[CentOS-devel] Balancing the needs around the CentOS platform

On Sun, Dec 20, 2020 at 10:23 PM Mark Mielke <mark.mielke at gmail.com> wrote:
> Once RHEL 7.9 is out, RHEL 7.8 is "end of life", and similarly, CentOS
> 7.8 is also "end of life". Once RHEL 7.9 is out, the "c7" branches are
> updated to reflect RHEL 7.9, and follow the RHEL 7.9 branch, as CentOS
> 7.9. If there was a RHEL 7.10, then it would be on a private 7.10
> branch in RHEL, and run in parallel to the 7.9 that is being imported
> into CentOS 7.9.

Here is a picture for you:

https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata#RHEL8_Life_Cycle

See how the "RHEL" in dark blue "Minor Release" are not overlapping.
This RHEL is what is used to produce CentOS. All RHEL changes are
published to the CentOS branches, and built into CentOS a short time
later. This includes backported security fixes and other critical
fixes that are received throughout the active life of every minor
release.  The RHEL/CentOS branch is a stabilized branch that has
already gone through all design processes including a public beta and
a milestone release with release notes documenting the changes that
may cause breakage for users.

Gordon and Matthew are referring to the "RHEL EUS", which is the
lighter blue. This is a separate subscription type from RHEL, and it
is NOT published to the CentOS branches. You must pay extra to gain
access to RHEL EUS. It requires either a Premium subscription, or an
add-on "Extended Update Support" subscription. This separate
subscription type does allow you to stay specific previously active
minor releases and continue to receive critical updates without having
to upgrade to the next RHEL minor release.

I think if we were in a room with a whiteboard - many of these
confusions could be much more easily dispelled. A lot of what is going
on is simply misinformation and wishful thinking. It's not intentional
- it's just that you never knew the things I'm trying to share with
you.

-- 
Mark Mielke <mark.mielke at gmail.com>