Oracle has quietly extended paid support and updates for Solaris 11.4 until 2037, which is three years longer compared to the previous term. The same was done last year for previous versions of this operating system.
Solaris is a commercial version of the Unix system that Oracle acquired with Sun Microsystems in 2010. This operating system, combined with Sun’s SPARC integrated circuit, was highly scalable and reliable in its time, making it a popular choice for Web 1.0 players due to its use of web-scale technology by Sun.
However, at the time of its acquisition by Oracle, Solaris was already considered outdated. In 2018, Oracle practically confirmed this status by stopping the development of a new version and freezing the operating system at version 11.4, only releasing continuous patches and package updates.
Recognizing that Solaris is a solution that serves as the foundation for critical applications in terms of decades of operation, Oracle promised to provide support and updates for a longer future, without introducing major updates.
The IT giant Oracle offers three types of support:
– Premier Support: Maintenance of Oracle Sun hardware and integrated software, such as firmware.
– Extended Support: Paid support and updates for Oracle Solaris and Oracle Linux.
– Sustaining Support: Unlimited access to Oracle support tools and patches, as well as “expert technical assistance” for those willing to pay.
Until now, Solaris 11.4 was covered by Premier Support until 2031, Extended Support until 2034, and Oracle promised unlimited Sustaining Support.
However, last week Oracle quietly introduced an update to the Lifetime Support Policy [PDF], which states that Extended Support for Solaris 11.4 will last until 2037. The 2031 date for the end of Premier Support remains unchanged.
In 2023, Oracle also extended Extended Support for Solaris 10 and Solaris 11.3 by another three years, now transitioning to Sustaining Support in 2027 instead of the previously planned 2024.
However, these extensions do not indicate Oracle’s enthusiasm for Solaris. The company continues to encourage the migration of Solaris applications to version 11.4 and seeks to facilitate this process by packaging the operating system in developer-friendly forms.
Nevertheless, there are still Solaris users who see this operating system as an important part of their future and are willing to pay for such privilege. Oracle is surely not a charitable organization and would not extend support if it did not bring profits. ®
FAQ
1. How long did Oracle extend paid support and updates for Solaris 11.4?
Oracle extended paid support and updates for Solaris 11.4 until 2037, three years longer than before.
2. What is Solaris?
Solaris is a commercial version of the Unix system that was acquired by Oracle with Sun Microsystems in 2010.
3. Why was Solaris considered outdated after Oracle’s acquisition?
Solaris was considered outdated after Oracle’s acquisition because the company stopped the development of a new version of the system and froze it at version 11.4.
4. What are the three types of support offered by Oracle?
Oracle offers three types of support: Premier Support, Extended Support, and Sustaining Support.
5. How long was the support for Solaris 11.4 extended?
Extended Support for Solaris 11.4 will last until 2037.
6. What other support extensions did Oracle introduce?
Oracle also extended support for Solaris 10 and Solaris 11.3 by three years.
Definitions
– Solaris: Commercial version of the Unix system acquired by Oracle with Sun Microsystems.
– Premier Support: Type of support offered by Oracle, including maintenance of Oracle Sun hardware and integrated software.
– Extended Support: Paid support and updates offered by Oracle for Solaris and Oracle Linux.
– Sustaining Support: Unlimited access to Oracle support tools and patches, as well as expert technical assistance for those willing to pay.
Suggested related links
– oracle.com: Solaris 11
– oracle.com: Oracle Linux
The source of the article is from the blog mivalle.net.ar