Lifecycle Policy#
NVIDIA has introduced a new Enterprise Software lifecycle for NVIDIA AI Enterprise 4.0 and above.
This new Enterprise Software lifecycle reflects the changes in how NVIDIA AI Enterprise is distributed, which were introduced in NVIDIA AI Enterprise 4.0. Starting with NVIDIA AI Enterprise 4.0, AI frameworks and SDKs are decoupled from software for managing and optimizing infrastructure and workloads. They are distributed in the following release branches in the NVIDIA NGC Enterprise Catalog:
NVIDIA AI Enterprise Release Branch Types#
Note
The release cadence of each NVIDIA AI Enterprise release branch type is provided for general guidance only. The actual security update and release cadence can change at NVIDIA’s discretion.
Feature Branch (FB)#
An FB contains the latest versions of NVIDIA NIMs, AI frameworks, workflows, and SDKs. Most FBs are supported for one month but can follow a different release cycle depending on the software product. Bug fixes and security updates are made available in future FBs.
A new FB is released monthly for most products and can change at NVIDIA’s discretion.
All FB components are listed in the NGC Catalog.
Production Branch (PB)#
A PB contains production-ready AI frameworks and SDK branches to provide API stability and a secure environment for building mission-critical AI applications. Each PB is supported for 9 months. During a PB’s support period, it receives monthly bug fixes and security updates for high and critical software vulnerabilities.
A new PB is released every 6 months.
Products available as a PB can be found in the PB Collections section in the NGC Catalog.
Long-Term Support Branch (LTSB)#
An LTSB contains selected AI frameworks and SDKs for highly regulated industries that require longer application lifecycle management. Each LTSB is supported for 3 years and receives quarterly bug fixes and security updates for high- and critical software vulnerabilities.
A new LTSB is released every 30 months.
Products available as an LTSB can be found in the LTSB Collections section of the NGC Catalog.
Infrastructure Branch#
An Infrastructure Branch contains software for managing and optimizing infrastructure and workloads. The GPU Drivers (NVIDIA vGPU (C-Series) and the Data Center GPU Driver) are supported for 1 year unless the branch is designated as an LTSB Infrastructure Branch, in which case it is supported for 3 years. During that period, GPU drivers receive regular bug fixes and security updates.
How often a new Infrastructure Branch is released depends on whether the new release is a Major Release or a Minor Release:
A new Major Release is released about every 6 months.
A Major Release is the first release in an Infrastructure Release, indicated by the x.0 release number. It typically introduces significant new functionality and can also contain bug fixes and security updates.
A new Minor Release is released about every 3 months.
A Minor Release is an Infrastructure Release that updates a Major Release, indicated by the x.y version number. A minor release typically does not introduce significant new functionality but contains bug fixes and security updates.
The NVIDIA Infrastructure releases include products such as the NVIDIA Container Toolkit, the NVIDIA GPU Operator, and the NVIDIA Network Operator, and each has a different lifecycle. For more information, refer to the individual product documentation.
Products available as an Infra Branch can be found in the Infra Collections on the NGC Catalog.
LTSB Infrastructure Release Cadence#
An Infrastructure Release is designated as an LTSB Infrastructure Release:
At least once in 2 years
At least once for each hardware architecture
LTSB Infrastructure Release Notification#
An Infrastructure Release will be designated an LTSB release within 6 months of its general availability. Customers will be notified if the current Infrastructure Release is designated an LTSB Infrastructure Release before the general availability of the next Infrastructure Release.
Comparison of NVIDIA AI Enterprise Branch Release Types#
Feature Branch (FB) |
Production Branch (PB) |
Long Term Support Branch (LTSB) |
Infrastructure Branch |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Length of support |
1 month [1] |
9 months |
3 years |
1 year - can be designated as an LTSB Infrastructure Release, which is supported for 3 years |
Minor release (bug updates and critical security updates) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Enterprise support |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Major release cadence - general guidance only. The actual release cadence can change at NVIDIA’s discretion. |
Every month |
Every 6 months |
Every 2.5 years (timed to coincide with new hardware architecture) |
Every 6 months |
Software Branch Maintenance#
Software branch support and maintenance consist of bug fixes and critical security updates. The duration of support for an NVIDIA AI Enterprise release depends on the type of release branch to which it belongs.
Release Branch Type |
Duration of Support |
|---|---|
Long Term Support Branch (LTSB) |
3 years |
Infrastructure Branch |
1 year unless designated as an LTSB Infrastructure Release, which is supported for 3 years |
Production Branch (PB) |
9 months |
Feature Branch (FB) |
1 month for most products. Some products follow a different release cadence. |
Security Updates for NVIDIA AI Enterprise Release Branches#
NVIDIA periodically releases security updates to address software vulnerabilities discovered in NVIDIA AI Enterprise release branches.
For PB and LTSB releases of some components that depend on open-source software, NVIDIA analyzes how known vulnerabilities in this open-source software might affect the container images for these components. The analysis can be accessed through the NGC Container Scanning UI and is downloadable as a Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange (VEX) file in CyclonDX format.
Footnotes