Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Lifecycle – All Versions
Managing enterprise Linux systems requires careful tracking of support timelines and version lifecycles. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) maintains one of the most comprehensive and predictable support policies in the industry, offering organizations the stability they need for mission-critical deployments. This guide provides complete lifecycle information for every RHEL version, including detailed minor release schedules.
📑 Table of Contents
- Understanding RHEL Support Phases
- Full Support Phase (Years 1-5)
- Maintenance Support Phase (Years 6-10)
- Extended Life Phase
- RHEL Major Version Lifecycle Summary
- RHEL 10 Minor Versions
- RHEL 9 Minor Versions
- RHEL 8 Minor Versions
- RHEL 7 Minor Versions
- Extended Update Support (EUS) Explained
- Key EUS Characteristics
- Migration Planning Guide
- Version Selection Recommendations
- Choose RHEL 10 When:
- Choose RHEL 9 When:
- Maintain RHEL 8 When:
- Reference Materials
Understanding RHEL Support Phases
Red Hat structures its enterprise support into distinct phases, each offering different levels of service:
Full Support Phase (Years 1-5)
During this initial period, Red Hat delivers comprehensive coverage including:
- Regular security patches and vulnerability fixes
- Bug corrections and stability improvements
- New hardware enablement and driver updates
- Minor version releases with feature enhancements
- Full technical support with root cause analysis
Maintenance Support Phase (Years 6-10)
After full support concludes, systems enter maintenance mode with:
- Critical and important security advisories only
- Selected high-priority bug fixes
- No new hardware enablement
- Continued access to existing packages
Extended Life Phase
Beyond standard support, organizations can purchase Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) for:
- Limited technical assistance
- Access to existing content
- No new security fixes or patches
RHEL Major Version Lifecycle Summary
| Version | GA Release | Full Support Until | Maintenance Until | Extended Life Until | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 10 | May 20, 2025 | May 31, 2030 | May 31, 2035 | May 31, 2038 | Current |
| RHEL 9 | May 17, 2022 | May 31, 2027 | May 31, 2032 | May 31, 2035 | Full Support |
| RHEL 8 | May 7, 2019 | May 31, 2024 | May 31, 2029 | May 31, 2032 | Maintenance |
| RHEL 7 | June 10, 2014 | Aug 6, 2019 | June 30, 2024 | June 30, 2028 | ELS Only |
| RHEL 6 | Nov 10, 2010 | May 10, 2016 | Nov 30, 2020 | June 30, 2024 | EOL |
| RHEL 5 | Mar 15, 2007 | Jan 8, 2013 | Mar 31, 2017 | Nov 30, 2020 | EOL |
| RHEL 4 | Feb 15, 2005 | Mar 31, 2009 | Feb 29, 2012 | Mar 31, 2017 | EOL |
RHEL 10 Minor Versions
RHEL 10, released in May 2025, represents the latest generation of enterprise Linux from Red Hat. Built on kernel 6.12, it delivers enhanced security, improved container orchestration, and expanded hardware compatibility.
| Version | Release Date | Kernel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.0 | May 20, 2025 | 6.12 | Initial GA release |
| 10.1 | Nov 11, 2025 | 6.12 | Latest release |
RHEL 9 Minor Versions
RHEL 9 (codename Plow) continues receiving active development with biannual minor releases. Organizations deploying new infrastructure should consider RHEL 9 for its modern toolchain and extended support window.
| Version | Release Date | Kernel | EUS Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | May 17, 2022 | 5.14.0-70 | Yes (ended May 2024) |
| 9.1 | Nov 15, 2022 | 5.14.0-162 | No |
| 9.2 | May 10, 2023 | 5.14.0-284 | Yes (ends May 2025) |
| 9.3 | Nov 7, 2023 | 5.14.0-362 | No |
| 9.4 | Apr 30, 2024 | 5.14.0-427 | Yes (ends May 2026) |
| 9.5 | Nov 12, 2024 | 5.14.0-503 | No |
| 9.6 | May 20, 2025 | 5.14.0-570 | Yes |
| 9.7 | Nov 11, 2025 | 5.14.0-xxx | No |
RHEL 8 Minor Versions
RHEL 8 transitioned to maintenance support in May 2024. While it continues receiving security updates, organizations should develop migration strategies for moving to RHEL 9 or 10.
| Version | Release Date | Kernel | EUS Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | May 7, 2019 | 4.18.0-80 | Retired |
| 8.1 | Nov 5, 2019 | 4.18.0-147 | Ended Nov 2021 |
| 8.2 | Apr 28, 2020 | 4.18.0-193 | Ended Apr 2022 |
| 8.3 | Nov 3, 2020 | 4.18.0-240 | No EUS |
| 8.4 | May 18, 2021 | 4.18.0-305 | Ended May 2023 |
| 8.5 | Nov 9, 2021 | 4.18.0-348 | No EUS |
| 8.6 | May 10, 2022 | 4.18.0-372 | Ended May 2024 |
| 8.7 | Nov 9, 2022 | 4.18.0-425 | No EUS |
| 8.8 | May 16, 2023 | 4.18.0-477 | Ends May 2025 |
| 8.9 | Nov 14, 2023 | 4.18.0-513 | No EUS |
| 8.10 | May 22, 2024 | 4.18.0-553 | Final release |
RHEL 7 Minor Versions
RHEL 7 (codename Maipo) concluded its standard support lifecycle in June 2024. Systems running RHEL 7 require Extended Life Cycle Support subscriptions for continued access to technical assistance.
| Version | Release Date | Kernel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | June 10, 2014 | 3.10.0-123 | Initial GA |
| 7.1 | Mar 5, 2015 | 3.10.0-229 | – |
| 7.2 | Nov 19, 2015 | 3.10.0-327 | systemd 219 |
| 7.3 | Nov 3, 2016 | 3.10.0-514 | – |
| 7.4 | Aug 1, 2017 | 3.10.0-693 | – |
| 7.5 | Apr 10, 2018 | 3.10.0-862 | – |
| 7.6 | Oct 30, 2018 | 3.10.0-957 | GNOME 3.28 |
| 7.7 | Aug 6, 2019 | 3.10.0-1062 | End of Full Support |
| 7.8 | Mar 31, 2020 | 3.10.0-1127 | – |
| 7.9 | Sep 29, 2020 | 3.10.0-1160 | Final release |
Extended Update Support (EUS) Explained
Extended Update Support provides organizations with longer maintenance windows for specific minor releases. This proves valuable for environments requiring extended qualification periods or those with strict change management policies.
Key EUS Characteristics
- Available only for even-numbered minor releases (8.2, 8.4, 8.6, 9.0, 9.2, 9.4)
- Provides 24-month support window from minor version release
- Requires separate subscription add-on
- Includes backported security fixes without version upgrades
Migration Planning Guide
Based on current support timelines, organizations should prioritize migration efforts according to their deployment status:
| Current System | Recommended Path | Timeline | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 or earlier | Fresh install RHEL 9/10 | Immediate | Critical |
| RHEL 7.x | Upgrade to RHEL 9 | Within 2025 | High |
| RHEL 8.x | Plan RHEL 9/10 migration | Before 2028 | Medium |
| RHEL 9.x | Stay current, evaluate RHEL 10 | No urgency | Low |
Version Selection Recommendations
Choosing the appropriate RHEL version depends on several organizational factors:
Choose RHEL 10 When:
- Deploying new greenfield infrastructure
- Requiring latest kernel features (6.12+)
- Maximizing support runway through 2035
- Working with newest hardware platforms
Choose RHEL 9 When:
- Needing proven stability with modern features
- Application compatibility concerns with RHEL 10
- Existing investment in RHEL 9 tooling
- Requiring wider third-party software support
Maintain RHEL 8 When:
- Legacy application dependencies exist
- Certification requirements mandate specific versions
- Active migration planning underway
Reference Materials
Consult these official Red Hat resources for authoritative lifecycle information:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle Policy
- RHEL Release Dates Reference
- Product Life Cycles Portal
- Retired Version Lifecycle Dates
Information compiled from official Red Hat documentation. Last verified: December 2025.
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About Ramesh Sundararamaiah
Red Hat Certified Architect
Expert in Linux system administration, DevOps automation, and cloud infrastructure. Specializing in Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, Ubuntu, Docker, Ansible, and enterprise IT solutions.