Oracle Solaris is moving to a continuous delivery model using more frequent updates to deliver the latest features faster, while fully preserving customer and ISV qualification investment in the vast array of ISV applications available on Oracle Solaris 11 today. New features and functionality will be delivered in Oracle Solaris through dot releases instead of more disruptive major releases, consistent with trends seen throughout the industry. This addresses customer requirements for an agile and smooth transition path between versions, while providing ongoing innovation with assured investment protection. By moving to a continuous delivery model based on Oracle Solaris 11, customers will have a seamless update experience to better fit their move to agile deployment models.
Customers can be confident that we plan to release new innovations into Oracle Solaris 11 in an ongoing manner. The Oracle SPARC and Oracle Solaris roadmap has been updated to reflect this new strategy.
As we will deliver new features and capabilities as part of Oracle Solaris 11, we have extended the Oracle Solaris 11 and Oracle Solaris Cluster 4 Premier and Extended Support lifespans to January 2031 and January 2034, respectively. Support dates are evaluated for update annually, and will be provided through at least the dates above. For more information, see page 34 of the Oracle Lifetime Support Policy: Oracle and Sun Systems Software.
The Oracle Solaris continuous delivery model has been silently in place for some time and is now the official delivery mechanism going forward. Oracle Solaris customers under Premier Support receive regular innovation, bug fix, and security vulnerability updates through both dot releases and Oracle Solaris 11 Support Repository Updates, as well as 24/7 access to Oracle systems specialists and online access to knowledge, proactive tools and communities. There are no changes to Oracle Solaris licensing or Premier Support pricing associated with this model.