Next April 2024, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS will be released, a new version of the most used Linux operating system, which will have extended long-term support so we don’t have to worry about updates. However, a new statement from Canonical’s own CEO has set off alarm bells in the community, since this version is not going to be just another LTS, but rather it is going to change absolutely everything in terms of updates to this operating system.
When we talk about Ubuntu, we generally have two types of versions: the standard ones, which are released every 6 months and have only 9 months of support, which forces us to update from one to another if we want to have support, and on the other On the other hand, the LTS, which are released every two years and have extended support of 5 years.
Initially, the release of Ubuntu 24.04 will be the same as its predecessors. That is, it will initially have extended support of 5 years. During all this time, the system will receive new Kernel updates and all kinds of patches to guarantee its correct functioning. But, in addition, this version will be the first that will allow administrators to join the new program, presented a year ago, called “Ubuntu Pro”.
What is Ubuntu Pro?
Ubuntu Pro is a new product as a service from Canonical with which it guarantees long-term support for all versions of Ubuntu (the main ones, not LTS) that will allow you to receive patches and corrections up to 10 years after their release. In addition, this service is responsible for maintaining and ensuring updates for more than 20,000 Ubuntu packages, as well as allowing users to activate the livepatch, which allows Ubuntu to be updated hot, without having to reboot.
But, in addition to this, Ubuntu 24.04 is going to be the first distro with 12 years of support thanks to the Ubuntu Pro program. This means that it will have two more years of updates to offer companies (or users who want to pay for it) and level support platinum, the best seen to date. In addition, the number of supported packages has increased to 30,000, which will also benefit from these 12 years of support.
The price of this service varies depending on the modality. For a user who only uses the desktop version, we can have it for only $25 per year. But, for companies, the price can increase up to $3,400 per year if we want to have full support for unlimited machines.
Users who do not pay for Ubuntu Pro will have, as usual, 5 years of support as it is an LTS version. These 5 years will give us two more LTS updates, 26.04 and 28.04, each with another 5 years of support, so we don’t have to worry about updating every 6 months as happens with normal Ubuntu editions.
Other news of the new 24.04 LTS
In addition to this change in Ubuntu professional support, Canonical has also prepared other interesting changes for its operating system. For example, we find the latest version of the GNOME desktop which is much more responsive and aesthetically pleasing, the latest version of the Linux Kernel, better integration with containers and the cloud, support for ZFS and much more.
As this is an extended support version, all packages are updated to the most stable versions possible to guarantee the best possible performance throughout their life cycle. And so, little by little, Ubuntu continues to hold the position of the most used Linux distro, both among users and within companies.
