Ubuntu Release Cycle (LTS, Interim, ESM)
This post summarizes the Ubuntu release cycle, the difference between LTS and interim releases, and ESM (Extended Security Maintenance) — so you can pick the right Ubuntu version and plan upgrades confidently.
Reference date: 2023-01-06 (release plan current as of that date)
[01] Release Version Format
Ubuntu version numbers encode the release date directly:
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Ubuntu YY.MM
^^ ^^
│ └─ Month (04 = April, 10 = October)
└───── Year (last 2 digits)
Examples:
| Version | Release month |
|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 | April 2020 |
| Ubuntu 20.10 | October 2020 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 | April 2022 |
| Ubuntu 23.10 | October 2023 |
[02] LTS vs. Interim Releases
Ubuntu ships two distinct release tracks aimed at different audiences.
| Property | LTS | Interim |
|---|---|---|
| Cadence | Every 2 years (April of even years) | Every 6 months |
| Support period | 5 years standard + 5 years ESM = 10 years total | 9 months |
| Stability | Enterprise-grade, conservative package versions | Production-quality, newer upstream packages |
| Typical users | Servers, enterprise, long-lived deployments | Developers, early adopters, upstream contributors |
| Examples | 20.04, 22.04, 24.04 | 20.10, 21.04, 21.10, 23.10 |
For any workload that needs predictable stability and long-term security patches — servers, CI pipelines, embedded systems — always choose an LTS release.
[03] ESM — Extended Security Maintenance
After the standard 5-year LTS support window closes, Canonical offers ESM to extend security coverage for another 5 years, bringing the total to 10 years.
ESM covers:
- Kernel Live Patch (zero-downtime kernel security updates)
- Security updates for the main and universe package repositories
- Basic package maintenance
ESM subscription tiers:
| Tier | Who | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Individual / home users | Free (up to 5 machines) |
| Ubuntu Pro | Organisations, cloud, enterprises | Paid (Ubuntu Advantage subscription) |
To attach a machine to ESM (Ubuntu Pro):
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sudo pro attach <token>
sudo pro status
[04] Release Plan
The diagram below (as of 2023-01-06) shows the LTS and ESM support windows for major Ubuntu releases.
Figure 1. Ubuntu LTS release plan showing standard support (dark) and ESM windows (light) for each version.
Figure 2. LTS and ESM duration and Ubuntu Advantage pricing tiers.
[05] Choosing a Version — Quick Decision Guide
| Situation | Recommended release |
|---|---|
| Production server, multi-year lifespan | Latest LTS (e.g., 24.04) |
| CI/CD runner or build agent | Latest LTS |
| Developer workstation, want latest packages | Latest interim (e.g., 23.10) |
| Legacy system already on 20.04 | Stay on 20.04 + enable ESM when standard support ends |
| Cloud VM with auto-patching | Latest LTS |
| Raspberry Pi / IoT device | Latest LTS |
Never run an interim release in production — it reaches end-of-life after just 9 months and will stop receiving security patches.
[06] Checking Your Current Ubuntu Version
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lsb_release -a
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Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS
Release: 22.04
Codename: jammy
To check whether ESM is active on your machine:
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sudo pro status
