EOL for long term kernel
 

Hello,

Till now I used vanilla linux for kernel.org

According to kernel.org, each version has EOL.
For example: version 4.1 - SEP 2017

What does it mean ?

Instead of using such long term version,
should I use a version from a distribution like Centos ?

Thank you,
Zvika

EOL (end-of-life) generally means it will no longer be supported or upgraded, with the possible exceptions of serious security vulnerabilities.

There are also specific longterm release kernel versions at kernel.org. For example, version 4.9 has a projected EOL of January, 2019. See https://www.kernel.org/category/releases.html

(Never mind. I see that's probably where you got the EOL date for version 4.1 from.)

Moderator response
 

Moved: This thread is more suitable in <Linux - Kernel> and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Here's the skinny:

All software producers ... "the Linux Kernel team or otherwise" ... periodically produce so-called "major versions" of their soft-wares. These versions represent "lines drawn in the sand." In other words: "all future development will only take place ahead of this line."

Nevertheless, the producers also maintain a retroactive commitment to a certain [number of ...] "prior major-versions," which is to say that the undertake to continue to retrofit (at least ...) "important changes" to those prior versions. (Their engineers might be making several separate patches to solve – as best they can – the same problem, within the context of each version.)

But they do that ... "only up to a point." Then, they declare "EOL = End Of Life." This is the "second line drawn in the sand," prior to which they will not undertake to make any further changes at all.

- - -
"Distros," meanwhile, are consumers of the base software distributions produced by the "Linux Kernel" software teams (and so on ...), tasked with producing "software bundles" which are "their product." So, "it's their job" to keep up with these things, and to produce "new distro-releases" for you to consume.

(For instance, long before(!) any Linux kernel's "end of life," they will have migrated their "distro" to use a [much ...] newer one. "So that you'll never have to worry your silly little head about such things ...") ;)

Thus, as an end-user of "a Linux distro," you need only concern yourself with "the distros" that your favorite distro-vendor has produced for you. From time to time, you'll see that they have moved their "distro" from one <<insert_ software_ product_ name_ here>> to another ... "but, why should you care?" ;) Your base covenant with the "distro provider" is that "that's their job!"