XenServer lifecycle

With the release of XenServer 8 we greatly simplified the update process by introducing a new release stream concept. This stream will receive ongoing updates that will be consumed by XenServer pools in a cloud-like manner. In addition to the usual fixes, the updates will also consist of functional updates as well as new features. Customers will still have the ability to to review the updates in the stream and decide when to install the updates *.

This new stream model replaces the previous Current Release (CR) and Long Term Service Releases (LTSR) strategy. For releases pre-dating XenServer 8 Customers had to choose between release tracks and also about when and how they could switch if wanted. In addition, this led to multiple releases being supported simultaneously, which often added confusion.

This new stream model allows us to provide our customers with new features and functionality quicker than before and gives much more detail as to what is being installed and what the impact to your specific environment will be. Consult this blog for more details around the new update process.

No longer will customers be forced to choose between release tracks, and the customers looking for longevity, can still be at ease: XenServer 8 is supported until November 2028, which means customers upgrading from Citrix Hypervisor 8.2 will not have to worry about another platform upgrade before 2028.

*Updates are published frequently and customers are encouraged to update regularly to benefit from the released content. Customers who have not updated their XenServer environment for more than 6 months, might be requested to apply updates before a support case will be investigated.