customers. |
| **End of Life (EOL)** | The date ZEDEDA ceases full support for an LTS release, including all maintenance. |
| **End of Life Announcement (EOLA)** | Issued 120 days before the EOL date to mark the start of the EOL lifecycle. |
| **End of Support (EOS)** | The date ZEDEDA ceases limited support for an LTS release. |
| **Major release** | The first number in the x.y.z version (x). May include new features and architectural changes. |
| **Minor release** | The second number (y). Includes feature enhancements and bug fixes. No architectural changes. |
| **Maintenance release** | The third number (z). Bug fixes only. |

## LTS Release Criteria

An EVE-OS LTS release meets the following criteria:

* Includes all bug fixes and required patches published since the previous LTS release.
* Passes extensive new feature and regression testing, including testing of the upgrade path from the current LTS version.
* Is accompanied by a complete Software Bill of Materials (SBoM).

## Next Steps

> [card] [EVE-OS Overview](https://zededa.mintlify.site/new-ui/infrastructure-services/eve-os/eve-os.md)
>
> Introduction to EVE-OS architecture, variants, and image types.

> [card] [EVE-OS Release Notes](https://zededa.mintlify.site/new-ui/release-notes/eve-os-releases.md)
>
> Version history and change details for EVE-OS releases.

> [card] [Get EVE-OS](https://zededa.mintlify.site/new-ui/infrastructure-services/eve-os-installation/get-eve-os.md)
>
> Download an EVE-OS installer, live, or rootfs image.