@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ We split Grafana OSS and Grafana Enterprise releases into three main categories:
- **Major release (once a year, in April/May)**: These are like a minor release, but accompanied by [GrafanaCON](https://grafana.com/events/grafanacon/) and a comprehensive upgrade guide for users who like to upgrade only once a year.
- **Patching release (every month)**: These include bug fixes for currently supported versions, as well as any security vulnerability patches.
You can choose your cadence: For frequent self-managed updates, you should follow the minor release (for example, upgrade 10.1 to 10.2), which also gives you access to the latest features. If you need a longer period to review our new releases, you should follow the major releases. Both strategies get patching releases with security fixes (high severity security fixes also result in ad-hoc patch releases). We’ll get into additional guidance on upgrade cadences later in this guide.
You can choose your cadence: For frequent self-managed updates, you should follow the minor release (for example, upgrade 11.1 to 11.2), which also gives you access to the latest features. If you need a longer period to review our new releases, you should follow the major releases. Both strategies get patching releases with security fixes (high severity security fixes also result in ad-hoc patch releases). We’ll get into additional guidance on upgrade cadences later in this guide.
## How to find the specifics for a release
@ -88,22 +88,19 @@ For self-managed Grafana (both Enterprise and OSS), the support for versions is
- Support for each minor release extends to nine months after the release date.
- Support for the last minor release of a major version is extended an additional six months, for a total of 15 months of support after the release date.
Here is an overview of projected version support through 2024:
Here is an overview of projected version support through 2025:
| **Version** | **Release date** | **Support end of life (EOL)** |
| **Minor / bi-monthly (11.1 to 11.2)** | Our recommended strategy. It combines up-to-date, secure releases with access to latest features as soon as they're released. <ul><li>Small changelog to review</li><li>Highest compatibility with actively maintained plugins</li><li>Easy migration to [Grafana Cloud](https://grafana.com/products/cloud)</li></ul> | <ul><li>**June 2024**: You review the 11.1 changelog and deploy the release to testing</li><li>**July 2024**: You deploy 11.1 to production</li><li>**August 2024**: 11.2 is released</li></ul> |
| **Major / yearly (10.0 to 11.0)** | Yearly upgrade path that still gives access to up-to-date features presented at GrafanaCON.<ul><li>Big changelog to review</li><li>High compatibility with plugins</li><li>Relatively easy migration to [Grafana Cloud](https://grafana.com/products/cloud)</li></ul> | <ul><li>**April 2024**: 11.0 is released, you start a big changelog review</li><li>**May 2024**: You deploy 11.0 to testing</li><li>**June 2024**: You deploy 11.0 to production</li><li>**April 2025**: 12.0 is released</li></ul> |
| **Previous major / yearly (9.5 to 10.4)** | Release with extended support timeline<ul><li>Limited compatibility with actively developed plugins</li><li>Big changelog to review</li><li>Migrations to Grafana Cloud might require professional support</li></ul> | <ul><li>**April 2024**: 11.0 is released, marking the previous minor (10.4.x) with extended support, you start a big changelog review (9.5.x to 10.4.x)</li><li>**May 2024**: You deploy 10.4.x to testing</li><li>**June 2024**: You deploy 10.4.x to production</li></ul> |
| **Minor / bi-monthly (11.1 to 11.2)**| Our recommended strategy. It combines up-to-date, secure releases with access to latest features as soon as they're released. <ul><li>Small changelog to review</li><li>Highest compatibility with actively maintained plugins</li><li>Easy migration to [Grafana Cloud](https://grafana.com/products/cloud)</li></ul> | <ul><li>**January 2025**: You review the 11.5 changelog and deploy the release to testing</li><li>**February 2025**: You deploy 11.5 to production</li><li>**March 2025**: 11.6 is released</li></ul> |
| **Major / yearly (10.0 to 11.0)**| Yearly upgrade path that still gives access to up-to-date features presented at GrafanaCON.<ul><li>Big changelog to review</li><li>High compatibility with plugins</li><li>Relatively easy migration to [Grafana Cloud](https://grafana.com/products/cloud)</li></ul> | <ul><li>**May 2024**: 11.0 is released, you start a big changelog review</li><li>**June 2024**: You deploy 11.0 to testing</li><li>**July 2024**: You deploy 11.0 to production</li><li>**May 2025**: 12.0 is released</li></ul> |
| **Previous major / yearly (10.4 to 11.6)** | Release with extended support timeline<ul><li>Limited compatibility with actively developed plugins</li><li>Big changelog to review</li><li>Migrations to Grafana Cloud might require professional support</li></ul> | <ul><li>**May 2025**: 12.0 is released, marking the previous minor (11.6.x) with extended support, you start a big changelog review (10.4.x to 11.6.x)</li><li>**June 2025**: You deploy 11.6.x to testing</li><li>**July 2025**: You deploy 11.6.x to production</li></ul> |
Follow the “minor” strategy for the most flexibility, as you can also occasionally lengthen the cadence to a full quarter and still rely on your currently deployed minor release being supported with security fixes.
Jev Forsberg
3 months ago
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