Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 end of support
Is Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 still supported?
Security updates only Extended support
Mainstream support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 ended on May 31, 2024. It is in extended support, which normally means security fixes only, until May 31, 2029. Paid Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on is listed until May 31, 2033.
Key dates Vendor-confirmed
| Release date | May 7, 2019 |
|---|---|
| Mainstream support ends | May 31, 2024 |
| Extended support ends | May 31, 2029 |
| Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on (paid) | May 31, 2033 |
Notes: Dates from Red Hat's product life cycle data (access.redhat.com): general availability, end of Full Support (shown as mainstream), end of Maintenance Support (shown as extended) and end of the paid Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on. Red Hat's life cycle policy page describes ELCP replacing ELS from RHEL 8.10 (June 1, 2029).
Source quality: Every date shown is confirmed in the vendor's own content; anything shown as Unknown is not yet confirmed anywhere.
What the end of support means
- Mainstream support usually includes bug fixes, security updates and (for ERP) regulatory and tax updates. When it ends, non-security fixes and new features stop.
- Extended support usually means security updates only. Exact terms differ by vendor and may require a support contract.
- After the final end date the software keeps running, but the vendor no longer ships fixes or security patches. Known vulnerabilities stay open, and compliance or cyber-insurance requirements may treat it as unsupported software.
- Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on extends security fixes for a limited time for a fee. Treat it as a bridge to an upgrade.
Upgrade paths
Upgrade to a supported Red Hat Enterprise Linux version
Staying on the same product usually means the least retraining. Check the upgrade path and system requirements in the vendor documentation; some upgrades must go through an intermediate version.
Buy more time
Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on is listed for this version (paid). It typically covers security fixes only and is meant as a bridge, not a destination.
Sources
- access.redhat.com/product-life-cycles/api/v1/products
- access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata
Vendor lifecycle page for the product: https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata
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