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Operating System Releases

Introduction

Last updated: June 21, 2005

The release history (below) includes the published dates (E&OE) when the vendor will withdraw product availability and support for various released versions of their respective operating systems. Knowing these dates in advance helps customers (e.g., system administrators) to plan and make informed IT decisions (such as operating system upgrades, software and hardware purchases, etc.).

Similarly, application developers can respond proactively through adaptive maintenace, or at least be aware of (and thus, anticipate) inquiries about migration (e.g., environment differences), compatibility (e.g., APIs), and porting (e.g., 32-bit to 64-bit).

Disclaimer: Please check with the vendor's web site for updates and program details (e.g., support options, service level, geographical differences, etc.).

IBM

Version Released Withdrawn End of Service
AIX 3.2.5 Sep 21, 1993 Jan 31, 1997 Dec 31, 1997
AIX 4.1 Jul 26, 1994 Oct 31, 1997 Dec 31, 1998
AIX 4.1.1 Oct 28, 1994
AIX 4.1.3 Jun 19, 1995
AIX 4.1.4 Oct 10, 1995
AIX 4.1.51 Nov 8, 1996 Dec 31, 1998 Mar 31, 1999
AIX 4.2 Apr 23, 1996 Oct 31, 1997 Dec 31, 1999
AIX 4.2.1 Apr 25, 1997 Mar 31, 2000 Jun 30, 2000
AIX 4.3 Oct 31, 1997 Dec 31, 2001
AIX 4.3.1 Apr 7, 1998
AIX 4.3.2 Oct 23, 1998
AIX 4.3.32 Sep 13, 1999 Jun 30, 2003 Dec 31, 2003
AIX 5L V5.0 Oct 17, 2000 TBD
AIX 5L V5.1 Apr 17, 2001 TBD Dec 31, 2005
AIX 5L V5.2 Oct 8, 2002 TBD Jul 31, 2007

Notes:
1. Limited, fee-based extension until Jan 31, 2001.
2. Limited, fee-based extension until Dec 31, 2004.

HP

Version Released Unavailable After End of Normal
Support Life
HP-UX 9.04 November 1993 Oct 31, 1997 Dec 31, 1998
HP-UX 10.01 July 1995 Oct 31, 2000 Jun 30, 2003
HP-UX 10.10 February 1996 Jun 30, 1999 Jun 30, 2003
HP-UX 10.20 (B.10.20) August 1996 Jun 30, 2002 Jun 30, 2003
HP-UX 10.30 (B.10.30) August 1997 May 31, 1998 May 31, 1999
HP-UX 11.00 (B.11.00) November 1997 Mar 31, 2005 Dec 31, 2006
HP-UX 11i (B.11.11) June 2000 Dec 31, 2008 Dec 31, 2013
HP-UX 11i v1.5 (B.11.20) Itanium June 2001 Jan 1, 2002 Jun 30, 2003
HP-UX 11i v1.6 (B.11.22) Itanium June 2002 Apr 30, 2004 Oct 31, 2005
HP-UX 11i v2 (B.11.23)1 September 2003 Dec 31, 2008 Dec 31, 2013

Notes:
1. Announced May 12, 2003.

Sun

Version Released1 Stops Shipping2 End of Support
SunOS 4.1.1 March 1990 Jan 6, 1995 Jan 6, 2000
SunOS 4.1.2 December 1991 Jan 6, 1995 Jan 6, 2000
Solaris 1.1A August 1992 Jun 3, 1994 Jun 3, 1999
Solaris 1.1C November 1993 Jun 3, 1994 Jun 3, 1999
SunOS 4.1.3_U1 (Solaris 1.1.1) December 1993 Sep 30, 1998 Sep 30, 2003
SunOS 4.1.4 (Solaris 1.1.2) November 1994 Sep 30, 1998 Sep 30, 2003
Solaris 2.0 July 1992 Jan 1, 1994 Jan 1, 1999
Solaris 2.1 December 1992 Apr 15, 1994 Apr 15, 1999
Solaris 2.2 May 1993 May 1, 1994 May 1, 1999
Solaris 2.3 November 1993 Jun 1, 1997 Jun 1, 2002
Solaris 2.4 August 1994 Sep 30, 1998 Sep 30, 2003
Solaris 2.5 November 1995 Dec 27, 1998 Dec 27, 2003
Solaris 2.5.1 May 1996 Sep 22, 2000 Sep 22, 2005
Solaris 2.6 August 1997 Jul 23, 2001 Jul 23, 2006
Solaris 7 October 1998 Aug 15, 2003 Aug 15, 2008
Solaris 8 Jan 26, 2000 TBD TBD
Solaris 9 May 22, 2002 TBD TBD

Notes:
1. Release dates prior to Solaris 8, courtesy of this unverified source: <http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/solaris/versions/>.
2. Two years after it last ships (LS+2), it enters "Phase II Vintage Support".

Red Hat

Version Released Last Errata End of Life1
Red Hat Linux 4.0 (Colgate) Oct 3, 1996 Jul 21, 1997 Dec 1, 1997
Red Hat Linux 4.1 (Vanderbilt) Feb 3, 1997 Jul 21, 1997 Dec 1, 1997
Red Hat Linux 4.2 (Biltmore) Jul 21, 1997 Jul 22, 1999 Apr 26, 1999
Red Hat Linux 5.0 (Hurricane) Dec 1, 1997 Apr 16, 1999 Apr 26, 1999
Red Hat Linux 5.1 (Manhattan) May 22, 1998 Apr 16, 1999 Apr 26, 1999
Red Hat Linux 5.2 (Apollo) Nov 2, 1998 Jul 29, 1999 Sep 25, 2000
Red Hat Linux 6.0 (Hedwig) Apr 26, 1999 Jan 17, 2002 Sep 25, 2000
Red Hat Linux 6.1 (Cartman) Jan 12, 2000 Jan 17, 2002 Sep 25, 2000
Red Hat Linux 6.2 (Zoot) Apr 3, 2000 Apr 2, 2002 Mar 31, 2003
Red Hat Linux 7.0 (Guinness) Sep 25, 2000 Apr 2, 2002 Mar 31, 2003
Red Hat Linux 7.1 (Seawolf) Apr 16, 2001 Dec 24, 2003 Dec 31, 2003
Red Hat Linux 7.2 (Enigma) Oct 22, 2001 Dec 24, 2003 Dec 31, 2003
Red Hat Linux 7.3 (Valhalla) May 6, 2002 Dec 24, 2003 Dec 31, 2003
Red Hat Linux Advanced Server May 17, 2002 May 31, 20072
Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation Sep 17, 2002 May 31, 2007
Red Hat Linux 8.0 (Psyche) Sep 30, 2002 Dec 24, 2004 Dec 31, 2003
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 (AS, WS, ES)3 Mar 12, 2003 May 31, 2007
Red Hat Linux 9 (Shrike) Mar 31, 2003 Apr 30, 2004 Apr 30, 2004
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Oct 22, 2003 TBD

Notes:
1. Prior to Dec 19, 2002, Red Hat did not publish "end of life" dates in advance.
2. RHEL Errata Policy <http://www.redhat.com/apps/support/errata/rhlas_errata_policy.html>.
3. Replaces "Red Hat Linux Advanced Server" and "Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation".

Microsoft

Version Released /
General Availability		 Direct OEM and Retail
Availability Ends1		 End of Life
Windows NT 3.51 Workstation May 30, 1995 Dec 31, 2000 Dec 31, 2002
Windows NT 3.51 Advanced Server Aug 28, 1995 Sep 30, 2000 Sep 30, 2002
Windows 95 Aug 15, 1995 Dec 31, 2000 Dec 31, 2002
Windows NT 4 Workstation Jul 29, 1996 Jun 30, 2002 Jun 30, 2004
Windows NT 4 Server Jul 29, 1996 Dec 31, 2002 Dec 31, 2004
Windows 98 Jun 30, 1998 Jun 30, 2002 Jun 30, 20062
Windows 98 SE Jun 30, 1999 Jun 30, 2002 Jun 30, 20062
Windows Millenium Edition Dec 31, 2000 Dec 31, 2003 Jun 30, 20062
Windows 2000 Professional Mar 31, 2000 Mar 31, 2004 Jun 30, 2010
Windows XP Professional Dec 31, 2001 Dec 31, 2006 Dec 31, 2011
Windows XP Home Edition Dec 31, 2001 Dec 31, 2006 Dec 31, 2007
Windows Server 2003 May 28, 2003 Jun 30, 2008 Jun 30, 2013

Notes:
1. Typically extended a year for System Builders.
2. Paid incident support ends.