Version Pinning & Long Term Support
Version Pinning & Long Term Support¶
RLC Pro customers have access to Long Term Support (LTS) versions that extend the maintenance lifecycle of specific Rocky Linux minor releases. LTS enables organizations to stay on a validated, stable release while continuing to receive security updates.
Note
LTS versions are available exclusively to RLC Pro subscribers.
How LTS Works¶
Rocky Linux follows a six-month minor release cycle (9.5, 9.6, 9.7, etc.). Each minor release receives updates until the next minor release ships, at which point the community moves forward.
With RLC Pro LTS, CIQ continues to deliver security updates and critical bug fixes for selected minor versions beyond their standard support window. This allows organizations to:
- Stay on a validated release without being forced to upgrade every six months
- Maintain compliance with change control processes that require stable baselines
- Test and qualify upgrades on their own schedule
Available LTS Versions¶
Rocky Linux 9¶
| LTS Version | Status |
|---|---|
| LTS 9.2 | Active |
| LTS 9.4 | Active |
| LTS 9.6 | Active |
Rocky Linux 8¶
| LTS Version | Status |
|---|---|
| LTS 8.6 | Active |
| LTS 8.10 | Active |
Note
LTS availability and end-of-life dates are subject to change. Contact CIQ Sales for current lifecycle details.
Enabling LTS¶
Enable an LTS version using the Depot CLI:
# Enable LTS for Rocky Linux 9.6
sudo depot enable lts-9.6
# Update the system
sudo dnf update -y
sudo reboot
Once enabled, dnf update will only offer packages from the LTS version. Your system will not be updated to a newer minor release.
Version Pinning¶
RLC Pro customers can also pin to any supported minor version without LTS:
# Pin to RLC Pro 9.7
sudo depot enable rlc-pro-9.7
Following the Latest Release¶
To follow the latest minor release (default behavior):
# Follow latest RLC Pro 9 (currently 9.7)
sudo depot enable rlc-pro-9
With this configuration, dnf update will update to the latest available packages, including packages from new minor releases as they become available.
Switching Between Versions¶
To switch from one pinned version to another:
# Switch from 9.6 to 9.7
sudo depot enable rlc-pro-9.7
sudo dnf update -y
sudo reboot
Warning
Downgrading to an older minor version is not supported. Version pinning is intended for staying on a specific version, not for rolling back.
LTS vs Standard Support¶
| Aspect | Standard (Latest) | LTS (Pinned) |
|---|---|---|
| Minor version updates | Yes — follows latest | No — stays on pinned version |
| Security patches | Yes | Yes |
| Critical bug fixes | Yes | Yes |
| New features | Yes | No |
| Kernel updates | Latest upstream | Backported security fixes |
Support¶
For questions about LTS availability or version pinning, contact CIQ Support or CIQ Sales.