Glossary

Key terms used throughout the NVIDIA AI Enterprise Lifecycle Policy documentation.

End of Life (EOL)

The date after which a release branch no longer receives updates, security patches, or support. Users on EOL branches should migrate to a supported branch.

Extended Support

A support phase following Full Support during which only critical bug fixes are provided. Duration and availability vary by product and branch type.

Feature Branch (FB)

A release branch containing the latest software versions. Designed for development, testing, and research environments with a rapid release cadence and short support window.

Full Support

The initial support phase for a release branch during which NVIDIA provides bug fixes, security updates, and critical patches.

Government Ready Containers

Hardened container images that meet government and defense compliance requirements. Available for select Production Branch components.

Infrastructure Branch

A release branch for GPU drivers and infrastructure operators. Major and minor releases follow a regular cadence, with standard and long-term support options available.

Interactive Lifecycle and Compatibility Explorer

A web-based tool on the Lifecycle Policy page for checking cross-stack compatibility across NVIDIA AI Enterprise infrastructure components.

Long-Term Support Branch (LTSB)

A release branch designed for highly regulated industries with extended certification cycles and strict change control requirements. Provides the longest support window with periodic security patches.

NVIDIA NGC Catalog

NVIDIA’s hub for GPU-optimized software. All NVIDIA AI Enterprise supported components are listed in the NGC Catalog and identified by the “NVIDIA AI Enterprise Supported” designation.

Production Branch (PB)

A release branch optimized for production deployments. Provides API stability, regular security patches, and a longer support window than Feature Branches.

Stack Alignment

The compatibility relationship between Infrastructure Layer components across infrastructure branches. Components release staggered cadences with overlap windows to enable upgrades.