Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science

Operating System Support Lifecycle

This guide defines the lifecycle of our support for different operating systems. It is intended to explain the support timeframe for an OS from testing status through to end of life (EOL). We also incorporate new operating system versions as they are announced by the vendors.

When possible, we link to the vendor or developer's own notes on release support and lifecycles. Our support lifecycle information can be found in the table below and can be downloaded in a PDF link (found below).

Please note that Apple does not officially release information on OS version releases and lifecycles in a schedule or forecast. 

Download the Support Lifecycle PDF.

SCS OS Support Statuses

Testing This platform is not yet supported by SCS Computing.
Active (Default) This platform is supported by SCS Computing and new machines will be built with this platform unless otherwise requested.
Active This platform is supported by SCS Computing and will be installed on request.
Containment This platform is currently supported by SCS Computing but no new machines will be built with this platform. Platforms in containment will receive security updates and patches for the SCS supported software components. SCS Computing Facilities will not provide new software or major revisions to existing software for these platforms.
Phasing Out SCS Computing is actively working to migrate assets away from this platform. Platforms go in to this status automatically 6 months before the SCS End of Support Date. Platforms may be placed in this status before that time.
EOL This platform is no longer supported by SCS Computing. Software support will be dropped from any asset running this platform. Other levels of support may be dropped as circumstances warrant. A valid reason is required to maintain an asset running this platform past the End of SCS Support date. All exceptions must be logged and periodically reviewed.

Support Lifecycle Guide

As of: 10 Oct 2023

OS Family Operating System Latest Update or Service Pack SCS Support Status Vendor Release Date Start of SCS Support End of SCS Support Latest Vendor EOL Date

Windows Desktop

Windows 11
General Availability Channel
22H2 Active (Default) 20 Sep 2022 28 Aug 2023 14 Oct 2025 14 Oct 2025
Windows 10
General Availability Channel
22H2 Active 18 Oct 2022 13 Dec 2022 14 Oct 2025 14 Oct 2025
Windows 8 8.1 EOL 26 Oct 2012 1 Jan 2016 14 Jun 2016 10 Jan 2023
Windows 7 SP1 EOL 22 Oct 2009 1 Aug 2010 14 Jan 2020 14 Jan 2020

Windows Server

Windows Server 2022 Active (Default) 18 Aug 2021 28 Aug 2023 14 Oct 2031 14 Oct 2031
Windows Server 2019 Active 13 Nov 2018 9 Jan 2020 9 Jan 2029 9 Jan 2029
Windows Server 2016 Containment 26 Sep 2016 1 Jan 2017 11 Jan 2027 11 Jan 2027
Windows Server 2012 R2 EOL 4 Sep 2012 Oct 2012 10 Oct 2023 10 Oct 2023

macOS

macOS Sonoma 14 Active (Default) Sep 2023 Oct 2023 Nov 2026 ~2026
see note
macOS Ventura 13.1 Active Oct 2022 Nov 2022 Nov 2025 ~2025
see note
macOS Monterey upgrade note 12.6.2 Containment Oct 2021 7 Dec 2021 Nov 2024 ~2024
see note
macOS Big Sur upgrade note 11.7.2 EOL Nov 2020 11 Dec 2020 Nov 2023 ~ 2023
see note

Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
"Focal Fossa"
20.04 Active (Default) 23 Apr 2020 Jan 2021 Apr 2025 Apr 2025
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
"Bionic Beaver"
18.04 Containment 26 Apr 2018 18 Dec 2018 Apr 2023 Apr 2023
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
"Xenial Xerus"
16.04 EOL 21 Apr 2016 1 Feb 2017 Apr 2021 Apr 2021

Fedora Linux

Fedora 14
64-bit
14 EOL 2 Nov 2010 Oct 2011 12 Sep 2018 Dec 2011
Fedora 10 10 EOL 25 Nov 2008 Jul 2009 Sep 2016 Dec 2009

Clusters

CentOS 7 7 Active (Default) 20 Jun 2014 1 Jan 2018 30 Jun 2024 30 Jun 2024
CentOS 6 6 EOL 12 Jul 2011 Apr 2012 30 Nov 2020 30 Nov 2020

Note: Apple does not publish official EOL dates, but typically provides security updates for the current release of macOS, as well as the previous two releases.