There are two Mender release types:
Our quality requirements for both release types are the same, the only difference between LTS and non-LTS releases is the support length. We maintain LTS releases through patch releases for one year from the release date. In contrast, non-LTS releases get patch releases only if an urgent vulnerability is found between the release date and the next release.
Keeping this distinction in mind helps decide which version to adopt and when to upgrade to a new version. In addition, ensure you are always using the latest available patch releases for the optimal operation of Mender.
Mender users Semantic Versioning, and the version numbers are in the MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH format.
We increment:
MAJOR version when we make incompatible API changesMINOR version when we add functionalities in a backward compatible mannerPATCH version when we make backward compatible bug fixes to existing releasesBy design, the Mender Backend is always backward compatible with older versions of the Mender Client. Therefore, incrementing the MAJOR version means that the Mender Client (generally speaking, the client components) depend on a corresponding MAJOR version of the Management Server. However, any older Mender Client will still work with a Management Server running a more recent version.
We release a new version every three months, either as a non-LTS or LTS release. We publish LTS releases approximately every six months, but version numbers (e.g., major or minor version bumps) may vary depending on the release's content. Check back here to learn which versions are part of an LTS release series.
We publish patch versions for older LTS releases roughly the same time we publish the new minor or major releases unless we discover an urgent vulnerability that requires an immediate fix.
At this time, we support the following LTS releases: 3.3.
| LTS | Supported until |
|---|---|
| 3.3 | 2023-12 |
Please note: 3.5 was initially released as an LTS but has since been withdrawn because of technical reasons. Due to the delays in releasing the next LTS (3.6), the support duration for 3.3 has been extended.
Mender is versioned and released as a Product bundle, and the versions mentioned here refer to the Product bundle version.
Under the version of the Product bundle, there are multiple different components with their individual versioning. To see which component versions belong to a bundle, please refer to this JSON file
Our meta-mender Yocto layer supports the latest two Yocto LTS releases, which at this time are Kirkstone (4.0) and Dunfell (3.1).
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