5

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS has 5 years of support. Other flavors have different support so...

What if I install Ubuntu first, then I install lubuntu-desktop (which has shorter support time)?

Would the DE independent parts (eg. the kernel, core drivers, Firefox (because it uses xul)) of the system still get updates for 5 years, even if I use LXDE instead of Unity?

(I'm still use 10.04 LTS Desktop, but since it will be trashed soon, I'm planning to upgrade.)

So clarifying the question a bit with an example:

If I install Ubuntu 12.04 LTS I will get:

Linux kernel + core stuff + Gnome3 + Unity => 5 years of support.

If I install Lubuntu 12.04 I will get:

Linux kernel + core stuff + LXDE => 6 months (?).

So I install Ubuntu 12.04 first, I have:

Linux kernel + core stuff + Gnome3 + Unity, then I remove Gnome and Unity, then do an apt-get install lubuntu-desktop. So I will have

Linux kernel + core stuff + LXDE again. Now would I have 5 years supprt time because I installed the Ubuntu LTS first or just 6 months because I cannot cheat the system?

By support time I mean the repositories are alive, I get security patches, Firefox updates, etc.

Calmarius
  • 908

2 Answers2

5

Is not something that can be accumulated or subtracted from. If you install for example Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu....Somebuntu...Anybuntu. Each will get the support they offer for the time they offer for that particular version (Including Desktop Environments, Libraries and any other core part of the distribution).

So you would get 5 years for an LTS of Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu.... And you would get the years/months set for a non LTS version.

When the time comes, the versions or distributions with less time will simply stop receiving updates. This is what is called an EOL (End of Life) Support. For example, if you had right now the following Ubuntu versions:

  • Ubuntu 8.04 Server (Gnome)

  • Lubuntu 10.04 Desktop (LXDE)

  • Ubuntu 10.04 Server (Gnome)

  • Xubuntu 11.10 Desktop (XFCE)

    enter image description here

Looking at the image, when May 9th comes, all versions except Ubuntu 10.04 Server will still get updates. You will stop receiving any updates of any kind, including Desktop Environment updates. The rest will simply enter their EOL time, meaning they will not get any new updates (Except in very rare, security related cases and even then it is very rare indeed).

Now let me show you another case. You have 10.04 LTS. And you install LXDE, XFCE, Gnome, Gnome3, Gnome4, Gnome5, Unity 2010 Elite Edition, Wayland Super Mario version and any other Desktop Environment you can get your hands on for the 10.04 LTS version. When May 9th comes, they will all stop receiving upgrades. 10.04 will simply enter the EOL support. This is why, many times, Ubuntu developers recommend to upgrade, so you can get all the benefits of new kernels, new drivers, new hardware support, new fixes and technologies, etc..

Checking your edit in the question out:

If I install Ubuntu 12.04 LTS I will get:

Linux kernel + core stuff + Gnome3 + Unity => 5 years of support.

If I install Lubuntu 12.04 I will get:

Linux kernel + core stuff + LXDE => 6 months (?).

So I install Ubuntu 12.04 first, I have:

Linux kernel + core stuff + Gnome3 + Unity, then I remove Gnome and Unity, then do an apt-get install lubuntu-desktop. So I will have

Linux kernel + core stuff + LXDE again. Now would I have 5 years support time because I installed the Ubuntu LTS first or just 6 months because I cannot cheat the system?

In all cases, you are still sticking with 12.04. Does not matter which Desktop Environment you use, you are still staying with 12.04, which means you will still get 5 years.

The years of support are not based on Desktop Environment in use, Specific libraries or any apps installed, they are based on the Ubuntu version and if it is Desktop or Server Edition.

If you install Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, remove Unity and install LXDE/Gnome 3/XFCE or any other, you will still get updates for other parts of the system. Not only that, but if there is any security issues related to the DE, you will get that also even if the support time is gone, as long as you stay with an LTS. The only thing you will not get is a version upgrade for them. Like going from Gnome 3.6 to 3.8.

I would also like to add that if you are going to be changing the DE, then there is less of a need to stay in an LTS. Upgrading the version every time a new comes out is the best choice for you. This way you get the latest DE, drivers, libraries and core updates. LTS are more oriented toward servers and users that do not want/like to be changing version or simply want a long support without changing their system so much (Because they want stability over customization). If you like to test out each DE, I would recommend sticking with the new version each time it comes out.

Community
  • 1
Luis Alvarado
  • 211,503
  • I find this answer a bit of misleading. If the answer is correct, what's the propose of different LTS support periods for derivatives ? i.e. Xubuntu and Lubutnu and Ubuntu Gnome (recently) 3 years of support instead of 5. Yes, the user will have support for packages, but for packages provided by Canonical only. The DE will end the support in 18 months or so and as I read here unsupported packages will not receive any updates. – NickTux Mar 31 '14 at 07:56
  • Well that would depend on what package it is, in what repo is found (main, updates, universe...), What distro it is and in what LTS or Non-LTS version of Ubuntu it is since they changed the rules a while ago. At the end of the day, for particular packages you can get extended support from PPA or the original software developer through a PPA or DEB. For other packages, Ubuntu can extend support (security for example), for other packages, the developers might even end support and development for a specific software. So it all depends on what you mean specifically. I tried my best to simplify it. – Luis Alvarado Mar 31 '14 at 21:17
1

DE is not related to support time. As long as you don't release-upgrade you should be fine.

Fleshing in some detail from the comments:
If you install supported/official window managers from derivatives (e.g. xfce, lxde, etc) you could expect some support.

If you installed some oddball/weird window manager (i3 and run each app on a separate desktop fullscreen) then the core would have support, but you shouldn't expect non-core support.

I would anticipate the default WMs from official derivatives and anything in the server core repos to get support. I would not expect software from multiverse or ppa to get support.

RobotHumans
  • 29,530
  • So it's basically only depends on which ISO I choose from the Ubuntu download page? – Calmarius Apr 01 '13 at 22:41
  • Essentialy,yes- to a certain extent. Don't expect built in support for things you add on, just for how it came. i.e : install jwm on ubuntu then have fun, just don't expect support for the jwm portion of it. Think like this, you buy a car with no cup holder- even though the car might still recieve support, the cup-holder dosen't. – Scott Goodgame Apr 01 '13 at 23:06
  • 1
    Also make sure you understand what exactly support means. Your asking the question like your going to get free tech support or something. If you have a support contract with Conical that's one thing, but without it your up to the community for tech support. If your worried about package updates and the like take a look at this. In short, expect some core packages to be maintained but not cutting edge. – coteyr Apr 01 '13 at 23:19