Introduction
This document describes the Cisco Secure Endpoint Linux connector Long Term Support (LTS) commitments.
Cisco Secure Endpoint Connector Long Term Support
Cisco Secure Endpoint connector LTS is the time period in which a Linux distribution will only receive bug fixes and security patches, and will no longer receive any new features.
The connector LTS will only support the latest officially supported kernel on the Linux distribution. If a distribution has entered connector LTS then it is nearing its end of life as defined by the Distribution Vendor and customers will be required to update their endpoint to the latest officially supported version of the distribution and kernel available. Customers must also prepare to upgrade their endpoints to a newer distribution before connector LTS has ended.
The connector LTS will align with the Distribution Vendor policy to only support the latest version of the end of life distribution version. For example, the last minor release of Enterprise Linux 6 that the connector will support long term is 6.10. This is in accordance with the Secure Endpoint Software Support Policy:
Secure Endpoint software support on all operating systems will align with the vendor’s published end-of-support schedule.
The connector LTS only supports the latest patch version available in the connector LTS version family specified for a legacy distribution. For example, if the connector LTS version family is 1.20.X then X must be the largest available patch version. Customers are expected keep their connector LTS version updated to the latest patch version to continue to receive support.
A Linux distribution that is used beyond the connector LTS period will lose support from Cisco Secure Endpoint. This is true for a Linux distribution that is no longer supported:
- Cisco Engineering will no longer develop, repair, maintain, or test the Secure Endpoint connector on these distributions.
- Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) will not provide support for the Secure Endpoint connector on these distributions.
- All support services for the product are unavailable, and the product becomes obsolete.
Note: Support continues under the terms and conditions of customers' service contract on supported operating systems and distributions for customers with active service and support contracts.
See Linux System Requirements and tables for RPM-based and Debian-based compatibility.
LTS Announcements
Distribution |
Version |
LTS Announcement |
Enterprise Linux (EL) |
6 |
Ends on November 7, 2024 |
7 |
Ends on June 30, 2028 |
8 |
Starts on May 31, 2029 |
SUSE Enterprise / openSUSE Leap |
15 SP2 / 15.2 |
Ends on December 31, 2024 |
15 SP3 / 15.3 |
Ends on December 31, 2025 |
15 SP4 / 15.4 |
Ends on December 31, 2026 |
15 SP5 / 15.5 |
Starts on December 31, 2024 |
Debian |
11 |
Ends on June 30, 2026 |
12 |
Starts on June 10, 2026 |
Ubuntu LTS |
18.04 |
Ends on April 1, 2028 |
20.04 |
Starts on on April 2, 2025 |
Amazon Linux |
2 |
Ends on June 30, 2025 |
2023 |
Starts on March 15, 2025 |
Legend
|
Supported |
|
Supported on LTS family version; Currently in Cisco Secure Endpoint connector LTS |
|
Unsupported; Past the end of Cisco Secure Endpoint connector LTS |
Enterprise Linux
Cisco Secure Endpoint connector LTS for Enterprise Linux (EL) encompasses these distros:
- Rocky Linux
- Alma Linux
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
- Oracle Linux (RHCK)
- CentOS Linux
- Oracle Linux
The "End of Maintenance Support" and "End of Extended Life Cycle Support" for RHEL is used to determine the connector LTS periods for EL based distributions.
Distro |
Distribution Vendor |
Cisco Secure Endpoint Connector |
End of Maintenance Support |
End of Extended Life Cycle Support |
End of LTS |
LTS version family |
EL9 |
May 31, 2032 |
May 31, 2035 |
May 31, 2035 |
TBD |
EL8 |
May 31, 2029 |
May 31, 2032 |
May 31, 2032 |
TBD |
EL7 |
June 30, 2024 |
June 30, 2028 |
June 30, 2028 |
1.24.X |
EL6 |
November 30, 2020 |
June 30, 2024 |
November 7, 2024 |
1.20.X |
Amazon Linux
Distro |
Distribution Vendor |
Cisco Secure Endpoint Connector |
End of Standard Support |
End of Security Support |
End of LTS |
LTS version family |
Amazon Linux 2023 |
March 15, 2025 |
March 15, 2028 |
March 15, 2028 |
TBD |
Amazon Linux 2 |
June 30, 2025 |
June 30, 2025 |
June 30, 2025 |
1.24.X |
SUSE Linux Enterprise and openSUSE Leap
15 SP1 / 15.1January 31, 2021January 31, 2024January 31, 20241.24.X15 SP1 / 15.1January 31, 2021January 31, 2024January 31, 20241.24.X
Distro |
Version |
Distribution Vendor |
Cisco Secure Endpoint Connector |
End of General Support |
End of Long Term Service Pack Support |
End of LTS |
LTS version family |
SUSE Enterprise / Leap |
15 SP5 / 15.5 |
December 31, 2024 |
December 31, 2026 |
December 31, 2026 |
TBD |
15 SP4 / 15.4 |
December 31, 2023 |
December 31, 2026 |
December 31, 2026 |
1.24.X |
15 SP3 / 15.3 |
December 31, 2022 |
December 31, 2025 |
December 31, 2025 |
1.24.X |
15 SP2 / 15.2 |
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2024 |
December 31, 2024 |
1.24.X |
15 SP1 / 15.1 |
January 31, 2021 |
January 31, 2024 |
January 31, 2024 |
1.24.X |
15 SP0 / 15.0 |
December 31, 2019 |
December 31, 2022 |
January 31, 2024 |
1.24.X |
Ubuntu LTS
Distro |
Distribution Vendor |
Cisco Secure Endpoint Connector |
End of Maintenance & Security Support |
End of Extended Security Maintenance |
End of LTS |
LTS version family |
Ubuntu LTS 24.04 |
April 25, 2029 |
April 25, 2036 |
April 25, 2036 |
TBD |
Ubuntu LTS 22.04 |
April 1, 2027 |
April 9, 2032 |
April 9, 2032 |
TBD |
Ubuntu LTS 20.04 |
April 2, 2025 |
April 2, 2030 |
April 2, 2030 |
TBD |
Ubuntu LTS 18.04 |
May 31, 2023 |
April 1, 2028 |
April 1, 2028 |
1.24.X |
Debian
Distribution |
Distribution Vendor |
Cisco Secure Endpoint Connector |
End of Security Support |
End of LTS |
End of LTS |
LTS version family |
Debian 12 |
June 10, 2026 |
June 10, 2028 |
June 30, 2028 |
TBD |
Debian 11 |
July 1, 2024 |
June 30, 2026 |
June 30, 2026 |
1.24.X |
Debian 10 |
Sept 10, 2022 |
June 30, 2024 |
June 30, 2024 |
1.24.X |
Configure a Connector Long Term Support Policy
The connector downloads an update (xml) seed with every policy sync if the policy for this connector is for a greater version, however the connector will not update if the update seed is for a version greater than the connector LTS family. Customers who want to avoid unnecessary update seed downloads can place their legacy distributions currently in connector LTS in a separate policy whose version is the latest in the LTS family for that legacy distribution.
If you want to continue using a legacy distribution throughout its connector LTS period then it is recommended that you create a separate policy for the legacy distribution. See the "Enable Debug Mode Using the Secure Endpoint Console" section of the Cisco Secure Endpoint Connector for Linux Diagnostic Data Collection article for step-by-step instructions on how to duplicate a policy with new settings. When editing your policy you will take a few different steps:
- On the Edit Policy page, select the
Product Updates
tab.
- From the Product Version dropdown, select the latest product version in the connector LTS version family that aligns with your the legacy distribution.
See Also