With 2024 drawing to a close, it is important to note that a critical lifecycle milestone for Oracle Linux 6 is approaching: the conclusion of Oracle Linux 6 Extended Support in December 2024. Several businesses have leveraged Oracle Linux Extended Support to continuously access updates and patches for security issues and select high-impact critical bug fixes beyond the 10 years of the Oracle Linux Premier Support period for Oracle Linux 6, helping maintain the security and stability of their enterprise systems.
Key Considerations as Oracle Linux 6 Extended Support Ends
Starting January 2025, Oracle Linux 6 will no longer receive any new updates, including security patches and bug fixes, and will enter its Lifetime Sustaining Support period, which is provided indefinitely as part of Oracle’s unique Lifetime Support Policy. Sustaining Support for Oracle Linux provides continued access to fixes, security patches, and security alerts created during the Oracle Linux Premier Support and Extended Support periods, along with 24×7 access to My Oracle Support and the Oracle Unbreakable Linux Network.
Remaining on a version of an operating system (OS) without new security patches and fixes may expose your systems to common vulnerabilities, compliance issues, and other software bugs, making it vital to plan your migration to the latest supported releases.
What Should Your Next Steps Be?
If your organization is currently using Oracle Linux 6, it is strongly recommended to migrate applications and data to Oracle Linux 8 or Oracle Linux 9 as soon as possible.
To plan and swiftly transition your workloads from Oracle Linux 6 to the latest releases of Oracle Linux, you can engage with Oracle Linux Consulting services for expert assistance by contacting opencloud_ps_ww_grp@oracle.com. This knowledgeable team, with expertise in enterprise software, extensive hands-on experience with Oracle Linux and Virtualization solutions, and a track record in helping customers perform Oracle Linux upgrades, can effectively manage and migrate your deployments to Oracle Linux 8 or Oracle Linux 9.
For customers using Oracle Linux 7, December 2024 will also mark the end of its decade-plus Premier Support period. If your business requires more time to upgrade from Oracle Linux 7, Extended Support for Oracle Linux 7 will be available through June 2028. Read the blog, Extend your OS upgrade timeline: Oracle Linux 7’s Extended Support with expanded coverage, for more details.
Operate and Innovate Confidently with Oracle Linux Support
With Oracle Linux Support, your enterprise IT infrastructure is backed by Oracle’s global 24×7 support for Linux, KVM, Kubernetes, automation, containers, and more. Oracle Linux Support unlocks access to features and resources such as Linux support specialists and technical solution experts, enabling your organization to innovate while helping to ensurebusiness operations remain secure. Moreover, if you believe you have discovered any security vulnerabilities in Oracle Linux, you can utilize My Oracle Support to submit service requests—without limitations. To learn more about the benefits of our comprehensive support, please refer to the value of Oracle Linux Support.