Currently, each month Oracle releases a new SRU for Oracle Solaris 11.4 and ZFS Storage Appliance software. The first SRU in the calendar quarter is called a Critical Patch Update (CPU) and focuses on security and bug fixes. This CPU aligns with the critical updates released for other Oracle products. The second SRU introduces new features as per our continuous release model [link], and the third delivers additional fixes. In the case of ZFS Storage Appliance software, SRUs are called Micro releases.

Oracle is adopting a simplified release cadence of two updates per calendar quarter, which will now consist of:

  • A Critical Patch Update (CPU) (or Micro release) aligned with Oracle’s quarterly security release cycle, delivering security and bug fixes.
  • A Support Repository Update (SRU) feature release (or Micro feature release) will be available approximately six weeks later, delivering new capabilities and enhancements.

This change provides customers with a clear and predictable release structure. By separating the quarterly security and maintenance update from the feature release, customers can more easily plan patching, validation, and production deployment while continuing to adopt innovation on a regular basis. The quarterly CPU remains the primary stability and security milestone, aligned with the broader Oracle portfolio. The SRU continues to deliver new functionality on a predictable schedule, with improved separation allowing evaluation and rollout planning.

This new cadence is intended to simplify lifecycle management while maintaining the quality, stability, and responsiveness that customers expect from Oracle Solaris and our ZFS Storage Appliance software. An interesting point is that, based on our statistics of SRU and Micro release adoption, an installation frequency of once or twice a quarter is already preferred by most customers.

As a reminder, every CPU, SRU and Micro release includes all previous enhancements and fixes. Oracle will also continue to provide Interim Diagnostic or Relief (IDR) updates for urgent customer specific issues between SRUs when needed, and those fixes also roll into subsequent updates as part of the standard release process.

For more information on Oracle Support policies please consult this document