Red Hat Introduces Perpetual RHEL Support with Annual Fee
Photo: ZDNet
Quick answer
Red Hat has launched perpetual RHEL support for enterprises through annual contracts. The new Long-Life Add-On tier enables indefinite support for specific RHEL versions, including critical security patches and…
Red Hat has introduced a new subscription tier for its enterprise Linux distribution, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), called Long-Life Add-On, or 'RHEL Forever.' This allows customers to extend support for specific RHEL versions indefinitely by paying annual fees. The solution is designed for companies operating in highly regulated industries, where infrastructure updates often span decades.
The new tier includes critical security patches for vulnerabilities rated 'Critical,' urgent bug fixes, and 24/7 technical support. Red Hat maintains API/ABI stability, avoiding disruptive changes. Support is only available with an active Premium subscription and requires individual price negotiations.
Previously, Red Hat offered extended support for up to 14 years for RHEL, but demand for longer durations prompted the company to create a perpetual option. Competitors like Canonical support Ubuntu for up to 15 years, while SUSE offers up to 19 years. This new tier may appeal to organizations seeking to avoid frequent migrations due to vendor deadlines.
Common questions
- What is RHEL Forever?
- A new Red Hat subscription tier that allows indefinite support for a specific RHEL version through annual payments. It includes critical security fixes and technical support.
- Which companies is RHEL Forever designed for?
- The solution targets large organizations in highly regulated industries such as finance, telecommunications, healthcare, and government, where software updates can span decades.
- How much does perpetual RHEL support cost?
- Red Hat does not publicly disclose pricing—costs are negotiated individually based on client needs and scale.
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