General Policy
VMware supports the current release of software as per the Support and Subscription Terms and Conditions. Upon the general availability of the next major release, we will support the immediately preceding major release and its minor releases for an additional 18 months. For example, we will discontinue support for the current version (2.x.x) of a given product 18 months after version 3.0 becomes available. We may, at our discretion, retire any software at any time (“End of Availability”). The current End of Availability status, for products covered under the General Policy, includes the last date of general commercial availability of the Software and the End of Support date. Detailed information is provided on the General Support Life Cycle page.
VMware Infrastructure Policy
The VMware Infrastructure Support Life Cycle Policy provides information on VMware Infrastructure (“VI”) software suite support timelines, enabling customers to make business decisions around long-term change management and release strategies. The purpose of the Policy is to provide customers with consistent and predictable long-term support timelines.
Commencing with version 3.0 of VMware Infrastructure (Starter, Standard and Enterprise Editions) and continuing with subsequent versions, this policy will apply strictly to each individual component of the VMware Infrastructure software suite as listed below:
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VMware will offer nine (9) years of support from the general availability of a new Major Release of VMware Infrastructure. Inside of a Major Release, VMware will offer a minimum of seven (7) years of phased support from the general availability of a Minor Release. Any Maintenance Release inside of a Minor Release will be supported until one (1) year after the general availability of the next Maintenance Release. When you purchase VMware Gold or Platinum Support for your VI release, support will be divided into three distinct phases: General Support, Extended Support, and Technical Guidance:
- General Support will be provided for two (2) years from general availability of the Major or Minor Release of VI, or one (1) year after the next Major or Minor Release, whichever is longer
- Extended Support will be provided for three (3) years following General Support
- Technical Guidance will be provided for two (2) additional years following Extended Support
Detailed VI Support Life Cycle Policy information is available as well as FAQs and the System Compatibility Guide.
