Linux Mint releases and Ubuntu HW stacks

[franute]

Hi everyone,

I installed Mint 17.3 some weeks ago and I must say I'm pretty happy with how it behaves and the fact that it's almost install and forget, everything works and everything is easily available
But, I was thinking today about future versions and came across the following question: what's the relation between Mint releases and Ubuntu Hardware Enablement Stacks (HWES)?
I mean, I know MInt 17.3 is obviously still based on Ubuntu 14.04 but it uses Vivid HWES (kernel 3.19 and updated xorg), which is basically Ubuntu 14.04.3.
Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Saucy, Vivid and the future Willy's enablement stacks will not have support after Ubuntu 14.04.5 / 16.04.1 are released.
In that case, if we install today 17.3 we will have to update the xorg and kernel to future 17.4 and 17.5 versions if we want to use a supported version and receive security patches, am I right?
I seriously doubt I will keep 17 when 18 comes out, but I was curious about this topic.

Thanks in advance, keep up the great work!

[Pjotr]

No worries: both Ubuntu 14.04.x and Linux Mint 17.x will be fully supported with security updates until May, 2019.

See: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LTS

[franute]

Thanks Pjotr, but I thought only 14.04, 14.04.1 and 14.04.5 will be supported until end of life.
Source : http://www.ubuntu.com/info/release-end-of-life

Or maybe it's only the kernel what will not be supported and the xorg will, I don't know right now

[karlchen]

Hello, franute.

You understood the Ubuntu webpage correctly.

Only K3.13.0-xx including the accompanying hardware enablement stack (Ubuntu 14.04/14.04.1) and the kernel/HWE that will be present in Ubuntu 14.04.5 will be supported until April 2019.
No K3.16.0-xx+HWE or K3.19.0-xx+HWE or K4.2.0-xx+HWE.

This does, however, not affect support for any other software which is common to all 14.04 releases. (14.04 to 14.04.5). If you go on using a desupported kernel + HWE after roundabout April 2016, you will only stop receiving updates for kernel + HWE, not for any other software as well.

Karl

[franute]

Thanks a lot for your response Karl.
So after April/May 2016 I should upgrade to the next HWE to get support, right?
As I said in my first message, I don't think I will keep Mint 17 for too long after 18 is released, but for example in the case of my parent's desktop, it might make more sense to install 17.1 and update it to 17.3 to keep the original stack to avoid troubles.

Fran

[Pjotr]

The HWE (kernel) and X.org stack, are both software categories that don't get updates by default anyway..... Not the kernel, and not X.org (level 5). Their risk profile is low, so no need to undertake action on that account.

[Cosmo.]

Thanks a lot for your response Karl.
So after April/May 2016 I should upgrade to the next HWE to get support, right?
As I said in it might make more sense to install 17.1 and update it to 17.3 to keep the original stack to avoid troubles.

If the hardware works well with them, this is a wise decision.

[franute]

Thanks for your comments guys, everything's clear now