what happens when support ends

[otlichnik73]

Hi there, everyone!
Can someone explain in simple newbie terms please - what happens when support for a particular edition of Mint ends.
Will we still get updates? Security updates?
(I was told that support for my Linux 18 will end in 2021)
Cheers!

[gm10]

The system itself will keep functioning, but you won't get anymore updates and Software Manager will mostly be empty since the Ubuntu repositories go offline. The system itself will keep working though, there is no time limit on that.

Note that you are already only receiving updates for a small part of the total available software. If that is a concern you should be a considering to move on to the next version rather than wait out the full 5 years, anyway.

[turtlebay]

I might suggest you switch to the Debian based LMDE 2 or3 which is likely to run and be supported for much longer than the straight Mint distros. Their repos rely on the Debian repos instead of the Ubuntu ones.

[gm10]

I might suggest you switch to the Debian based LMDE 2 or3 which is likely to run and be supported for much longer than the straight Mint distros. Their repos rely on the Debian repos instead of the Ubuntu ones.

Not really. LMDE2 is based on Debian 8, direct support for which ran out in the middle of the year with Mint support ending with the year. LMDE3 is based on Debian 9 which will be supported by Debian directly until 2020 with 2 more years of community-based LTS support until 2022.

Linux Mint 19, on the other hand, will be supported until 2023.

[lsemmens]

Think of support like warranty. Just 'cause the warranty expires, doesn't mean the product is no longer any good. Some things that are out of warranty still work 100 years later.

[all41]

Think of support like warranty. Just 'cause the warranty expires, doesn't mean the product is no longer any good. Some things that are out of warranty still work 100 years later.

So very true.
As an example:
Even the outdated Win XP. With a fresh install it will still perform and work as intended---but never allow it online.
Same for other Win systems.
Keep them offline

[all41]

Hi there, everyone!
Can someone explain in simple newbie terms please - what happens when support for a particular edition of Mint ends.
Will we still get updates? Security updates?
(I was told that support for my Linux 18 will end in 2021)
Cheers!

Stay with Mint.
You can always expect an upgrade option to keep your Mint to the latest LTS. 2021 is just around the corner and already Mint is offering a new LTS edition.