Canonical's Extended Security Maintenance (ESM)

Security updates for Ubuntu LTS that have reached End of Life.

We always encourage our SCS community to use the latest SCS-supported operating systems. However, we understand that there are special situations that may limit the ability to upgrade a computer's operating system. In these situations, you can continue to receive security updates, critical software packages and infrastructure components with Extended Security Maintenance (ESM).

With ESM, you get up to 5 additional years of security maintenance, helping you continuously manage vulnerabilities in operating systems that have reached EOL. ESM is available through an Ubuntu Advantage for Infrastructure subscription for physical servers, virtual machines, containers and desktops. ESM support is a one-time yearly cost in addition to the monthly SCS software support charge.

Eligible versions include:

• 20.04
• 18.04
• 16.04

Why Choose ESM?

ESM is a good option if you are not able to upgrade to the latest supported Ubuntu Linux version we offer. Regardless of having on-going Software Support enrollment, ESM might be right for you if:

• You do not intend to upgrade any application.
• You are performing research or project work that requires no changes on your system.
• You intend to retire the computer in the next 5 years. 
• You need software that only runs on Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS.

How do I get ESM?

If you are running a version of Ubuntu Linux that has reached or is nearing EOL, complete our request form and we will contact you with next steps.

Submit a Request

For supported workstations running Ubuntu 20.04, SCS Computing Facilities will automatically provide one year of ESM at no cost to you. After the first year, you can either purchase ESM for $25 annually or upgrade your Ubuntu version.

Physical Server Subscription Plan Options

ESM-infra

Service includes coverage for the Main packages. These packages are a core set identified by Canonical as essential since the launch of Ubuntu. They are either pre-installed on every machine or are widely used across various deployments.

ESM-apps

Service includes the Universe repository, which includes all additional sourced packages in Ubuntu, originating from Debian and the Ubuntu community. This repository encompasses packages for various open-source toolchains and libraries such as Java, PHP, Go, Python, and more. These packages are not typically deployed.

ESM and Software Support

ESM is separate from our Software Support service. While we recommend enrolling CMU-owned computers in Software Support, it's not required for ESM. Keep in mind, an OS that has reached EOL may not support the latest software, and there could be limitations even with Software Support.

Note: Unsupported computers limit our ability to help you troubleshoot software and OS issues.