Linux kernel version history


The Linux kernel is a free and open-source, monolithic, Unix-like operating system kernel. It was conceived and created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds.
Linux kernels have different support level depending on version. E.g. version 4.4, released in January 2016, was declared to have Long-Term Support. It has 6 years of support that way, but was also defined to have Super Long Term Support, i.e. Civil Infrastructure Platform will provide support until at least 2026, possibly until 2036. It is by now the oldest supported version.

Releases before 2.6.0

Releases 2.6.x.y

Versions 2.6.16 and 2.6.27 of the Linux kernel were unofficially supported in a long-term support fashion, before a 2011 working group in the Linux Foundation started a formal long-term support initiative.

Releases 3.x.y

Releases 4.x.y

Releases 5.x.y