zorin 7 support

My apologies if this is a stupid question. I love Zorin 7 but have read that support for it will be short lived but Zorin 6 will have continued support. Why should this be the case? I thought it would be the other way round
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Zorin is an ubuntu based system. This means that every zorin distro is based on a ubuntu distro and consequently follows the support cycle of the ubuntu distro that is based on. Ubuntu issues a Long Term Support release every two years, and supports same for 5 years. In-between you get only short term releases.

Zorin 6 is based on ubuntu 12.04 which is an LTS (Long term support version). It will be supported till 2017.
Zorin 7 is based on ubuntu 13.04 which only has a 9 month support cycle.

Further info:
When we say "support" we mean security updates and application/package updates plus bug fixes. This means that after the end of the support period you will not get any bug fixes (in case you have a problem and you report the bug in launchpad), and also you will not get security updates (i.e. if a new virus/malware is released, your system might be uprotected).

The next LTS version of ubuntu will be 14.04 (will be released on April of 2014). I guess that Zorin 9 will be based on this release.
I suspect that Zorin 8 is based on ubuntu 13.10 which will have a 9 month support cycle.


So, summarizing. If you want stability and long term support, you stick with the LTS releases. If you want to stay on the bleeding edge, you update/reinstall to every other release in-between the LTS versions. Some of the features of the non-LTS releases are backported to the LTS releases though. This is why you then have the "point releases" of the LTS versions i.e. ubuntu 12.04.2, ubuntu 12.04.3 etc (like zorin 6.2, zorin 6.3 etc). In other words you have the LTS release but with an updated kernel (bacported from a newer non-LTS release).
However, the backported kernel will be supported for as long as the non-LTS release is supported. Then you have to upgrade to the newer kernel - even if you have installed an LTS release!
So, if you trully want FULL LTS SUPPORT without having to change anything in your system for 5 years you have to stick with Ubuntu 12.04 or Ubuntu 12.04.1 (which have the 3.2 LTS kernel). - (Or Zorin 6 or 6.1).

Ubuntu 12.04.3 or ubuntu 12.04.4 do not have LTS kernels.

Thanks for all that. Just to be sure I have selected from the Zorin web site Zorin 6(LTS) and this takes me to a site to download 6. 4. I trust this is 6.4 version is LTS. Again many thanks.

As a newbie to Linux I was a bit confused by your reply. If I am correct in thinking then 6.4 will be supported until Zorin 9 appears. When will support for Zorin 7 end? In other words when is the nine month support up? Searching the Zorin set I noticed that Zorin 8 is almost ready. I assume that too will have a nine month support.

I do not know what is the kernel of Zorin 6.4.
Keep in mind that the LTS kernel is 3.2.

I suspect that Zorin 6.4 is based on ubuntu 12.04.3 (or 12.04.4) so it may have 3.8 or 3.11 kernel.

I think that Zorin 6.0 and Zorin 6.1 have the 3.2 kernel (Zorin 6.1 is like Zorin 6.0 but with many updates - but still keeps kernel 3.2).
You can download any iso of Zorin 6 here: http://distro.ibiblio.org/zorin/6/

Gizmuntu wrote:Zorin OS 6.4 will work perfectly fine for ya til 14.04/ZOS9 time frame.

Zorin 6.4 will work till 4/2014, while Zorin 6.0 or 6.1 will work till 2017.
Otherwise you should wait for Zorin9 (based on the LTS ubuntu 14.04) which will have support till 2019.

Yes, no one said that you cannot keep using a release even after its EOL (End Of Life). Especially when you know that it works just find for your hardware, and the programs you use (and you do not plan to change hardware or use other programs). You can use it for as many years as you like.
The security issue is the most important factor in my opinion, as you will not be getting any security updates.


NOTE: I would like to make a correction to my above statement:

Zorin 6.4 will work till 4/2014, while Zorin 6.0 or 6.1 will work till 2017.

Zorin 6.4 will keep working even after 4/2014 as long as you update your kernel to the LTS one of 14.04.

When you go to the main Zorin web site, they offer a download of Zorin 7 and Zorin 6(LTS). When you select the 6 LTS option you can only download 6.4. This would suggest that 6.4 has continued support.

I thought 6.4 LTS was supported till 2017?

Just to clarify.
Zorin 6 (based on ubuntu 12.04) is an LTS release.
However, the LTS kernel is only 3.2. Not 3.5, Not 3.8. Not 3.11 which come from ubuntu 12.10, 13.04 and 13.10 respectively. The support for kernels 3.5, 3.8 and 3.11 is good as long as their respective releases are supported. i.e the support for kernel 3.5 is valid till the EOL of ubuntu 12.10, the support for kernel 3.8 is valid till the EOL of ubuntu 13.04, and the support for kernel 3.11 is valid till the EOL of ubuntu 13.10.
The LTS kernel is only 3.2 which will be supported till 2017 (up to the EOL of ubuntu 12.04).

The whole mess has come with the "point" releases. i.e. 12.04.3 (12.04 "point" 3). In ubuntu 12.04.3 the kernel has been backported by 13.04. So 12.04.3 has the 3.8 kernel.
Ubuntu 12.04.0 and 12.04.1 have the 3.2 kernel and are the "true" full LTS releases.

If you have installed ubuntu 12.04.3 or ubuntu 12.04.4 (Zorin 6.3 or Zorin 6.4) you need to update the kernel when you reach the EOL of the respective release that holds the specific kernel(s) i.e. ubuntu 13.04 or 13.10.
For example if you have installed ubuntu 12.04.3 (Zorin 6.3), the kernel of which is 3.8, and this kernel belongs to 13.04 which has an EOL on January 2014 (i.e. now), you need to update your kernel to 3.11 (based on ubuntu 13.10) or in other words jump to ubuntu 12.04.4 (Zorin 6.4).
Then, on 4/2014 you need to "jump" again to the kernel of 14.04.
If you have installed ubuntu 12.04.0 or 12.04.1, which have the 3.2 LTS kernel, you do not need to change anything till 2017 as the 3.2 kernel is LTS.

I know it is a mess that is created by Canonical, but that is the way it is. This is why they are now thinking of making ubuntu a rolling release (!) They say that the idea of releases with 9 months support is worthless... (and I agree).

It is all very confusing particularly for a newbie whose whole computing experience is with Windows. I have been brave and indtalled Zorin 8.

If you do not want to get confused, install Zorin 6 or 6.1 and leave it like this till 2017.
Or wait till 14.04 (Zorin 9) is released and install that which will be supported till 2019.

Do not mess with intermediate or point releases.

Simple as that.

(unless ubuntu actually becomes a rolling release).

Hi madvinegar, thanks again for pointing this out (that's why I went back to 6!) - so 60 blue jewels for clarifying things and another 60 for the good news on 14.04!

With regards to rolling releases, I always find it amusing how Trisquel manage to do this (also based on Ubuntu). For the no longer supported Ubuntu base (Trisquel 5.5) I was pleasantly surprised to see how it rolled up to Trisquel 6.0!

Many thanks to Madvinegar for shedding so much light on such a confusing issue. Given the advice about the Zorin versions to use I wonder why so much forum time is spent dealing with Zorin 7. Would it not be prudent to make a Sticky saying use Zorin 6 and 6.1 but only use other versions if you feel brave about security issues. I honestly thought that the the more numerical the version the better it would be.

But it is better! Newer kernel means more updates, more support for newer hardware, more bug fixes etc. You just have to update or reinstall every time the releases reach their EOL.
The pure LTS releases are for persons that want a stable machine for a long time without having the hassle of updating or reinstalling.
Some times however you are "obliged" to install a newer kernel. For example there are wireless cards or TV cards that work only in kernels 3.5 or higher.
So, if you are using Zorin 6.1 with kernel 3.2, you have to update to a newer kernel to get your hardware working...